June 12, 1999

Washington, D.C.

"They're just pictures, they mean nothing..."

"I still think this was a stupid idea. You're going behind Prince's back for what? To keep a stupid promise to a 'friend' who just so happens to be someone you used to fuck?", Morgan ranted as she strategically placed bobby pins in my top knot bun.

"Netty he knows I'm in D.C., he just doesn't know the main reason why I'm here. What he doesn't know won't hurt him."

Tonight is the night of the 1999 NBA Draft. I've been getting flack from every direction about coming out here to support Keith on his big night. Normally Tori and Morgan don't agree on a lot of things, but they were both adamant that it was foolish of me to keep my promise to him that was made back when we were still kicking it. I just don't like breaking promises, besides I'm a grown ass woman who can handle herself. I'm here as a friend only, nothing more.

To sooth my sister's conscious, we all decided to make D.C. a trip since none of us had never been. So with me bunking up in the same hotel room as Morgan, Woody, and my little brother TJ instead of coming alone, the only time I'll be around Keith is at the draft.

"Right! Keep telling yourself that. Let Prince find out you were here to see your ex-booty call, he'll cut your head off."

Using her shoulder as support, I slipped on my other nude Christian Louboutin pump. "See, thats the beauty of it. I never mentioned Keith to him, so I'm good."

She shook her head, "That's even worse! I swear, you're book smart but you're an airhead sometimes. You think you just have it all figured out, don't you?"

"I sure do and ge—" A faint knocking on the hotel door followed by a loud eruption of smack talking between Woody and Keith cut off our conversation. Not a moment sooner, Keith was standing in the doorway.

Focusing on perfecting my winged liner in the mirror, I listened to the banter between Keith and Morgan.

"What have I done to deserve to be in the same room as beauties like yourselves?",Keith smirked.

Morgan's eye roll in response to his compliment reassured me that flattery gets him nowhere with her. He bent down and rubbed her round belly. "And how's my god baby doing in there? I bet your mommy is ready to serve your eviction papers. Jeez Morgan, how far along are you?"

She smacked his hand away and scoffed. "32 weeks, Keith do you just go around feeling up pregnant women? And who lied to you and said you were the god-daddy?"

He kissed his teeth, "Your future husband." With nothing left to say, she pushed him out the way and walked into the bedroom.

Creeping closer and leaning against the bathroom counter, Keith said,"Anyways, I swear Jasmin you get even more beautiful every time I see you. What's got you glowing like this?" Prince.

"Oh nothing in particular, but you're looking rather dapper yourself."

Closing my makeup bag, I made eye contact with the mahogany eyes that have been staring me down. "Stop looking at me like that."

He got defensive, "Like what?" Like he wants to bend me over the counter and fuck me.

"Like THAT, all goo-goo eyed or whatever."

He kissed his teeth again and threw his hands up. "Nah, I'm just really appreciative of you being here to support me. I can't thank you enough, you're a really great friend."

That warmed my heart to hear him say. "Well your welcome hun, I'll always be here of you."

He flashed me a toothy smile before pushing off the counter. "Alright enough of this mushy shit, let's hurry up. I'm not trying to here my granny's complaining."

I took one last, long look at myself in the mirror before venturing downstairs with him and into the awaiting limo where his grandmother, mother, and agent were already waiting.

I could tell by his relatives infatuated gazes, Keith had failed to relay to them that we were no longer 'a thing', but I wasn't going to burst their bubble on a night like this.

"...And with the 19th pick in the 1999 NBA Draft, the Minnesota Timberwolves select Keith Anderson from the University of Minnesota!"

The packed arena erupted in cheers and everyone at our table stood up in excitement for Keith. It was a memorable moment to watch as every ounce of nervousness washed away and he became so overwhelmed in happiness as he tightly hugged his mother. I could see tears threatening to leave his eyes. Unexpectedly, he inched around his grandmother and came over to hug me and place a lingering kiss on forehead before making his way towards the stage.

It didn't hit me until a few moments later what team the announcer had said. Later when we found out that the Timberwolves had traded him to the Seattle SuperSonics, I was selfishly elated about the increased distance between us. I was happy that he was drafted, but if he would've stayed in Minnesota, I'm almost certain he would've been adamant about us getting back together.

Leaving the MCI Center en route to Keith's celebratory dinner, I hadn't thought anything more about Keith and I's interaction until Morgan brought it up in the taxi. She slapped my shoulder, "Jasmin, what the hell was that?!"

Thoroughly confused I said, "What was what?"

"Don't play dumb, that kiss Keith gave you!"

I rolled my eyes. "Morgan, it was JUST a forehead kiss. It meant nothing."

Woody threw his head back against the seat and sighed. "See babe, I told you. I thought it was harmless, TJ thought it was harmless, Jasmin thinks its harmless...let it go."

To his surprise, she slapped him against his chest causing him to jolt forward. She huffed, "You don't know shit Woody. I'm happy and all for him, but I don't trust Keith." With her raging pregnancy hormones, we all knew it'd be best to stay quiet the rest of the ride.

Towards the end of dinner, Keith made his way to our end of the table and wanted to talk to me in private. As we made our way to a dimly lit, secluded corner of the restaurant, I just stared up at him waiting for him to speak his mind. He put his hands in his pants pockets and took his bottom lip between his teeth momentarily. "So what do you think about Seattle J?"

Teetering on my heels I said, "I mean its different, but I don't think you'll have any problem adjusting. I'll miss you."

It seemed like an eternity that I was waiting for his response. I was waiting for some clarity that he understood the meaning behind my statement. Eventually his eyebrows furrowed and his mouth slightly hung open. Taking a step closer to him, I could clearly see the hurt in his dark eyes.

Without warning, he stepped into my personal space and grabbed ahold of my waist. Pushing my back against the wall, his lips enveloped my own in desperation. By his hurriedness, I could tell he was searching for any hope that I still had lingering feelings for him. But there wasn't any, no spark, no nothing. It just felt like the type of kiss you have when you play spin the bottle and it lands on a guy you have absolutely no interest in.

Once he realized that I wasn't reciprocating, he pulled away and rested his forehead against mine. I watched as he licked his lips, savoring the taste of what will be our last kiss. "So that's it?"

On second thought, maybe i shouldn't have come. If he thought by me coming was any inclination of me still having feelings for him, he was sadly mistaken. As hard as Keith appears, I could see the heartbreak in his eyes.

As I silently said yes, not a moment sooner did he back away and his sadness manifested into anger. "So it's like that Jasmin? I bring you out here and you just dog me out on the most important day of my life?"

I crossed my arms. "Dog you out? I told you from the beginning that I was here for you AS A FRIEND."

He kissed his teeth and waved me off. "Man, don't give me that friend bullshit. You said back in January, you wanted a break. I gave you the time you needed. When I came at you in May, how was you going to wait all the way until I was ready to pull my dick out, for you to push me away? Like thats some foul shit, I was just trying to be there for you!"

He just had to bring THAT up. That was a minor incident that needed to be forgotten, it meant nothing. "Keith I needed you as a friend, someone to talk you. I didn't need to be dicked down, I just needed someone to be there. This is why me and you would never work, your mind is so juvenile. Sex doesn't solve everything. And stop being so dramatic, you leaned in to kiss me for a good two seconds before I pushed you away, it didn't even get that far. Stop lying to yourself."

His voice grew louder by the minute. He pointed his finger at himself and sarcastically laughed, "Oh so I'm immature? I wasn't immature when I was in you. How are you going to stand here and act as if I wasn't there for you ever? I did my part in the relationship, I even helped you take care of your bad ass son."

Angered by his comments, I cut my eyes and spat back at him, "Go to hell."

"You first, I know your evil midget ass vacations there anyways. But it's cool, I'll take my immature ass and go find me a female that'll appreciate what I have to offer."

"You do that Keith." Giving him the middle finger as I prepared to walk past him, the glint of my sparkling promise ring on my left ring finger caught his eye. Even though I wanted to wear it on my right ring finger, ever since he gave it to me on my 19th birthday, P made me promise to keep the ring on that finger. The breathtaking diamond ring with my birthstone as the centerpiece hasn't come off since.

Placing a firm grip on my left arm, he pulled me back. "Is that a fucking engagement ring?!"

"No it's not, but even if it was it'd be none of your business." He loosened his grip and I managed to take my arm back.

He stifled a laugh as he ran his fingers along his mustache. "So thats why you broke up with me?" He took my silence as a yes. "Do you love him?"

Twirling the ring on my finger, I didn't even have to think about my response. "Yes, I love him a lot."

"Un-fucking-believable. Since we're cleaning out our closets, I cheated on you. That's why I didn't take our 'break up' too hard. I guess we're even. Just to let you know, I don't want you calling me for anything."

At this point, I didn't even care about the words that were coming out of his mouth. He thinks we're even? Not hardly.

A smirk grew on my face as we stood toe to toe and I looked up at him. "Well guess what, I was with him the entire time. That's right, you were the side bitch. I never loved you. Matter of fact, the morning I broke it off with you he was all up in this, I was calling him Daddy. He fucks way better than you."

He clenched his jaw and pressed his hands to his lips. "I promise you, I don't hit women. But I swear to god, if you don't get out of my face I will smack the fuck outta you. I'll put that on everything I love."

He wasn't about to do shit, coward. Pushing past him, I felt accomplished and like a thousand pounds had been lifted off my shoulder as that chapter closed. Walking back to the table, when I told them I was ready to leave, Morgan could tell something was off but I informed her I'd have to spill that tea later. I was just ready to get home to see my man.

June 13, 1999

Eden Prairie, Minnesota

Between the confrontation with Keith, that uncomfortable hotel bed, and our flight being delayed, I was so drained by the time I got back in town. And to top it all off, my mom forgot to braid Noah's hair so now I have to wrestle with his little tender-headed self tomorrow. Thankfully, he won't hate me for long tomorrow because P is finally coming home. It was so cute every time he would call, Noah would get excited and ask if he was coming home the next day.

If our flight hadn't been delayed, I was going to swing by Fredrick's and pick out a sexy little number to surprise P with, but that'll have to wait till tomorrow. It's only 8:30pm and Noah and I are already laid up in my bed.

My eyes had only been closed for a good twenty minutes before my cellphone started ringing. Blindly flipping it open, I groggily mumbled, "Hello?"

P quizzically asked, "Were you asleep?"

"Almost."

"I'm coming over."

I started rubbing my eyes. "Wait you're back?"

"I got back this morning, I was going to surprise you. But I'm coming over."

"Okay, I love you."

"Yeah, me too." Click.

Throwing back the covers, I grew anxious at the fact that he didn't say he loved me back. All different possibilities began to flow through my mind as to what could be going on. Immediately, my mind shot to all the possible scenarios of what could've happened when he was away. I knew he was around her so the possibility of him falling back madly in love with her or her being pregnant ran through my mind.

Sitting on the couch, I was watching reruns of Living Single when the doorbell rang. The gate must've been open when he drove up.

Taking a deep breath, the moment I swung the door open I wrapped my arms around his neck. It's almost like he hesitated for a second before places his hands on my waist.

We found ourselves sitting on the closed-in back patio. Listening to the crickets chirping and the rustling leaves in the distance didn't distract me from the main thing on my mind. Why was he so quiet? Sitting indian style on the wicker couch, I examined his chiseled features, looking for any sign of what might be going on in his head. "How was Europe?"

Turning to face me, he flatly said, "Nothing special. How was D.C.?"

"Nothing special." Hopping up from the couch, I stopped at the cracked sliding glass door. "I'll be back. You want anything to drink?"

"What'd you do in D.C.?"

"Sight-see, go to a mall, that's about it."

He sighed, "That's all you did in D.C.?"

I furrowed my brows at his line of questioning. "Yeah...why?"

He walked over to me and closed the sliding glass door. Grabbing my hand, he lead us back to the couch. As he sat down on the arm of the couch, I stood in front of him. "You didn't do anything else?"

"Baby, what is this about? Why do you keep asking me what I did?"

"While I was gone, I asked one of my guys to record the NBA Draft on my VCR." Fuuuuck, this can't be real I have to be dreaming. "Unless you have a twin sister I don't know about, that was you."

Shifting my weight, I couldn't formulate a sure way to smooth this over. "I didn't feel like that was important enough to mention."

I never understood how he could keep his tone so calm even if he was mad. "Not important? You were on live tv, being kissed by another man, and that doesn't seem important to mention to the man you love?"

I folded my arms. "First of all, I didn't know the cameras were on us. Secondly it was a forehead kiss, which means nothing. Just like you said those pictures of you and Mayte from the Versace Fashion Show mean nothing. How do you know he wasn't my brother or something? And thirdly, listen to what you just said, I love you! I wouldn't blatantly cheat on you like that, I wouldn't cheat on you at all."

He stifled a laugh as he crossed his arms. "Your brother? Your last name isn't Anderson. And then thats the other thing. I couldn't even watch the rest of the draft because I was trying to figure out where I heard that name before, Keith. And then it hit me, this is the same 'family friend' who hit Noah. Family friend. Is this the same guy who you were seeing last year?"

Walking closer to him, I tried running my hands down his arms but he shrugged me off. "Baby listen, what me and Keith had was just sex okay? We were fr—"

"Sex? Oh so you flew all the way to D.C. to give him a celebratory fuck?"

I was growing frustrated with his accusations and interruptions. "No! We didn't have sex, I was never alone with him. Ask Morgan! Me, her, Woody, and my little brother all went! We were all there supporting him as friends! Look, I made a promise to hi—"

He quickly jolted off the arm of the couch. "A promise? I don't care what type of 'friendly' promise you made to him, this ring on your finger means more than any promise you made to him."

I felt like I was pleading my case to a bought-out jury at this point. I just wanted him to hear me out, I didn't cheat on him. Every time I tried to touch him, he would push me away. "It does mean a lot to me P, I promise you. I'm sorry I didn't tell you about going to the draft. I shouldn't have went, I kn—"

"You damn right you shouldn't have. I love you, but for you to sit here and lie to my face TWICE, I gave you two chances to come clean. Why?"

I shook my head and looked away, at this point I don't know what had came over me. "I don't know, okay? I don't know why I lied, but you can't stand here and act like you haven't lied to me. Standing here accusing me of cheating, you're one to talk. Acting as if you weren't having sex with Mayte just a few days ago and the ENTIRE TIME me and you have been intimate."

A laugh bellowed out of his chest. "I never lied to you, I've lied to Mayte, but not you. Since you think you know everything Jazz, NO me and her did not have sex while I was away this last time OR the time before that OR the time before that. When I realized I was in love with you, I couldn't bring myself to do that to you."

"Whatever."

"See, there you go. You know I'm telling the truth Jasmin. You're the only liar in this relationship."

By now, my face was a shade of pink as I became more frustrated every time he called me a liar. "I'm not lying! I didn't have sex with him! You're the only man I want to be with, I love you P. I only want you, I cant fucking stand him. I hate him!" My anger started to boil over and tears threatened to leave my eyes.

His demeanor was now cold and hardened, as if it didn't matter what words left my mouth, I was still a liar in his eyes. He smugly said, "You say you love me, but you go behind my back. Why should I believe you? What else have you lied about Jasmin? Were you even pregnant? And if you were, was the baby even mine? Is that why you never told me?"

I felt my heart shatter into a million pieces and the hot tears quickly rolled down my cheeks. It took everything in me not to walk up to him and slap him across his face. No matter the lie, I don't think I deserved a punch to the gut like that. Biting down on my bottom lip to stop it's quivering, my eyes darted from the floor to his face.

"Get out." There was a faint softness on his face as if he just noticed how deep his words cut me, but what was done was done.

"Jas—"

My voice cracked, "Get out of my house."

Walking over to the other side of the porch, I peered into the dark distance. After a minute, I heard the glass door slide open, followed by the clacking of his heels against the hardwood floors. As soon as I heard the front door close, a noise finally came to my silent cries. As I broke down, I tried to make sense of all of this. How could I have been face to face with two cold-hearted bastards in twenty-four hours?

I don't even understand how he could allow those words to roll off of his tongue, yet he said he loved me. I didn't allow myself to dwell on his reasoning for too long, no one knows why P does some of the things he does.

After locking the front door, I crawled back into bed and cried myself to sleep next to my son. When I awoke the next morning, I knew things would never be the same.

I just prayed he could forgive me.

A/N: what're your thoughts and comments on what just went down? Was he too harsh on her or did she have it coming? Predictions on the future?