When I opened the door, Santo was gone. Adam was leaning against the wall.

I ignored him, folded my arms, then made my way to the back door and into the alley. I headed towards the street with Adam following. He gripped my arm and led me down the footpath. We crossed the road where a car was parked. Adam opened the back door and guided me inside. A stranger drove. A wave of terror swept over me.

He grunted, "This is bullshit, Adam." The man's concerned reflection filled the review mirror.

"I'm sorry about that." Adam jerked his head at me. "Get the seat belt on."

"What are you going to do to me?"

He laughed and shook his head. Adam yanked the seat belt around me and clicked it into the lock. "There is so much I'd like to do to you right now. Jesus, you can be a stubborn bitch, Jasmine."

"Adam, what are we doing?" The man twisted in his seat, "If they find out I helped you I'm gonna get my arse kicked."

"No one is gonna know because it won't be me who tells. Drop us at my place, then you can go back to your snug, warm bed."

"Shit. You can be a prick," the man scoffed and pulled out into the traffic.

I stared out the window, worried about what would happen. Why hadn't I refused to get in the car? I wanted closure because most of my pain was from a lack of understanding, and his insistence that I had to hear what he said made me curious. Everything had been going well. Then it had turned to shit because I had answered his stupid phone. Had he always thought of me as just a stupid bitch to have sex with? But he had said he loved me. Why tell someone that if it was just sex? Adam put his arm around my shoulders and drew me towards him.

I wanted so much to bury my face against him, but instead jerked away and growled, "I want you to let me go."

He sighed and removed his arm.

We didn't speak for the rest of the journey. When the car pulled up at his house, the man said, "I hope this doesn't ruin anything, Adam."

Adam cocked his head. "How can it?"

The man shrugged. "It wasn't in the equation."

Adam murmured, "That's life. Welcome to the real world."

I was so sick of hearing conversations spoken in code. Adam opened the door and waited for me to climb out. I slid to the other side and used that door. He sighed, then closed the door with a thud.

The car drove away. I stood where I was with my arms folded. Adam walked towards his front door but stopped when he realised I wasn't following. He dragged in a breath and ran one hand through his hair in frustration. "Jasmine, can we not do this?"

I shrugged. "Fine by me." I spun to walk towards the train station.

He laughed, came after me and took hold of my wrist. "Very funny. You know exactly what I meant."

I yanked my wrist from his grasp. "Do I? Perhaps you need to explain yourself a little better. I'm sick of hearing you talk in code. I'm sick of you thinking you're the only one who has any say. I agree with your friend, you're a prick."

He cocked his head and bit on the side of his lip. "Yeah, I can be a prick, but you can be a stubborn bitch. So now that's sorted, can we please go inside and finish this?"

I folded my arms with force. "I'm not stubborn, but everything isn't about you." Tears filled my eyes, and the pain in my soul surfaced. "I tried hard, Adam. I tried not to expect too much of you, to be patient and accept what you told me. I did a fucking good job but, for what? For you to say those things in front of me." I scowled, "It makes me wonder what you said about me behind my back. So, fuck you, Adam, let's finish it here."

He sighed, hung his head and ran his hands through his hair. "Please come inside, Jasmine. I don't want the whole neighbourhood to hear what I need to say. If you decide to hit me again, you can do it in private." He cocked his head and gave me a gentle smile. "I love you, Jasmine. I don't want us to fight. I want you to know how sorry I am. If I have to get on my knees, I will." With that, he knelt and put his hands together in prayer.

I stepped back. Tears trickled down my cheeks. I wiped them away and hugged myself. "If you hurt me, Adam. I will never forgive you."

"I don't want to hurt you. I never meant to hurt you, but life does that sometimes. I can't guarantee anything, but please come and talk to me, then you can decide what you want to do later, and I won't interfere with your decision."

I sucked in a breath and walked towards his house leaving him in the middle of the street on his knees.

I wonder what Adam is going to tell Jasmine.  It's about time that he reveal some truths.

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