Chapter 27

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

J asmine stared out the window at the blue sky above and the green world so far below. It was lovely now, but in the distance to the west, thick clouds stretched to the horizon. She didn't need to check a weather app to know the obvious—a storm was coming.

She tried not to be offended that Derrick had hardly spoken to her. He was angry with his brother. She hadn't needed to hear what he was saying to know that. She had no idea why, though.

At least Bryan had tried to be kind when he'd stepped onto the plane earlier, giving her a tight smile before turning to the cockpit.

They'd been in the air for half an hour when Derrick came forward and nodded to the seat facing hers. "Mind if I sit?"

"Please." He did and opened his mouth, but she spoke first. "Can I say one thing? And then I will never bring it up again."

"You can say anything to me." His words were kind, and his smile, though slight, seemed genuine. Perhaps he'd left his anger at the airport, or maybe in the clouds behind them.

"I have not had much experience with these things." She thought back to the question Sophie had asked her at the bridal shop on Sunday. "I have never had a man who was interested in me."

"Romantically?"

"Okay, yes." Or in any way, but she didn't say so.

"Obviously, Iraqi men are all blind and dumb." Derrick's lips ticked up at the corners, amusement in his eyes.

It gave her hope that maybe, eventually, they could be friends again. Not like before, but in a new way.

"If I had known that you felt something for me, I would've told you about Khalid and the baby. I should have. You were right about that. You were—you are my friend, and I should have told you. I thought you would judge me or see me differently if you knew the truth. I understand now that it would have been good if you had seen me differently. I did not mean for you to hope for things that could not be."

"I know."

His kindness brought tears to her eyes. "I would never hurt you. It is the last thing I want."

He leaned forward and held out his hand. He didn't take hers, but the way it sat between them, it felt like an offer.

She slipped hers into it.

"I understand. You're far too kind for that, Jasmine."

He gazed out the window, and she studied his straight nose and strong chin. He was handsome, but what she felt for him went so much deeper than his attractive features. What she felt for him she'd never known she could feel for a man.

She would need God's help getting past it, or she would have to be the one to end their friendship. The thought of that broke her heart all over again.

"All morning." He faced her again. "In the back of my mind, I've been trying to figure out how to talk you out of what you believe about your marriage, to try to make you see it how I see it. But the last few minutes, I've been praying, and even though I'm not convinced you're right, I know you are—convinced of it, I mean—and if I talked you into divorcing Khalid, I'd be talking you into doing something you believe in your heart is sin. Which would be a sin—on both of our parts. And that would be no way to start a life together." He squeezed her hand, then let it go and sat back. "I hate it. I wish things were different, but short of hunting down your husband and killing him…" By the serious tone and lack of smile, he wasn't entirely joking. "I don't see a way forward for us."

She'd known that already. So why did fresh tears fill her eyes?

He pulled a wad of tissue from his jeans pocket and handed it to her. "I saw, earlier… You seemed upset, so I grabbed some toilet paper. I should start carrying a handkerchief like my dad does."

She dabbed her eyes. "Thank you."

"If all I can be to you is a brother, then that's what I'll be. I'll be your brother, and I'll be your baby's favorite uncle. I'll be the coolest freaking uncle your baby could ever have and the best brother you can imagine until…until something changes. Or forever. Whatever…whatever you want, that's what I'll be. Okay?"

"A brother?"

"Yeah, sis. A brother."

Sis. Like what Michael called her. She tried to smile, and though her lips stretched wide, she doubted he was buying it. "We will be friends?"

"Friends." He reached toward her again, only this time, they shook hands, sealing their deal.

And what was left of her heart crumbled into pieces.