Chapter 7: Uncle Miguel

Zain

Zain waited outside for Jasmine while she took her surfboard into her apartment. He guessed he should have introduced himself to her parents. But they had just met, and they were only going to his Uncle Miguel’s food truck. His uncle made the best Tostones, Cuban bowls, and Cuban Sandwiches in Miami. He just hoped Jasmine liked Cuban food.

A moment later, she came out the door, still wearing her bikini and sarong, but she had also put on dainty leather sandals and had pulled her hair back into a ponytail. She looked gorgeous. “Ready?”

Zain nodded, smiling. “You know, if you don’t like Cuban food, I can always take you somewhere else.”

Jasmine smiled, shaking her head. “No, I love it.”

“Great!” He started walking in the direction where his uncle always parked. “It’s right around the corner.”

“How far?” she asked, trying to keep up with his long strides.

At that moment, Zain realized how much smaller she was than him. He had to have been at least a foot taller than her. Perfect.

He slowed down inconspicuously so she wouldn’t have to walk so quickly. “So, are you looking forward to going to college?”

She shrugged. “I’m excited about going away and finally having my freedom, but....”

“You’re a little nervous about it, too.”

She nodded, a smile lighting her lips. “Just a little.”

He playfully nudged her shoulder with his. “Well, don’t worry. Your secret’s safe with me.” They turned a corner and he noticed that a lock of her long hair had fallen across her face. He reached over and gently tucked it behind her ear. “There.” He looked down and she was looking directly into his eyes with trust and interest, and at that moment, he knew he wanted to earn it. He let his hand trail down her arm to her hand and held it, gently pulling her ahead. “It’s right over here.”

Jasmine smiled and nodded but didn’t pull her hand away. He loved the feel of her hand in his, so small and tender, but strong and warm. Suddenly, he couldn’t wait for her to meet his favorite uncle. In his culture, family was everything. And even though they had just met, he already wanted her to be a part of it… even if it was just as friends.

“Zain! My favorite nephew!” Uncle Miguel headed toward the side door of the truck. “It’s about time you came see me!”

“Come on,” Zain said to Jasmine, laughing. When they rounded the corner of the food truck, Miguel stepped on the ground. “Uncle Miguel!” Zain gave his uncle a manly handshake.

But his uncle pulled him in for a hug instead. “I’m so glad you’re back!”

“It’s good to be back.” Zain smiled. “I’m sorry I didn’t get to see much of you at the party the other night.”

Miguel’s smile touched his eyes, causing them to twinkle. “That’s all right! You had a lot of people to see.” Then he looked over at Jasmine and smiled. “But what I want to know now is why you didn’t bring this lovely lady to the party with you?”

Jasmine giggled, smiling.

“Uncle Miguel, this is Jasmine. Jasmine, this is my Uncle Miguel.” Zain was pleased that Jasmine appeared to like his uncle. “And to answer your question, we had just met that day.”

Miguel’s eyebrows rose nearly into his hairline, looking between them. “Really?”

Zain nodded, smiling. “Yes.” Then he looked down at Jasmine. “She and her family just came into town.”

“Just like someone else I know!” He chuckled as he held his hand out to Jasmine. “Well, it is indeed a pleasure to meet you.”

She offered him her hand and he raised it to his lips and then released her. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, too.”

Zain noticed that she was smiling, but clearly taken aback at his uncle being so forward with her. It usually took him a bit to warm up to people. Yet, here he was, treating her as if he had known her for years. Zain guessed that Jasmine just had that kind of way about her and wondered if her family was as affectionate as his.

“So, would you like something to eat?” Miguel asked, looking between them. “I know! How about one of my special Cuban bowls or a Cuban Sandwich?” He shrugged, leaning toward Jasmine conspiratorially. “But I also have hamburgers, if you like boring food.”

Jasmine laughed and looked up at Zain. “What would you recommend?”

Zain was surprised at how poised she was, appearing to be older than her age.

“It’s all good. It just depends upon what you like.” He looked back at his uncle, raising an eyebrow. “But it’s been a while since I’ve had some of your Tostones.”

Miguel laughed, knowing he was hinting. “You got it! What else?”

Zain looked over at Jasmine and smiled. “What would you like?”

She shrugged, clearly enjoying herself. “Why don’t you surprise me?”

Zain smiled, looking over at his uncle. “How about two orders of Tostones and two Cuban Sandwiches?”

“Sounds good!” Miguel started to lift himself back up into the truck, but Zain helped him.

Zain opened his wallet and pulled out a twenty. “We’ll take two sodas, too. I’d like a Pepsi and she’d like....”

“Coke Zero, please,” Jasmine answered.

“Coming right up!” Miguel turned around and his face fell when Zain tried to hand him the bill. “Oh no, returning hero! Your money’s no good here! You know that!”

“You don’t have to do that!” Zain chuckled. “And I’m definitely not a returning hero.”

Miguel leaned in conspiratorially. “Tell that to your aunt... and your mother, your sister... and—”

“Okay, okay!” Zain cut him off, laughing. “I’ll let you treat today on one condition: I treat you to lunch next time.”

Miguel laughed. “Although I appreciate the sentiment, I have a food truck and can eat what I want, in case you haven’t noticed.”

Zain laughed. “Well, I’ll think of something then.”

“Oh! I know!” Miguel’s face lit up as if he just had the idea of the century. “Why not get me tickets to your first professional baseball game in the bigs?”

Zain laughed. “That might be a while. Besides, lots of great baseball players don’t end up going the distance.”

“Which will not be you,” Miguel firmly replied, pointing his finger at him. “You were meant to be a ballplayer.” Then a broad grin spread across his face. “So, is it a deal? Tickets to your first game in the big leagues?”

Zain liked the confidence his uncle always had in him. He reached up and shook his hand. “Uncle Miguel, if I make it to the big leagues, then you can have all the tickets you want.”

Miguel laughed. “You joke but be careful what you offer because I’m going to take you up on it.”

Zain chuckled. “Well, I hope you do. In fact, if I ever get to the big leagues, I’m going to hold you to it.”

“Not ‘if’… ‘when.’” Miguel’s face suddenly turned serious. Then he walked away, still talking. “You joke, but it’s going to happen!”

“So, you want to be a professional baseball player one day?” Jasmine asked, tilting her head to the side.

Zain nodded, smiling. “Yes... one day.”

“For which team?” Jasmine asked, clearly intrigued.

“The St. Louis Cardinals.” Zain sighed as a smile lit his lips. “But right now, I’d play for any team, as long as they were pro.”

Jasmine nodded. “You will one day.”

Zain raised an eyebrow. “You think so?”

She nodded, a broad smile spreading across her face. “I know so.” She shrugged. “Either that or a pro surfer.”

Zain laughed. “A pro surfer, huh?”

“But don’t worry,” she replied. “I’ll be there to cheer you on.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Promise?”

She nodded, smiling. “Promise.”

That was one promise Zain was going to hold her to.

“Yeah, but by then, you’ll be married with four kids and will have forgotten all about me,” she teased in a sing-song voice.

Without thinking, he reached over and kissed the top of her head. “Don’t bet on it.”