James (Resisting Love #3)(21)
“Yeah, with boys you only gotta worry about one penis, with girls, you gotta worry about everyone else’s,” she says. We all burst out laughing. Except for Kade, who is staring at Grace with narrowed eyes. Probably contemplating how he’s going to lock her up, or size her for a chastity belt. His response makes me laugh even harder.
“Where’s Jye?” I ask her.
“Layla has him. Wanna go sit down?” she asks.
“Sure, come on.”
As soon as the food is ready we all eat, and watch the kids play together. When Sasha heads into the kitchen with Nikki, Layla sits next to me, and stares at me knowingly.
“What, Layla?” I ask with a sigh.
“You two are so cute together,” she replies, her brown eyes twinkling. She is dressed casually in jeans and a tank top, her hair tied up in some messy up do.
“Are you gonna ask her to marry you?” she blurts out. I recoil as soon as I hear the word marriage. I see her frown at my reaction.
“Layla! Get your ass in this kitchen! You promised me cookies!” Nikki calls out. Saved by Nikki’s pregnancy cravings.
“Coming!” Layla yells back, giving me a thoughtful look before she heads inside.
It’s not that I don’t want to marry Sasha, because I do. And I will. Now is just not a good time.
***
Sasha
I’m in the kitchen with the women and the kids, getting the dessert organized. Layla is baking cookies for Nikki, who's having a craving for them. I glance around, and then frown.
“Isn’t this stereotypical?” I point out.
“What? All the women in the kitchen?” Layla says as she closes the oven.
“To be fair, I’m just sitting here waiting for my cookies, I’m not doing anything,” Nikki says with a cheeky grin. She’s wearing jeans and a v-neck top, and is spinning around in the bar stool, causing her red hair to tumble all around her, creating a curtain of hair over her face.
“So have you had sex with James yet?” Layla boldly asks.
“Do you really wanna hear about your cousin and your brother-in-law’s sex life?” I ask her, already knowing the answer.
“Of course I do,” she huffs.
“Well, then no. We haven’t,” I grudgingly admit.
“What, couldn’t he get through those cobwebs?” Nikki jokes.
“You’re lucky you’re pregnant,” I say, a warning in my tone. Nikki just laughs.
“So, you guys all knew about James’ job and didn’t tell me, thanks for the heads up,” I say sarcastically. Two sets of eyes are instantly on me.
“Hey, I only found out cos I snooped and hired a PI,” Nikki says in a hushed tone.
“What?” I yell, standing up off the bar stool. I look to Layla for confirmation, and she nods, looking sympathetic.
“Yeah, I thought James was gonna kill me. One insane husband had ordered a hit on him, and he was worried the backlash could affect us.”
“A hit,” I repeat slowly, sitting down again. They both nod.
“Fuck me,” I mutter under my breath.
“He really needs to,” Nikki replies with a grin.
“Why are we friends again?”
“I come with Layla. Oh, and we’re gonna be sister-in-laws,” she adds. Layla looks away when Nikki says that, hiding her expression. I wonder what’s running through that head of hers.
“Where’s Tee?” I ask her, changing the subject.
“She’s gone on an impromptu trip to Bali.” That sounds just like her.
My phone beeps with a message from Trey. I'd sent him some photos of Jye earlier today, and was waiting for his reply.
T: He's getting bigger already. I miss you both, this place is so quiet without you. Take care cuz.
I text him back, letting him know we miss him too.
“Is it safe to enter?” I hear Kade call out as he opens the door. Behind him in walks James and Chase. Seriously, these three have some great genes. Layla’s eyes dart to mine and we both smile, knowing we're thinking the same thing. The dessert is laid on the table, strawberry cheesecake, twix cookies and a red velvet cake. Layla, as usual, goes all out. I take Jye onto my lap, moving him from the floor where all the kids were playing with blocks on a play mat. I feed him a few bites of cakes, before looking up and seeing James staring at me intently through his lashes. I flash him a smile and then return my attention to our son. James walks over and stands behind me, pushing my hair off my neck. My shoulders hunch as my body tingles.
“Here, I’ll feed him, you go and enjoy your dessert,” he says as he lifts Jye from my lap.
“It’s okay…”
“Sasha, go and eat,” he says, cutting me off. My lip twitches as I get up and serve myself a huge piece of cheesecake.
“James is so cute with him,” Layla says softly. Cole is sitting in her lap, his mouth covered in cake. His black hair has grown longer, and is flopping adorably on his forehead. I glance over at James feeding our son and sigh in contentment. Nothing could be more appealing to me than watching him love Jye as much as I do.
“You look happy,” she says.
“I am happy.”
“Good.”
“Come on, let’s help clean up,” I tell her. We help with the dishes and cleaning up the kitchen. Jye is already asleep on James when it’s time for us to go.