James (Resisting Love #3)(24)

An hour later, he’s on me again.

***

James

I watch her sleeping and can’t help but feel a surge of pride. I definitely tired her out. After the first time we made love, I woke her again another three times. I can’t get enough of her. I wish we didn’t waste so much time but there's no point looking backwards and reliving the past. She’s here with me now, and she’s all mine, so that’s all that matters to me.

I leave the room, and head out into the living area to make a phone call. There's one thing I need to take care of, and now. Because if Sasha finds out... No. She won’t. She can’t.

I’m going to handle this.

And then I’m going to make everything be as it should be.

***





Chapter Twelve


Sasha


“Why do you keep checking your phone?” I ask curiously. James glances over at me casually, giving me a slight ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about’ shrug.

“Sasha, you’re up!” Kade calls out. We're all bowling together, with the kids and everyone. I like these family events of James’. Although with Layla and Cole here, I guess it’s my family event too. Even Tenielle is joining us today, and that always makes things more interesting. I glance over at her and smile. She's wearing long denim overalls and a white V-neck top. Overalls are back in fashion? I have no idea. I get up and take my turn, bowling a strike.

“You look like a farmer,” I hear Kade say to her.

“You look like you used to be hot,” Tee retorts instantly.

“Hey, he’s still hot!” Nikki says with a frown.

Tee ignores her and looks at Kade. “I heard that people let themselves go after marriage. It must be true.”

My eyes dart to Kade, who looks as sexy as ever. Maybe even more so, if that’s possible.

“Thank you, baby,” Kade tells Nikki. I walk back to my seat and sit down.

“As if she’s going to say otherwise, Kade. It’s like your mother telling you that you’re smart and special. She’s your wife, she’s conditioned to think so. I, on the other hand, call it like I see it.”

With that parting comment she takes her turn, bowling her hot pink ball and making a strike. I see her turn to me and give me an evil grin. She lives to annoy Kade. He’s like the brother she never wanted, but got anyway.

“A lesser man would be intimidated by your cousin,” James says with a smirk.

“Good, she chases off all the pussies, then,” I tease.

Jye’s turn is next. Seeing as he's too small all he has to do is push the ball off the children’s ramp, which James ended up doing for him anyway. But at least he feels included. Layla bowls next and I burst out laughing when it goes straight to the gutter. I glance over at Chase to see him trying to hide his smile. Knowing him, he probably wants to walk over there and hit all the pins down himself. When the first game is over, we decide to play again.

“How about the Crawfords vs the Steeles/Jacksons?” Tenielle asks. We all get organized into the teams, Kade, Nikki, James, Grace on one team. Chase scowls when Layla walks over to our side.

“I need to even up the teams!” she explains.

“I go where you do,” he states, walking to our side. When James calls out for Jye to go on his team, I visibly cringe. I might have forgotten to tell him about that. Before I can say anything, Tenielle has to say, “Jye is a Crawford, not a Steele.”

“No, he’s not.” James says casually. Then he sees the look on my face. It must be extremely guilty, because his eyes narrow instantly.

“Awkward…” Nikki adds in a sing song voice. James’ eyes say ‘we will discuss this later’. We continue the game, enjoying ourselves even though there's slight tension between James and me. I dread the ride home, but it finally arrives after we all have dinner together. The first ten minutes are silent and then he finally speaks.

“You didn’t give him my last name,” he states.

“James-”

“Can you imagine how I feel right now?” he snaps.

“I know, I’m sorry,” I say in remorse.

“You need to change his name, Sasha,” he demands.

“We aren’t married James. And we weren’t together. It’s perfectly normal for a mother to give her child her own surname. You weren’t in the picture at the time,” I tell him patiently.

“And why was that again, Sasha?” he says harshly. I look behind to make sure Jye is still sleeping. I never want to be one of those mothers that constantly fights in front of their children.

“You gonna keep throwing it in my face? I’m pretty sure that isn’t forgiveness,” I say after a few moments of tense silence.

“I forgave you but that doesn’t mean I can just forget,” he replies.

“You’re not completely innocent in this either, okay?” I bite back. James grips the steering wheel tight, his knuckles turning pale with the force.

“I'll change his name,” I concede.

“I didn’t even get to sign his birth certificate. Is my name even on it?” he says, his anger barely contained.

“Your name is on it,” I say with a sad sigh.

“At least there’s that,” he mutters under his breath. The rest of the ride is spent in uncomfortable silence. When James walks with me into my apartment carrying a sleeping Jye, I have a feeling he isn’t going to stay the night tonight. And when he says he'll see me tomorrow and storms out, I know I was right.