James (Resisting Love #3)(39)

She has to.

***

Sasha

“Don’t you think you’re a little old to still have this One Direction obsession?” I ask Layla. I’m sitting at her kitchen table, watching her as she cooks up some typical Sri Lankan food. It smells good.

“I have no idea what obsession you’re talking about,” Layla says, keeping a straight face. Her hair is in a high ponytail, and she looks beautiful in a simple floral dress. Chase is a lucky man, and he better not forget it.

“I saw Zayn as your phone background, Layla,” I announce dryly.

“Oh, fine. Come on, admit it. He’s freaking hot!” she says animatedly.

We laugh, and she turns off the stove, facing me.

“You wanna talk about it?” she asks, her expression concerned.

“What’s there to talk about? He’s married. He lied about it. My life sucks,” I complain. Layla shoots me a sympathetic look before walking over to Cole and Jye and placing a bowl of cut up fruit in front of them. They're both sitting at Cole’s small table playing with toys.

“I can’t believe Chase didn’t tell me,” she says with a scowl. Her wide brown eyes narrow for a moment, and I see a flash in them that I don’t like.

“Don’t get mad at him over this,” I plead. I really don’t want my drama leaking into everyone else’s lives.

“I know, but still. You’re my cousin, Sasha, my blood. I never wanna see you hurt,” she says softly. I huff out a weary sigh, and take a chocolate dipped strawberry from the plate in front of me.

“You can always stay here with us, you know,” she reminds me.

“I know. Hey, you know who’s hot?” I ask randomly.

“Besides Chase and Zayn?” she asks playfully.

“Well, yes,” I say dryly.

“Who?” she asks, like it never crossed her mind there was anyone else out there besides those two.

“Saxon.”

“Morning Alliance Saxon?”

“Yeah, don’t you think?” I ask, my nose scrunched up.

“Well, yeah, but he cheated on Lexi, and you know what they say. Once a cheater…” she trails off.

“Hey, everyone deserves a second chance,” I tell her, snapping my mouth shut when I realise what I said.

“Do they?” Layla asks, her eyes twinkling.

“Totally different circumstances,” I say, slightly defensive.

“True, but James would never cheat on you,” Layla says.

“Silver lining. Are you the leader of the James fan club, or something?” I ask in a dry tone.

“He’s a goner for you, Sasha. So he got a little married,” she cringes when she says married and my shoulders shake with laughter.

“There's no defending that, no matter how much you try, Layla,” I say around another bite of strawberry.

“This is some Jerry Springer shit,” she mumbles.

“Truth.”

“When does Ryder get back?” she asks after a few moments of comfortable silence.

“In two weeks. I told Sax not to tell him anything, I don’t want to ruin his holiday with Lexi,” I say. There’s a knock on the door and Layla goes to open it.

“Do you want a drink, Jye?” I ask him. He nods yes.

“How about you, Cole?”

“Yes please,” he says. I get up and take out two juice boxes from the fridge, opening both before placing them in front of them.

“There you are,” Kade says as he walks in and sees me.

“What do you mean, there I am?”

“James just went home and you weren’t there, so he’s going nuts,” Kade says, his eyes widening when he sees the chocolate strawberries.

“Looks like I arrived just in time,” he says with his trademark smirk.

“You better call him,” Layla says.

“Is he still married?” I ask Kade. He cringes but nods.

“Then I have nothing to say to him,” I say bitterly.

“If James is done, then where’s Chase?” Layla asks Kade. He eyes me for a second before answering her.

“Chase stayed back with the lawyers to sort it out. James wanted to go to Sasha.” Kade’s phone rings and he answers with, “Yes, she’s here at Layla’s. Bye.” He hangs up. I groan and palm my face.

“He forgave you, Sasha. Remember that,” Kade says casually, but the look in his eyes is anything but.

“He’s married,” I say, enunciating each word.

“Yes, I get that, but you gave birth to his child and never told him. I’d consider that even,” he snickers. I consider punching him.

“Kade, forget he’s your brother for a moment,” I say.

"Yeah, he's an ass," he says after thinking it over for a second.

I throw my hands up in a ‘finally’ gesture. Kade walks over to me and kisses me on the cheek.

“Wanna get drunk?” he asks.

“Yes,” I sulk.

“You two go ahead, I’ll watch Jye,” Layla says. I swear, the woman is a regular Martha Stewart.

“You know you want to,” Kade says, wiggling his eyebrows.

“Won’t James be here soon?” I ask him, suddenly suspicious.