Page 36 of James

“I’m glad you think so,” I reply. Cole runs into Jye’s room and starts pulling out some toys.

“Okay, you go enjoy. Cole will be fine. I ordered in some food, and he can sleep with Jye in his room,” I say.

“Alright then. I better get home or Layla is gonna kill me,” he says, not looking repentant at all.

“What did you do to her?” I can’t help but ask.

“She may be a little tied up right now,” he says softly.

“Okay, then. Goodbye, Chase,” I say, my eyes going wide. He kisses Cole on the forehead, telling him to be good before he heads off. As soon as he leaves I take Cole into the living room where we play some PS3 together, until James and Jye wake up.

“Tired, were you?” I ask him when he walks up to me.

“Extremely,” he laughs, bending down and kissing me on my lips. There’s a knock on the door.

“Can you get the door, James? It’s dinner,” I tell him.

“Okay.”

“The money’s on the table!” I call out to him. Jye walks over to give me a kiss on the cheek before taking a seat next to Cole. He adores his big cousin. We all have dinner together, and then spend the rest of the evening in the games room playing air hockey. By eight o’clock both boys are fast asleep, and I drop into the bed, completely drained.

***

“I’m surprised you can even walk,” I tell Layla when I open the door. She blushes and ignores my comment.

“How was he?” she asks, changing the subject.

“He was an angel. How was Chase?” I ask nosily.

“Not an angel, that’s for sure,” she boasts. We both burst out laughing.

“We should go out this weekend,” she suggests.

“We should. How about Friday night?”

“Sounds good,” she agrees as she spots Cole.

“Hello, my baby! I missed you,” she croons as she hugs him.

“Let the kid breathe, Layla,” I tease.

“Like you can talk,” she huffs.

“Truth,” I agree.

“Okay we gotta head off. Cole has his karate class. I’ll see you on Friday then. Thanks again, Sasha,” she says.

“Anytime, you know that.” We say bye at the door, hugging like we aren’t going to see each other again for a long time. After Layla’s car has pulled out, I scowl when I see a cop car pull in. I roll my eyes when I hear ‘Mrs. Officer’ by Lil Wayne blasting from her stereo. What kind of cop is she? A few words come to mind, none of them pleasant. She struts up to the front door, and her confidence pisses me off.

“Is James in?” she asks, getting straight to the point.

“Nope,” I reply popping the P.

“His car is here,” she says, gesturing to his Land Rover.

“He went for a run,” I answer with reluctance, crossing my arms over my chest.

“Oh,” is all she says.

---