Page 43 of James

“Sasha Crawford. I’ve loved you since the day I met you, and I will never stop. You are my soul mate, my better half. Will you marry me?” he asks me.

“Of course I will!” I practically squeal as he puts the ring on my finger.

“It’s beautiful,” I say adamantly.

“I’m glad you like it,” he says, a proud smile on his handsome face.

“I love anything from you, James.” It’s true. Hell, he could give me one of those two dollar machine rings for all I care.

“Put your hands on the headboard Sasha,” he demands.

I instantly comply.

***

Chapter Eighteen

James

“You need to tell her, James,” Chase lectures, not for the first time.

“Like you told Layla?” I fire back.

“That was different. And you saw how that played out,” Chase says wisely. He’s right, too. I need to tell Sasha. I’m just dreading her reaction. I never planned on proposing to her the other night, it just happened. The timing still isn’t right, but that moment was perfect. I love her so damn much it almost hurts.

“The golden boy is in shit,” Kade teases in a sing-song voice. He bends over to play his shot.

“I have one word for you, Kade,” I say tonelessly.

“What?” he asks in a wary tone.

“Ashley.”

I ignore Chase as he bursts out laughing. They're playing each other at a game of pool, and I’m waiting to verse the winner.

“Does Sasha know what you’ve done on this pool table? Or who? Hell, do you even know who?” Kade barks out, shaking his head with amusement.

“Thank you both for your life altering advice,” I say dryly.

“Just be honest. I can just imagine Layla yelling at me when this shit comes out,” Chase grumbles. Kade makes the noise of a whip.

“Pot, meet kettle.” Chase laughs at Kade.

“Oh please, Nikki knows who’s the boss,” Kade scoffs. Chase shoots in the black ball, winning the game. I stand up and get my cue ready.

“Maybe we should do a trip over there, sort it out?” Chase offers. My brother has always made my problems his own, ever since the day I was born.

“Your women going to let you out to play?” I ask dryly.

“Will yours?” Kade counters.

“I think the question is, do I want to leave her, even if it’s for a few days.” Another whip noise from Kade.

“You needa sort this out, bro,” Chase says as he breaks.

“I know. That reminds me, I needa call mum and tell her that her youngest and favourite son is getting married,” I say with a grin.

“Cue the tears,” we all say at the same time. Our mother can be a little melodramatic sometimes. Best mother in the world. I play my shot, sinking in two balls.

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