Page 52 of James

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.

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