Today wasn't even about golf. I didn't mind him going out to play as long as he gave me plenty of notice. What Imindedwas his dumping it on me at nine p.m. after I'd already pre-scheduled a time slot to pick up our groceries. I planned on taking Kehlani to ballet while he picked up our shopping with Sienna. Instead, I had to drop Kehlani off, pick up the shopping and quickly run home to pack it away before rushing back to ballet in time to pick Kehlani up. All with a three-year-old asking where daddy was and whether we were going to the park today.
Two hours after James got home, he finally shuffled the girls off to bed. By the time he showered and hopped in beside me, I was still up and scrolling through social media in between reading. I knew I should have gone to sleep straightaway, butthis quiet time after the kids went to bed was the only 'me' time I could get—and I fully took advantage of it.
I ignored James as he softly sighed beside me, his phone already out and a news page open.
"Golf was fun today. Were you alright here?"
What would be the point in nagging him now? Golf was over, and while the day was stressful for me, it was still manageable. I held shit down.
"Yeah, we were fine."
His large hand rubbed my thigh in affection. "That's good."
He was quiet for a moment, his thumb flicking between news apps and his text thread with his friends. Suddenly, he gave a quiet rumble of laughter.
"Rob wasn't sure if he could get a Saturday tee time, so he booked Sunday, too. The fucker is still going."
My eyes moved across my screen, soaking in a new story about a dragon king and his human mate.
"Ian and Pete are going too."
"Sounds like another long, boring day," I murmured.
"Huh? Yeah."
The air hummed with hidden implication as I ignored the conversation and returned to my book. I wasn't one to beat around the bush, but James had to be truly stupid to start this bullshit with me.
"I'm getting better. My average strokes are improving."
"Great."
"I think I'm even better than Ian, and he's been playing since he was fifteen."
"You know I don't understand the game." I changed the lighting on my reading app to dark mode. "Not my cup of tea."
"Yeah, I know."
There was more silence as James shifted around the bed, fluffing his pillow and straightening it before leaning back witha satisfied sigh. The silent tension thrummed between us as I continued to ignore his attempt at golf chat.
"The tee time is nine a.m., so a little later in the morning."
“For fuck sakes, James! You’re not goingagainto golf tomorrow, okay? You’re taking the bloody piss.”
His brows shot up and he held his hands up in pronounced defence. “Okay, okay. Jeez, I wasn’t going to go. Relax.”
His hand stroking my thigh only stoked the flames of my anger. It felt patronising; especially when I knew he was lying. Hehadbeen aiming for permission to go tomorrow.
“I’m sorry,” he soothed before leaning over and stamping his lips on my hot cheek.
I breathed through my rattled emotions before I nodded my reluctant acceptance. He squeezed my thigh before he shifted to lie down. “I’m beat. Night, babe.”
I grunted a response, still too frustrated to play nice tonight. I tried to concentrate on my book but my mind refused to quiet. Biting back a curse, I set aside my book and switched off my lamp. It was a long time before I could fall asleep.
Chapter 2
James
Along, loud yawn stretched my face as my body started to wake up slowly. New aches tweaked my calf, so I quickly straightened my leg and rubbed it to avoid pulling a muscle.
