Page 164 of His Reckoning

“Thank you,” Kayla says.

For a while, the conversation moves in six different directions at once. Cole and Hudson start arguing about something happening at the restaurant.

Brooklyn interrupts them to correct a story Hudson was telling.

Chase keeps throwing in sarcastic comments that make Ma shake her head.

It’s the usual chaos.

Normally, I’d be halfway checked out by now, but tonight, I find myself watching Kayla instead.

She leans forward when Brooklyn starts telling a story about a customer who tried to return an empty plate of pasta.

“That’s not real,” Kayla says, laughing.

“Oh, it’s real,” Brooklyn insists. “He said the sauce was ‘emotionally disappointing.”

Kayla presses a hand over her mouth to keep from laughing harder.

Hudson jumps in. “Wait until she hears about the guy who tried to pay with a coupon from Olive Garden.”

Kayla nearly spits out her wine. “No way.”

Cole grins. “Way.”

Within minutes, she’s talking to them like she’s been sitting at this table for years.

Laughing, asking questions, and jumping into the stories without hesitation.

The strangest part is … no one’s treating her like an outsider.

Ma is already sliding another plate of food toward her.

Brooklyn has completely turned her chair so they’re facing each other.

Even my father is watching her with quiet interest while she talks.

Kayla fits here so naturally that it almost feels like she’s always been part of this room.

And for some reason … that realization hits harder than anything my brothers could say.

After dinner is done, I’m still sitting at the table, drinking some wine as I watch Kayla help Ma do dishes.

Hudson studies me for a second before shaking his head. “You’re screwed.”

I look up. “What?”

He nods toward Kayla. “You like her.”

“That’s not?—”

“You do,” Cole says immediately. “It’s obvious.”

Livia laughs. “Oh my God, he does.”

I lean back in my chair. “You’re all insufferable.”

Hudson shrugs. “We’ve known you your entire life.”