Page 182 of His Reckoning

“That’s not?—”

“Don’t bother denying it,” Cole says. “We’ve known you your whole life.”

Hudson leans back in his chair. “You’re falling for her.”

The words land harder than they should. For a second, I can’t even argue.

I glance across the table again. Kayla is laughing at something Brooklyn just said, completely unaware of the conversation happening on this end.

Her hair has fallen loose from the ponytail she had earlier. Her eyes are bright, and something shifts quietly in my chest.

Something I’ve been ignoring for weeks.

Cole’s right. Hudson’s right. They’re all right.

I’m completely screwed.

Somewhere along the way … I fell for her.

The thought should scare the hell out of me. Instead, I just sit there, watching her laugh, and realize something else.

I don’t want this to end.

Not the late nights, the mornings in my kitchen, or the way she curls against me when she falls asleep.

For the first time in a long time, the idea of actually letting someone stay doesn’t feel like a mistake.

It feels possible. And somehow, that possibility matters more than the fear does now.

Chapter Thirty-Three

Sawyer

Iknow exactly what I’m going to say to her tonight, which is new. I don’t usually plan things like this.

But somewhere between the last family dinner and this morning, when she fell asleep at the kitchen island with her laptop open … it stopped feeling optional.

I’m going to tell her. Simple as that.

I loosen my tie as I step into the apartment.

The place is oddly quiet.

“Kayla?”

No answer.

Right. I forgot she mentioned having dinner with Melissa earlier.

I drop my keys on the counter and head toward the bedroom to change, still running through the conversation in my head.

Something casual. Not a big speech. Just?—

My steps slow as I pass the hallway table.

There’s a stack of books sitting there all with the same cover and title. Five copies, one on top of the other, with a sticky note on top.

I almost keep walking but something about it makes me stop.