Page 163 of His Reckoning

The second we step inside, Brooklyn’s voice cuts through the room. “Well, well, well.”

Kayla mutters under her breath. “Oh no.”

My sister walks into the entryway with a grin that already tells me I’m going to regret bringing Kayla here.

“You came back,” Brooklyn says to Kayla like she’s greeting a long-lost friend.

Kayla shrugs. “I was promised food.”

Brooklyn laughs and hooks an arm through hers. “Smart girl.”

Before I can escape, Hudson appears from the kitchen.

His eyes flick between the two of us. “Did Sawyer voluntarily bring someone to dinner?”

“Miracles happen,” Brooklyn says.

Hudson smirks. “Dad owes me twenty bucks.”

“Why?” Kayla asks.

Hudson jerks a thumb toward me. “Because I said he’d bring you back.”

I roll my eyes and walk toward the kitchen. “Can we not do this?”

Too late. The entire table is already looking at us.

Dad is at the head of the table with Ma beside him while Chase and Livia are arguing about something on the other end.

Cole spots us first. “Well, look who decided to show up.”

Ma stands immediately. “Kayla!”

She walks over and pulls her into a warm hug, like they’ve known each other for years. “I’m so happy you came.”

Kayla laughs slightly. “I was told there would be food.”

Dad chuckles. “Then you came to the right place.”

I pull out a chair while everyone settles back down. For the first ten minutes, the conversation is chaotic in the way family dinners always are.

Stories from the restaurant. Cole complaining about suppliers. Brooklyn teasing Chase about a girl he’s been seeing.

Kayla jumps into the conversation easily, laughing at something Hudson said.

Once again, I find myself watching her instead of participating, but it doesn’t go unnoticed.

Cole leans back in his chair and looks between the two of us. “So,” he says casually, “is this the part where we pretend Sawyer didn’t bring a woman he’s been living with for over a month?”

Kayla chokes on her drink. “Living with?”

I glare at him. “She needed a place to stay.”

Cole raises his hands. “Relax.” Then he grins. “I’m just saying … this is new.”

Chase nods in agreement. “Very new.”

Brooklyn leans forward. “I like her.”