Page 46 of His Reckoning

Roman follows her gaze across the room, then looks back at me and grins.

This is going to be a long night.

Melissa hooks her arm through Kayla’s. “Come on,” she says. “Help me in the kitchen.”

Kayla looks confused. “We’re already in the kitchen.”

Melissa waves a hand toward the far counter. “You can still help.”

Kayla laughs and lets herself get pulled across the room. The other women follow automatically. Kylie grabs another bottle of wine while Eva picks up a cutting board. Jessie disappears toward the fridge.

Within seconds, the kitchen has turned into something else entirely. Smaller conversations with different energy.

I lean against the bar and take a drink.

Colton walks over beside me. “You’re staring.”

“I’m not.”

“You are.”

“I’m looking at my kitchen.”

Colton glances toward the group of women before he looks back at me. “You’re looking at Kayla.”

“I’m not.”

“Okay.” He says it in the exact tone people use when they absolutely do not believe you.

Across the room, Kayla is laughing at something Jessie just said. Her head tips back slightly while her ponytail slips over one shoulder. I realize I’ve been watching her for at least ten seconds. I look away.

Walker smirks. “This is fascinating.”

“Stop talking.”

“You’re tracking her,” Roman says.

“I’m not tracking anyone.”

“You’ve looked at her twelve times in the last two minutes,” Roman replies calmly.

“I doubt you counted.”

Roman lifts his glass. “I absolutely counted.”

Colton laughs. “Wow.”

“This is new,” Walker adds.

I take another drink. “None of you have anything better to do?”

“No,” Roman says.

“Not tonight,” Colton agrees.

I glance toward the kitchen again purely out of habit. Kayla is leaning against the counter now, talking to Melissa while she pours wine into another glass. She gestures with her hands while she talks so animatedly.

Most people are slightly cautious around my friends.