Page 51 of His Reckoning

“I introduced fun.”

She smiles like she knows she’s winning the argument, which is exactly the problem.

“So, tell me,” she says.

“What?”

“Did you hate the game?”

I hesitate as I decide whether I should tell the truth before finally exhaling. “No.”

Her smile widens slightly. “See?”

I take a step toward her. “You’re very confident about that.”

“I’m observant.”

Another step. “You’re assuming things.”

“I’m right,” she says, but I can see her eyes widen as she watches me closely.

Another step. She doesn’t move, which is interesting. Most people would have stepped away by now.

Kayla just tilts her head slightly as she studies me, like she’s waiting to see what I’ll do.

“So, what happens now?” she asks lightly.

She’s close enough now that I can see the small freckles across her nose. I notice the way her hair has started falling out of whatever attempt she made at a ponytail earlier.

The room feels suddenly smaller.

I rest one hand against the counter beside her. “You’re not intimidated at all, are you?”

“No,” she answers, though I think I catch the slight tremor in her voice.

“Most people are.”

She shrugs. “Most people don’t tell you the truth.”

“And you do.”

“Yes,” she whispers.

I thought I would make her nervous by closing the distance. That I would have the upper hand.

Instead, it makes something else happen entirely. Because suddenly, I’m very aware of how close we’re standing. And the fact that if I leaned forward?—

I stop the thought immediately, then step back.

Kayla blinks slightly, like she recognized the shift, but she doesn’t say anything.

Good.

Because neither do I.

I grab two glasses from the counter and turn toward the sink to deposit them, leaving the dishes for the morning. “Good night, Kayla.”

She studies me for a second before she smiles slightly. “Good night, Sawyer.”