Page 35 of His Reckoning

I glance toward the hallway where my guest room is now holding all my luggage.

“Well,” I say, “thanks for helping.”

He pauses for a moment. Then nods once. “You’re welcome.”

A second later, he disappears down the hallway. I stand there for a minute, looking around the apartment because for the first time since this whole strange living situation started, something feels … different.

And I can’t quite figure out what it is.

Chapter Six

Sawyer

Sleep isn’t happening. I know that after about thirty minutes of staring at the ceiling. The apartment is quiet. The city outside the windows has settled into its late-night rhythm.

Normally, that’s enough, and I’m out the moment my head hits the pillow.

Tonight, my mind won’t shut off.

I roll out of bed and pull on a pair of workout shorts and a cutoff T-shirt before heading down the hallway.

The penthouse gym is one of the few places in the apartment that always clears my head. Running works, but weights work better. Anything that gives my brain something else to focus on.

I step onto the treadmill and start at a steady pace. Within a minute, the familiar rhythm takes over, but it doesn’t take long before my thoughts drift back to earlier.

Cole. Kayla. The restaurant conversation. Luigi’s and Uncle Tony.

I increase the speed. Running harder usually helps.

Tonight, it doesn’t.

I run until my lungs burn and my shirt sticks to my back with sweat.

When the thoughts still haven’t stopped, I step off the treadmill and move toward the weight rack.

Next, I move to the bar. Pull-ups. That usually finishes the job.

I grab the bar and pull myself up.

The strain in my shoulders and arms forces my focus back where it belongs.

By the time I finish the first set, sweat is running down my arms.

I jump down from the bar and grab a towel. That’s when I hear the door open.

I glance toward the mirror.

Kayla steps into the gym.

She freezes the second she notices me. “Oh—” Her eyes widen slightly. “I didn’t know you were in here.”

She gestures vaguely toward the treadmill. “I was just going to run.”

“You can.”

She nods once. “Right.”

She walks over to the treadmill and starts adjusting the settings.