Page 170 of When Love Takes Root

Zuri tried to rescue the room with the bravery of a child who could feel grown-up tension but had no idea where to put it. “The outlets spark sometimes too.”

Maya groaned. “Zuri.”

“What?” Zuri’s eyes rounded. “They do.”

My heart dropped clean to the floor.

Josiah’s eyes sharpened, all the softness gone from his work face. “Spark?”

Maya shifted in her seat. “Only once.”

Zuri corrected her, then looked at me and shrank a little. “Twice. I mean, maybe twice.”

I pulled in a breath through my nose. “Maya.”

Her eyes filled fast. “I’m sorry.”

That apology almost took me out.

Josiah’s tone steadied the room before I could speak. “No need to be sorry. Sparks mean we stop using those outlets until someone checks them.”

Maya nodded, but her face stayed pinched.

I looked at Josiah. “Can you check them tonight?”

“I can.”

Kayden gave another dry laugh, softer this time but uglier because he knew better. “Bet.”

JJ set his fork down.

No slam. No performance. Just enough force to make my pulse jump.

His shoulders rose with one controlled breath. His eyes dropped to his plate, then lifted to Kayden with a warning only a brother would know how to read.

Kayden ignored it.

Josiah passed Kayden the rolls. “You want one?”

Kayden looked at the basket, then at him. “We got hands.”

My fork hit my plate.

Hard enough for everyone to hear it.

“Kayden Jeremiah.” His eyes came to mine. I held them. “That is enough.”

He leaned back in his chair. “I didn’t curse.”

“You didn’t have to.”

Josiah set the basket down between them. “It’s all right.”

“No, it isn’t.”

The room stopped.

My voice shook with the effort it took to keep from yelling.