Page 166 of Even Ground

He looks back at me, but I shake my head and hold my palm up.

And then he joins them before grabbing Delaney’s hips and moving with her.

For a moment, I just watch them. This is what family looks like.

“Come on.” Pania approaches me and takes my hand in hers. Her eyes shine with happiness, and I lean over and kiss her softly.

I follow her lead, and before I know it we’re all dancing around the living room, laughing. I pull Pania into my arms and twirl her around.

As the song ends, I flop onto the couch, Pania dropping onto my lap.

“I still have no idea why we do this.” Josh laughs.

I cock my head while fixing my gaze on him. “Well, Joshua, if you paid attention to Delaney’s hobbies, you’d know it’s a thing in Grey’s Anatomy.”

“Except they dance things out. We just dance when we’re happy,” Delaney says.

Josh glowers at me. “How did you know that?”

“I’ve had a lot of spare time while I haven’t been man-whoring the past two years.”

Delaney hisses at me. “Reece.”

I turn to see Amelia staring at me wide-eyed.

Shit.

Pania laughs. “You’re on your own. I’m not helping you out with this one.”

For a moment, I’m lost for words. “Why don’t we have breakfast?” I shrug.

“Let’s do that,” Josh says.

* * *

I’ve had breakfast in this house a million times before. This time, it’s different.

Delaney and Pania talk up a storm as they catch up. Josh cuts up Melly’s pancakes, and she’s so much like him in her dramatic telling of something that happened in school. I love every single person at this table. They’re my family.

The thought brings a lump to my throat.

Delaney nudges my elbow. “You okay?”

I slice up my bacon and nod. “I’m fine.”

She lowers her voice. “I know you better than that, Reece Evans.”

I put down my knife and fork and take a deep breath.

“Uh, there’s something I need to tell you and Josh. It’s about my family.”

Pania meets my gaze. She gets to her feet and walks around the table to stand behind me, placing her hands on my shoulders. It’s reassuring and bolsters my courage to tell them.

“Your family?” Josh asks.

“My parents. The ones you’re always talking about meeting.”

Pania squeezes my shoulders.