Page 26 of Wicked Serve

“You played really well today.” He gives me a half hug as he pats Tangy’s head. “You’ll be back to playing setter in no time.”

“I hope so.”

“I know so.” He lets out a breath. “Look, I know he wasn’t around over the summer, but now that he’s here... you haven’t seen Nikolai, right?”

The cotton candy taste in my mouth turns acrid. Hopefully he didn’t see us together and this is just him being overprotective. It was reckless to kiss Nik right by the Purple Kettle. Even more so to go into that closet with him.

“Um, no? Why would I?”

He shrugs. “No reason.”

“Why, did he say something?” I hope I sound casual, even though my belly is doing somersaults. On one hand, I hope that Nik never brings me up to Cooper, ever, in any capacity, but on the other...

“Not exactly,” he says. “Look, I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with keeping things casual, but Nikolai makes it an art form. I’ve seen him with girls after games, and I’ve heard the stories. If he makes a pass at you, turn him down. You’ll just end up getting hurt.”

The other day, Nik said he hadn’t noticed any of the girls at McKee. Was that true, or just a lie? In the library, he seemed desperate for me, but that doesn’t mean he hasn’t been that way for anyone else.

I glance away. I hate to lie, but it’s not like anything is going to come from this. “Cooper, come on. I doubt he even knows who I am.”

He shoves his hands into his pockets, rocking on his heels. “It’s just—I remember how messed up you were about Chase.”

I redden. “Chance.”

“Stupid name,” he mutters.

“That was ages ago.”

“And I still wish I had the chance to defend you.” His voice strengthens. “He was a scumbag. Cheating on you was bad enough, but breaking up with you on your birthday? I should have kicked his ass.”

I stiffen at the mention of that ruined seventeenth birthday. My excitement slipped into confusion the longer I waited for Chance to pick me up, and then it became devastation when I realized what he was doing instead. Who he was doing instead. The mere thought twists my heart, yet I bristle at Cooper’s words. The wound Chance left was only exacerbated by last year’s hookups, and my summer with Nik didn’t help the way I wanted, either. Doesn’t mean I want to admit that to my brother.

“I can take care of myself, you know.”

“I didn’t say you couldn’t. But I’m your brother, Iz. I want you to be happy.”

My indignation fades at the earnest look on his face. He’s always been overprotective, but it comes from a good place. He doesn’t have anything to worry about, anyway. I know that things could never go anywhere with Nik. Soon, he’ll get bored, and whenever we cross paths on campus, he’ll pretend he doesn’t know me. Same as the guys I hooked up with last year. Same as Chance, when he wasn’t parading his next conquests in front of me.

“I’m happy. Really.”

Mostly.

Chapter 12

Izzy

Whenever I head to the gym early—something I’m determined to make a habit this season—I call my dad.

He wakes up ridiculously early to work out too, even now. He retired from football ages ago, but the drive to stay fit hasn’t gone away. We have a stacked gym at home; adding the indoor basketball court really took things to the next level. When I’m home, I’m usually able to wrangle him, and anyone else who is around, into playing some casual volleyball.

I finish changing into my bathing suit, a one-piece that’s pink enough to put Barbie to shame, and tie my hair into a tight bun before dialing his number. You’re not supposed to bring phones into the pool area, but it’s so early that I’m the only one around.

“Good morning, darling,” Dad says, answering, like always, on the first ring. “At the gym?”

“The pool today. I’m getting back into laps, for stamina.” I sit by the edge, letting the water run over my calves. This is the pool that any athlete at McKee can use, which is nice because it’s separate from the main pool. It’s smaller than true Olympic size, but always comfortable and inviting. “How are things with you?”

“Your mother and I are going to play pickleball this morning.”

“I thought you said it was an insult to tennis?”

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