Page 80 of Wicked Serve

“All the same, are you having fun?”

He laughs shortly. “Define ‘fun.’”

“That bad, huh?” I pick at a loose thread on my skirt, hesitating. It’s just a question, after all. It’s fine if he can’t get away tonight. “If you want... you could come over. Dad and Larry were asking about you.”

“I don’t know.”

“Please? It’ll be fun. You might not get here in time for dinner, but we always play Monopoly after.”

“I don’t want to ruin anything.”

“You wouldn’t. Besides... you have to make up with Cooper eventually.”

“Isabelle,” he says, sighing.

“You do,” I say, stubbornly lifting my chin even though he can’t see me. “You’re not just teammates. You’re friends. I explained everything to him.”

“Everything?”

“Not that. Of course not. But you didn’t force me to go to that party and get drunk, Nik. I made that choice all on my own.”

“Because I let you go.”

“I’m the one who ran. You didn’t have to follow me.”

“But I should have.”

“You could have.” I wish I made this a video call; I want to see his face. We’ve been dancing around this topic ever since the hospital, and while we were busy with the end of the semester, it was easy to ignore it. “But I don’t blame you for not doing it, okay? I could have stayed. I could have realized you were hurting and helped you instead of running away.”

I wish I had stayed. I wish I had never said that comment about his family. I wish so many things went differently that day, even though I don’t regret the eventual outcome. I wouldn’t give up my new relationship with Nik for anything, but he’s hurting, and I didn’t do a thing to ease that hurt. I just made it worse.

“I’m glad, where it led,” I add. “I’m glad to have you and I want you here with me for Christmas.”

He’s quiet for a long moment. “Okay, sunshine. Give me your parents’ address.”

Chapter 40

Nikolai

Snow drifts from the heavens as I stand in Isabelle’s parents’ driveway.

The driver offered to carry my bags to the door, but I declined. The entire ride from the city to Port Washington, I stared at the passing Christmas decorations on front lawns, trying to ignore the pit in my stomach. I thought by the time I arrived, I’d have calmed my nerves, but I need another moment.

Even in the dark, it’s easy to see that this isn’t just a house. It’s a home. It’s absolutely beautiful, a towering cream-colored colonial with a wraparound porch and twin pines on the front lawn, but I’m drawn to the crooked wreath on the front door and the multicolored lights hanging from the roof. Light spills from the windows on the first floor, illuminating the silvery Christmas tree in the front hall. Isabelle’s family is well-off, and even from the outside, I can tell that her parents have used their wealth very differently than Grandfather. The party I just escaped was stuffy, formal, and utterly boring. Whatever’s happening inside, I can guarantee it’s none of those things.

Cricket caught me on my way out the door and told me to have fun, and I think she meant it as a serious reminder. New Year’s is just around the corner, after all, and with it, the anniversary of the night everything shattered.

There’s a family inside. Isabelle and her parents, her siblings, their partners. A real family, complete with well-loved holiday traditions. Even though she invited me, I’ll be the odd man out. An interloper, especially in the same room as Cooper.

It takes me three tries to press the doorbell.

A blond woman with pretty hazel eyes opens the door. She’s wearing an oversized red sweater and leggings. Beaded Santa earrings glint through her hair. As she takes me in, her smile grows so wide, I nearly turn around.

“You must be Nikolai!” she says. “I’m Bex. Come inside. Can you believe it’s actually snowing on Christmas Eve?”

She ushers me into the house before I can escape, fussing immediately with my coat. I set down my suitcase and bag of presents, unwinding my cashmere scarf. “It’s nice to meet you.”

“And I’m so glad to meet you. Izzy’s told me a ton about you.”

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