Page 78 of Wicked Serve

“What do you mean?” Sebastian asks.

I stare at Cooper. Of course I had my own reasons for wanting to keep my connection with Isabelle quiet, but fuck it, he needs to know this. “You know that she compares herself to you—all of you—constantly, right? She thinks you’re all amazing and perfect and that she’ll never be the same way. She couldn’t stand the idea of you judging her. And now I see why.”

“Shut the hell up,” he says, voice low.

My head throbs, even though I’m not the one with a concussion. I put up my hands. “Come on, Callahan. Hit me.”

I’d welcome the pain, after hurting her. I might not have concussed her myself, but if I hadn’t had a meltdown, if I’d just fucking stayed with her, she wouldn’t have gone to that party. She wouldn’t be in that hospital bed, hooked up to a monitor to make sure her brain is okay.

I swipe my tongue over my lip, smirking. “I know you want to.”

Cooper takes a step closer. I keep my hands up. This is all I’m good for, when it comes down to it. Dishing out pain and taking it. I keep that cocky fucking smile on my face, as if my heart isn’t aching.

“Wait,” Sebastian says. “Stop, guys.”

Penny stifles a gasp as I bridge the rest of the gap, looking into those blue eyes, so like Isabelle’s. She’ll be upset that I goaded her brother into this, but I can’t make myself stop.

“Go on,” I breathe. “Hit me for fucking your sis—”

“No,” Cooper snarls. He raises his hand—but swipes it through his hair, not at my face. “I’m not going to hurt someone my sister cares about, you asshole. Get the fuck out of my face.”

He steps around me, striding away. Sebastian races after him. Penny lingers, biting her lip. My eyes smart as I stare up into the streetlight.

“I’m sorry,” she says finally. “He’ll come around.”

“I don’t care,” I lie.

“I’m glad Izzy has you.” She squeezes my arm as she walks past. “Get some rest, Nikolai.”

Chapter 39

Izzy

James collapses next to me on the couch. “Jesus, that feels good.”

“Want some punch?” I tuck my legs underneath me as I adjust my plaid velvet dress.

We’re the only ones in the living room right now, admiring the tree while Christmas music plays softly. Sebastian, Mom, and Penny’s dad’s girlfriend are in the kitchen, working on our traditional breakfast-for-Christmas-Eve-dinner with Mia, Penny, and Cooper to keep them company. Bex is napping—I don’t blame her one bit for taking advantage while there are plenty of babysitters in the house—and last I checked, Dad was watching football with Penny’s dad, Larry, Coach Ryder. It’s an almost perfect Christmas Eve, especially since I’m aunt to Charlotte Callahan, the cutest baby in the world. I’m glad I’m not the only December birthday in the family anymore.

With Nik in the city for Christmas, however, it’s less sparkly than it could be.

When we finally got around to discussing the holiday, we decided it would be best to spend it with our respective families. His grandfather expected his presence at his Christmas celebrations, and James and Bex were already coming with itty-bitty baby Charlie, not to mention the fact that Cooper and Nik haven’t spoken since the beginning of the month. I should be enjoying the break from school, and from thinking about my future in volleyball, but I’d rather be with Nik than alone here.

“Milk punch?” James asks.

I lift my glass. “Sebby’s special recipe.”

Instead of getting up for his own, he swipes mine and takes a sip.

“Hey,” I protest.

“I know my daughter is perfect”—he stops as I snort, raising his eyebrow—“but would it kill her to nap? Even a little?”

“I was a very fussy baby. Ask Mom about it.”

“That’s true,” Dad says as he walks into the room with Larry, a tray of sugar cookies in hand. James and Bex’s dog, Kiwi, trots at his heels. Whenever they bring him over, he can’t get enough of Dad. “You screamed all hours of the night.”

“See?” I say, snatching back my punch.

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