Page 41 of Wicked Devotions: Part 2

“She’s going to be so upset. And she likes you more.”

“She does not like me more.”

Saylor just stares at me.

“Lies. She does not.” I can see I’m not winning her over at all, so I decide to pull out the big guns. “Remember back in high school when I covered for you?” She snuck off with her girlfriend for spring break in Miami, and I told our parents she was with me.

“No. I don’t recall.”

“Saylor.” I raise an eyebrow.

“Ugh. Fine,” she grits through her teeth. “After this, we’re equal.”

“You’re the best,” I lean down and wrap my arms around her, lifting her off the ground. “I love you, pipsqueak.”

“Yeah, yeah. Put me down.”

I set her back down on her feet.

“I’m assuming you’re all going together?” She glances at the house.

“Yeah. Cyrus has a few things he has to take care of, so we’re just going to hang out on a yacht and relax.”

“What a rough life.” She rolls her eyes. “I’ll keep the conversation off of you and your absence.”

“They love Lou. Just bring her along to distract.”

She nods. “I will. Let’s get lunch before you leave, though.”

We make plans, and then she’s off. I watch until their taillights disappear down the street and then head inside. Declan and Harper are discussing something in the kitchen, it’ll either lead to fighting or fucking. Probably both.

Cy’s nowhere to be found, but I know he has some work on a few projects to get finished before break. I assume that’s where he’s gone off to. I pick up a few of the glasses from the coffee table to bring them to the kitchen, hoping my presence will ease the mounting tension.

“Thank you.” Harper takes the glasses from my hands. “I could have gotten them.”

“It’s no problem.”

Just as I look at Declan, one of the glasses falls into the sink and shatters.

“Damn,” she says as she reaches down to pluck a few shards. “Those are nice glasses, I’m so sorry.”

“Be careful?—”

Before Declan can even finish the sentence, Harper cries out in pain and clutches her right hand to her chest. We’re both right up on either side of her in the blink of an eye. Blood runs down her hand, dripping into the basin.

“Go grab the first aid kit in my room,” I tell Declan while gently cradling her hand in my own.

She winces at the sight of a shard sticking out of her palm. “It stings.”

“I bet. I’ll get it out with some tweezers, though. Next time, put some gloves on first, yeah?” I smile down at her.

“I wasn’t thinking, I just wanted to clean it up as soon as possible so I wouldn’t get yelled at.”

“No one is going to yell at you.” I run my thumb over the inside of her wrist.

“I know. I think it was just a knee jerk reaction.” She shakes her head and looks away. “Sorry.”

I hate that she grew up in a home where anything less than perfection was punished. It hasn’t escaped my notice how she flinches when the three of us are playing video games and yell at each other, even if it is all in good fun. Hopefully someday she’ll feel fully safe with us and not be scared when we get loud or rowdy.

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