Page 40 of Vicious Behaviors

I let out a laugh, the tension loosening in my chest. Just being near my sister is enough to chase away the last traces of the nightmare.

“How about I give you a ride home then?”

“I’m down for that. Though you know if you come home now,” she peeks at her watch, “Mom’s bound to guilt-trip you into staying for dinner.”

“I’m okay with that.”

“Yeah?” she asks, her well-groomed brow cocked up high.

“Yeah.”

Other than the nightmare from a few minutes ago, it’s been a good day. He’s been quiet, which makes days like this feel almost… normal. Perfect for being with my family.

Stella hooks her arm around mine, evidently happy to spend more time with me, and we head out of the library. Unfortunately for me, my good mood is ruined when we round the corner and run right into none other than Izzie-fucking-Graham.

“Izzie?” Stella grins, surprised and clearly delighted. “I didn’t know you were taking classes at UChicago.”

“Hi, Stella. Marcello,” Izzie replies, looking equally thrown off. “Yeah, I’m taking my master’s here. Just met with my advisor about my thesis. I didn’t know you went here, too.”

There’s something off in her tone. I pick it up immediately. Almost like that piece of information should’ve been obvious to her. As if she should have known Stella attended the same school she did.

“Yup. Senior year. My last year, fingers crossed,” Stella says, and I catch the mischievous gleam in her eye as she glances between the two of us, clearly enjoying herself.

“Good for you. Any plans for grad school?”

“Nope. I’m done with school once I’ve got my business diploma in hand.”

“In a rush to be some high-powered CEO then?”

“Something like that,” Stella smirks. My sister changes the topic by dropping her gaze to Izzie’s lower lip. “Glad to see you heal quickly.”

Izzie chuckles. “So am I.”

The way they talk—so casually, like old friends—is fraying my nerves.

“Let’s go. We’re late,” I mutter, needing to break this off.

“No, we’re not,” Stella dismisses without looking at me.

“Yes, we are. Let’s go, Stella.”

She catches the tone in my voice and knows I’m not joking. With an exaggerated eye roll, she turns back to Izzie and flashes another one of those perfect smiles.

“Where are you parked? We can walk you to it, if you want.”

“Actually, my car broke down. I’ve been putting a lot of miles on it, and it finally gave out this morning. It was a piece of junk to begin with, but now I feel like I’ve lost a limb.”

“I hear you. I’m in the market for a new one, too. So how are you getting home?”

“By bus. How else?” Izzie says with a short laugh.

“In this snow?” Stella frowns, pointing to the blizzard slamming against a window. “Absolutely not. We’ll take you home.”

“We will?”

“You will?” Izzie and I ask in unison, both sounding equally displeased with the idea.

“Of course,” Stella replies sweetly.