Page 373 of Wicked Brutal

“Talent requires skill.”

Iz’s smile disappears. “Funny, coming from someone whose greatest accomplishment is convincing everyone she’s interesting.”

The air changes. Bella’s mouth curves, cold. “You spend an awful lot of time watching someone you find so uninteresting.”

“Hard not to watch a train wreck.”

“You’ve spent months making sure everybody knows exactly what you are,” Iz says. “Don’t get pissy because I finally believe you.”

Bella goes very still. Then she smiles — the dangerous one. “That’s rich, coming from a boy who built an entire personality around saving people, so he never has to wonder whether anyone would choose him if they didn’t need something.”

Iz’s face changes. Fuck.

“Isaac.” One word from Ally, in the exact voice she uses when Tobias is about to launch himself off the back of the couch.

Calm. Exhausted. Finished.

Iz closes his mouth. Bella gives a quiet laugh, and Ally’s eyes move to her. “Isabella.”

“He started it.”

“I don’t care.” Iz points across the room and Ally turns her head. “Do not make me say your name again.”

He drops his hand. Bella folds her arms. For three whole seconds they’re both quiet.

Kaiden starts laughing. “When exactly did you become everybody’s mother?”

“I’m not—“

“You kind of are,” Cat says. “Somebody has to keep these idiots in line.”

Becca twists on Danny’s lap. “She’s right. None of us are especially good at consistently responsible decisions.”

“You threw a lamp at my head,” Danny says.

“You deserved it.”

“Didn’t say I didn’t.”

Ally laughs — then stops. Her whole body goes still against me.

I look down. “What?”

She stares at nothing, then at me, then at her stomach. “I’m actually going to be a mom.”

The room goes quiet. Then Kaiden loses it, and Ally smacks my chest even though I haven’t made a sound.

“No, but seriously. Like — a real mom. To an actual tiny person.”

I slide my hand over her stomach. “That’s generally how this works.”

“You’re not helping.”

“I made the baby. I get to be a little smug.”

Her mouth drops open. Penny groans that they’re all like this, and Xander agrees, and it starts everyone laughing again while Ally sinks back against me, hand returning to her stomach.

“Do you think it’s a girl?” Cat asks. Half the room votes girl. Xander says boy, catches Penny’s look, and immediately amends it to girl.