Page 106 of The Pinkie Pact

I also didn't want to be around anyone right now, especially not Kara and Gen. So I gathered up my blankets and pillow, plus my laptop and a few textbooks. The headache still raged, and I knew I should grab some food. But I was too wiped out to bother.

"Are you going to the study lounge?" Kieran asked from close behind me as Kara and Gen rummaged around in our small kitchen.

"That's the plan. I really don't want to be near them." I jerked my head toward the kitchen.

"Can I meet you there in a little bit?" he said.

I shrugged my shoulders, wondering why he'd want to do that. "I'm just going to study then go to sleep. Honestly, I'm exhausted and don't feel up to talking anymore."

"I get that. We don't have to talk at all. I'll study too... if that's okay."

"If you want. Sure."

A short time later, after reassuring Kara that I was okay, I sat in the otherwise empty study lounge and buried myself in schoolwork, incredibly depressed that I was back in this damn room again. Just two nights ago, hadn't I been in heaven at Kieran's apartment, eating his home-cooked meal and then exploring each other's bodies for hours after?

The difference between now and then was too much to bear. Yeah, this had been my life before Kieran and I had hooked up, but to experience such heaven and then come back to this just plain sucked. More than sucked. I couldn't even think of the word for it. But I hated it.

After a while of trying to relate surface integrals to triple integrals, I heard the door squeak open and looked up to see Kieran entering, his backpack on his shoulder, a paper sack in his hand. He opened the bag and pulled out a round carton along with a plastic spoon.

"I thought you might be hungry," he said, handing me the food.

Oh, crap, something about that was really sweet. I pushed my books aside and placed the carton on the table, lifting off the lid to see what was inside.

"Matzo ball soup?" I asked, a sudden lump rising in my throat because that was my all-time favorite comfort food. I had mentioned that once to him, and he had amazingly remembered.

"I hope that's okay." He sat down at a nearby table and unloaded another carton for himself. "I thought I'd try it too."

Damn, he was good.

We sat in silence and ate the delicious soup that filled my soul as well as my stomach. I hadn't had it in so long, and it seriously tasted like the best meal I'd ever eaten. My headache started to fade while my whole body felt wrapped in warmth. And that's why I called it my comfort food.

When we were both done, Kieran picked up my empty container and threw everything in the trash.

"Thank you," I said, giving him a small smile as he sat back down.

A little surprised, he returned my smile. "Any time."

"Did you like it?" I asked, genuinely curious.

"It was perfect. I see why you like it so much." He paused a second like he was unsure of something. "You're a smart girl in so many ways."

I laughed. I actually laughed. "Flattery will get you nowhere."

Kieran laughed too, and we stared at each other for a heartbeat. But I looked away, clearing my throat. "Well, the Divergence Theorem is calling me, and I should get back to it."

"Sounds like fun," he said, emptying his bag out on his own table.

Kieran and I had never actually studied together before. We'd had other things to do for sure. But there was something nice about it, both of us hard at work, focused... working alone but together.

Now that I had food in my belly, it was easier to concentrate, even if Kieran sitting nearby was the ultimate distraction. But I poured myself into my studying, appreciating thinking about something else other than that ever-present ache in my chest.

Hours later, my eyes heavy, I stretched and let out a yawn. "Well, I think I'm going to call it a night and get some sleep."

"Sounds good to me. I've had about enough of Advanced Issues in Constitutional Law myself."

"Ew, I bet."

After I gathered my stuff, I jammed it all under the couch, and I glimpsed Kieran doing the same with the other couch.

---