Page 19 of The Pinkie Pact

"What do you mean?"

I hated to even tell her because then I had to say the dreaded r-word. "There's a big recital at the end of the semester," I admitted.

"Yeah?" Her eyebrows shot up in surprise. "And that's a problem?"

"Hell, yeah, that's a problem. I hate, I mean,haterecitals with a passion."

"You do? But why?"

My heart pounded just thinking about it, thinking about that feeling as I waited for my turn. And I always had to go last—always—and I felt like I'd die before I even got up there. IhopedI'd die before I got up there. "They make me nervous as fuck."

She let out a laugh. "Really? But haven't you had tons of them?"

"Not really. Probably about three or four of them." They all blurred together into one big heap of agony. "I just like to play for myself. And my dad was cool with that and didn't force it."

"Your dad sounds cool." She scraped out the last of the cheese in her bowl.

"He is. But now, I have to decide if it's worth it to suffer through a recital just to play piano here whenever I want." It was definitely a huge trade-off—the pleasure of playing by myself, for myself, in exchange for a recital.

"Well, would it help if I was there cheering you on?" she asked, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand.

"You'd do that?" That really surprised me, and I tried to imagine Kara at a piano recital listening to classical music.

"Of course. You think I wouldn't?" She feigned a hurt expression.

"Uh, well, it's not exactly reggae night, you know."

She grinned as she finally dug into her salad. "I can handle it. I'd love to check it out."

I was really touched that she'd do that for me, although in reality, it might actually make it worse to have someone I knew witnessing my torture. But I'd never say that because she meant well, and I appreciated her show of support. "Well, thank you. That means a lot."

Nodding, she made a disgusted face as she swallowed some lettuce. "Did I tell you how much I hate vegetables?"

"Yes. Yes, you did. But you can tell me again," I said as we both laughed.

And once again, I thanked the universe for pairing me up with Kara.

Sneaking By

Sky

Friday evening, I pushed the heavy cart down the aisle and shoved aside several books to make some space. I couldn't wait to get off work and go out with Kara to some club she was excited to show me. Bear said he'd meet us there.

Hey, another rhyme. A lot of things seemed to rhyme with Bear, that cutie.

The week had rushed past with quiet nights in our dorm just studying and eating a ton of good food. We'd partied a little with the girls down the hall and gone out last night to a mellow bar around the corner. But nothing too exciting.

I lugged the cart farther down the same aisle, but it kept getting stuck. I justhadto pick the one with a funky wheel. They couldn't retire this one and get a newer model?

And that brilliant assumption that I'd get to read all the time at the library? Yeah, that was complete and utter bullshit. Only the students got to sit around and read at the library. For the employees, there was anendlessamount of work and people to deal with.

On my first day alone, I had to call 911 as the librarian gave CPR to some man who fell off his chair, drool dribbling down his chin. I was so freaking grateful that I hadn't been the first one to see him on the floor. He survived, by the way, thank God.

And I thought it'd be calm? Ha. There was always weird shit going on in the bathrooms and students trying to vape in the middle of the library, like we wouldn't notice. And on my second day, I caught some guy jerking off in the stacks. I mean, what the fuck was wrong with people?

I finished shelving in that aisle and tried to push the cart around the corner to my favorite little spot to take a break—a quiet, secluded study alcove that no one ever used. Most students seemed to come to the library more to socialize than to study.

But I was surprised to see someone there, head in his hands, earbuds in, deeply engrossed in a large textbook. I paused to stare because the guy looked exactly like Kieran, same color hair, same tension in his shoulders.

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