Page 33 of The Pinkie Pact

I pulled up close to the aisle where I had seen Kieran last week, and my heart did double time as I wondered if he'd be there. He hadn't been there Wednesday when I had last worked, and deep down, I was really hoping to see him. Sunday felt like ages ago.

And there he was!

My heart leapt in my chest as I saw that familiar dark head buried in a huge book, a look of utter concentration on his face. I couldn't even imagine how hard law school was and how much studying was involved.

He was so intense, I didn't want to bother him. Seeing him was enough. Or so I told myself. So I tried to sneak by... again. But I was busted... again.

Glancing up, he pulled out his headphones and smiled at me, sending my heart into a freefall.

Calm down, girl.

"Hey, Sky," he said, his voice deep and low.

"Hey," I answered, not sure what to say.

"Are you trying to sneak by again?" His smile grew wider.

I nodded.

"Why? I thought we were friends now?" he asked, his eyes intense on mine, making me forget the English language.

"Um, um..." I looked away, breaking that relentless eye contact. "Right. We're friends. You just seemed really focused, and I didn't want to bother you."

"Hey, one thing, okay?"

"What?" I asked.

"You're never going to bother me."

And now I'd forgotten how to swallow. "Um, okay. Well, good, I guess. I just imagine law school must be pretty tough."

He shrugged. "Third year's not so bad. Mostly electives and worrying about passing the bar in July... and then finding work."

"Uh, yeah, that sure sounds easy," I teased.

His eyes lit up, somehow making them even more green. "I'm luckier than most, though. The job market isn't all that great, and I'm pretty much guaranteed a job with my dad."

Ew, his dad. I wondered if he had any idea what a pig his dad was. Probably not. Men like that were very experienced at keeping things on the down-low. Of course, I couldn't be sure he was actually doing anything wrong. But in my heart, Iknewwhat kind of man he was... just from that one look he'd given me.

"And youwantto work for your dad?" I cringed inside after asking it. But it just spilled out.

He stared at me for a long moment. "Sure."

"That's cool." I needed to change the subject because the last thing I wanted to do was draw attention to my feelings about Mr. Emerson. "So Kara said you'd like to go into politics someday?"

That grin returned. "So you two actually talk about me?"

"Only once," I answered, smiling back at him.

He gave a slow nod, a funny look in his eye. "Well, yes, politics is the plan anyway."

"You're very ambitious."

"So are you," he said.

"I don't think so. Is it really ambitious to go into teaching, a notoriously underpaid and under-appreciated profession?"

"You have a point. But it's definitely a noble profession."

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