Page 51 of The Pinkie Pact

"Yes, you do!" She came closer and inspected me head to toe, her eyes narrowing at my low-cut top. "Look at you. You went all out tonight. You have never looked so hot. I mean, I don't know a guy—or girl—that could possibly resist all that. Jesus, I almost feel sorry for my poor brother."

Trying to get away from her prying eyes, I went back to adjusting my hair in the mirror. "I have no idea what you're even talking about."

Still staring me down, she said, "Unless you're doing all this for Bear, which I don't think you are."

I sighed because... well, because I adored Bear and didn't know what to do. I loved dancing with him at reggae night, but I didn't think that could continue really. "No, not for Bear."

Her look was triumphant. "Then itismy brother! I knew it!" She ran a quick victory lap around the room before coming back to stand near me, breathless now. "Come on. Just admit it," she pleaded. "You like my brother."

Against my better judgment, I glanced at her. "Okay. Maybe just a little."

At that, she took off running again, this time doing two laps. "I have a sister!" she shouted at one point.

Shaking my head at her craziness, I couldn't help laughing. "Girl, you are getting way ahead of yourself."

She stopped right by me again and stared at me with those Emerson eyes. "We will see," she said, drawing out each word, her face getting right up in mine with a look like she'd just conquered the world.

"It probably won't amount to much, you know." I really needed to deflate her expectations.

"Mm-hmm," she murmured.

"But..." Now was my chance to ask my burning question.

"Yes?" she said, her voice hopeful.

"If a person did kind of like Kieran... you know, asking for a friend here."

"Right. Yes?" She couldn't hide her grin.

"Well, you know, how long do you think it would take him to get past his big breakup?"

"Oh, well, you can tell yourfriendthat he's already past it." She let out a giggle. "He was past it before it even happened."

Oh, now that was interesting to think about. "Hmmm. Okay. I'll let her know."

She jumped up and down, squealing, making me kind of regret telling her anything, especially because she was going down a crazy road that I was not even interested in going down, calling me sister already.

As we gathered our stuff and headed out the door, that weighed on my mind as well as thoughts about Bear. Nerves exploded from deep in my belly wondering how exactly tonight was going to play out with this new dynamic. I really needed to think of something.

But even with the long walk there with Kara talking my ear off the whole way about how much she'd always wanted a sister and how much I'd love their holiday traditions and the family home in New Hampshire and on and on... I still couldn't really figure it out.

The last thing in the world I wanted to do was hurt Bear in any way, and we had such a sweet friendship, maybe a bit untraditional, but still, he was a true and kind soul that I didn't want to upset.

Just before we went in, I grabbed Kara's hand. "Wait just a sec, please."

She whirled around, surprise on her face. "Why? What's going on?"

"You will be cool, won't you?" I asked, staring her down.

Her face was all innocence. "What do you mean?"

"Likepleasedon't say anything to your brother. Just kind of let things happen naturally if they're meant to happen."

She bounced up and down on her feet. "Right. Right. Of course."

I glared at her because I didn't quite believe her. "Please," I begged.

"I will absolutely do my best," she said, her face serious as she reached out her hand. "Pinkie pact?"

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