Page 9 of The Pinkie Pact

Laughing, she handed me her glass. "Be right back."

After she rushed off, I sipped my own drink and continued looking around. This place was off the charts, like real artwork on the walls that were probably worth millions of dollars.

God, if I could just steal one, I'd be set for life. Maybe I could just go over and grab one and take off. I smiled at the image in my mind of me running in heels through Georgetown with a ginormous painting in my arms.

"What's so funny?"

I jumped at the sound of Kieran's voice next to me. Good Lord, how had he crept up on me like that?

"Sorry," he said.

I dared to glance up at him, taking in how hot he really was, especially in his black suit, looking like a goddamn movie star at a Hollywood premiere.

"That's okay," I mumbled, looking away as my heart still raced and not just from being startled. I really didn't want to be attracted to Kieran of all people. I didn't want to be attracted to any man ever again really. And certainly not him.

He stood there for a minute in silence, and I wondered what he was doing. I refused to even look his way again. "So listen, about before," he finally spoke up.

"Before?" I asked, not exactly sure what he meant.

"This morning when I busted into your dorm room."

"Right. That. What about it?" I said, not bothering to hide my annoyance.

"Well, I didn't mean to be so rude."

I had no idea how to respond so I kept quiet.

"I was just..." He shifted on his feet. "Just stressed I guess. And surprised. Kara literally told me yesterday afternoon that this year was going to be different. She promised me. So to show up and seethatthe very next morning..." He shook his head.

Maybe I could kind of see his point. But I still had nothing to say.

"And I was hoping she'd have a new roommate who'd support her in that," he said.

Something in his tone really pissed me off, like he assumed I wouldn't support her. Sure, he'd seen me with dried vomit on my face. But did he have an ounce of empathy for someone being in a totally new situation and just trying to fit in and maybe drinking a bit much?

I turned around to glare at him. "And you think I'm some kind of bad influence on your sister after just meeting me?"

He sighed, making me feel like an idiot. "Kara is the daughter of a United States Senator, and everything Kara and I do reflects on our mom. And it's important to surround ourselves with the right people."

Wow. Now, he wasreallymaking me angry.

"So clearly, I'm not the right people. Is that what you're saying?" I hissed, trying my hardest to keep my voice quiet and not completely lose it on him.

He at least looked down, breaking our heated eye contact.

And so I continued. "So what? You think I'm from the wrong side of the tracks or something? Is that it?"

His green eyes bit into mine as he glanced up again. "That's not what I'm saying at all. All I'm saying is—"

But he didn't get a chance to finish because a beautiful, dark-haired girl walked up to him. "Kier, there you are. I thought I'd lost you."

He tore his eyes away from me, almost looking annoyed before taking a deep breath. "Christina."

Her eyes darted back and forth between us, and then she stuck out her hand in my direction. "Since Kieran seems to have forgotten his manners... I'm Christina."

I shook her hand, shoved down my anger, and forced a smile, feeling like all the other fake-ass people here. "Sky. Nice to meet you."

Thank God Kara showed up at my side right then because I was having the hardest time even breathing let alone attempting to make small talk with the girl who was so blessed to date the holier-than-thou Kieran.

---