Page 76 of Reckless Temptation

“What will you do?” Mom asked once I explained all I could about the Lorsens and Nick.

“I have a couple of options.” I laid them out for them as well. Both included my giving up. That was how Tiffany would see it, but I considered it more like a readjustment to my plans. If she wanted to take my action as a victory, whatever. I wasn’t in control of her happiness. I wasn’t in control of anything but what would makemethe happiest. That would include keeping the possibility of Nick being in my life and also continuing with law school.

It was just like how Nick’s mom had worded it. Love was the realization that you couldn’t imagine your life without the one you cared for, and that was precisely how it was with Nick.

“And look, I know Nick and I met and started to get to know each other on rocky terms,” I told them, “but our true feelings were revealed anyway. We are too strong together to stick with any problems like what Tiffany wanted to happen.”

Mom smiled and put her hand over mine on the table. She squeezed my fingers and then patted them as she got up. “When will you tell them?”

“The internship panel?” I asked as I got up too. I showered at Nick’s last night, but I wanted to clean up with my preferred products here, too. “Today. I will be at the Lorsen mansion for the first of the interviewing days.”

“Good. The sooner you speak up and stand for what you believe in and truly want, the better you’ll feel,” Mom said.

“And hey, maybe this is one of those occasions where one door closing means another one is opening.” Dad grinned at me. “Just so long as you’re doing this becauseyouwant it, not because you think it’s something this young man would want.”

I laughed lightly. “Nick doesn’t want me to sacrifice anything for his drama.”

Mom scoffed. “Bah. You aren’t giving anything up.”

“Just readjusting,” I finished for her. Confidence swelled within me from having them hear me out. I wasn’t a quitter to consider this action, and I wasn’t giving up. All I was truly giving up in this decision to be with him was the single, lonely life of nothing but work and studying I lived before.

I knew how much better life could be with someone to share it with.

And come hell or high water, I wanted to share my life with Nick. Not only because I didn’t want him to be stuck in his anger and sadness over losing his dad, but because he challenged me to stick with who I was at heart and still admire me anyway.

A couple of hours later, I was cleaned up and looking as professional as I could. Dad drove me to the Lorsen mansion since he was using the car to get to work. After his farewells and wishing me good luck, I reassured him that I’d find a way home.

Hell, I was hoping that after I talked to the internship panel that I could run into Nick here and he could take me home. He wasn’t mad when he texted me this morning, asking me where I’d gone. And he proved that he was aware of the internship interviewingstarting here today. He said he’d be here but would stay out of the way untilwecould figure out what to do.

Ihad already made up my mind.

I reviewed how strongly I believed in my decision too. While we took our seats in the Lorsen dining room when the professors all spoke about what they were looking for in their interviewing process, I paid little attention to their advice and opinions. Instead, I mentally rehearsed the choice I was about to share with them.

Tiffany could have that stupid spot. She could try to find the joy in helping rich scumbags get an out-of-jail card. I would be better off sticking with the morals and goals I had—to help the community, not the corporations.

The internship spot at Lorsen Spengler didn’t have to be the only stepping stone I could rely on.

Eventually, the time came for me to speak to the panel. That was how it was set up, for all of us to have a chance to address the few professors as a preliminary conversation. A practice interview.

And I nailed mine. When stating my career goals, I was direct and unashamed to say that I prioritized community service and justice for the poor, not the wealthy elite. When laying out my strategy for the last two years of law school, I was thorough and to-the-point about how I could work hard to make it happen.

The protocol for these mini sessions was for the panel of professors to take notes, convene, then discuss how well we’d done in another slot of time to speak with them. But honestly, I wasn’t sure I’d stick around that long. Once I’d said my piece, that was it. If they could think that I had interest in being acorporate lawyer after being the Lorsen & Spengler intern, they could forget about it.

“Thank you, Sabrina,” Professor Gowen told me as I stood. “Very informative and clear, as always.”

I smiled and nodded my thanks.

Even though the other seven applicants for the internship would break for lunch before the feedback sessions would begin, I had no interest in eating. My stomach was too twisted and knotted with anxiety. It wasn’t every day that I would set out to drastically alter my education plans and potential career path.

Oh, the hell with it. Screw lunch. And screw waiting.

I couldn’t sit still. I had to talk to Lorsen & Spengler now, before I could let the stress control me any longer. I liked to think I was a patient person, but I was too tense to delay giving them my decision.

Not planning on eating, I strolled outside to feel some fresh air and sunshine on my face for a few minutes. This patio was empty, but I could’ve sworn I saw Professor Lorsen exit out this way.

Instead of finding the lawyer I wanted to speak with and inform that I was dropping out of his internship running—and maybe dropping out of the program altogether—I spotted Tiffany.

Go away.

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