I leaned in close to her, teasing her neck with the tip of my nose. “He won’t,” I said, loving that chills rose on her skin at my light touch. “He’ll be pissed at first. Then he’ll laugh. Then he’ll plot the next attack.” I sat back, eyeing her. “It’s what we’ve done for years.”

She smirked. “Ah, but you’ve stepped up your game. Recruiting help.”

I chuckled. “I have to. He’s way above my level.”

“You’re closer than you think, I bet.”

“Thanks,” I said. “But I’m not being humble. He’s skyrocketed his skill set in the last two years. Ever since Inkheart hired him. He’s getting paid for the kind of experience some people would kill for. They’re teaching him more than MIT.”

“Badass.”

“Yeah,” I said. “That’s one of the reasons why I’m going to own the TOC and rock a boot camp this summer. I want the experience to shine on my resume. And as long as MIT accepts me…”

“They will,” she said. “And here I am solely focused on getting that acceptance letter and not even thinking about getting hired by a company. I’m practically a slacker.”

I rolled my eyes. “That’s the last thing you are,” I said. “You’ll get your letter. I have no doubt.”

“Still. You have your whole future mapped out. I haven’t thought past March.”

I laughed, smoothing my hand over her back. “You don’t need to have a plan. You’re already going to slay Security Systems this summer.”

She tilted her head from side to side. “I am stoked I got into that one. I honestly didn’t think I would, with the selection process they go through. Mom about lost her mind when I told her the cost.” She shrugged. “I had more than half of it saved up.” She glanced at the counter. “And in about thirty minutes I’ll be clocking in to earn my way out of the loan she fronted for the rest.”

“You work harder than I do. I honestly didn’t think it was possible,” I teased. I was so lucky my parents hadn’t forced me to get a job. Between hacking and actual schoolwork, I rarely had time for anything else. Especially not a girlfriend…but here I was. Completely awestruck by Amber and beyond happy she was mine.

Both our cells buzzed on the table. I glanced at mine while Amber ignored hers.

“Another one?” I asked, half grumbling. “Where does this person find the time to post so much?” I spared a glance at her cell. “Have you been following the blog still?”

Amber narrowed her eyes on my cell. “Oh,” she said, slightly jolted. “Here and there.”