She Laughs in Pink (Sheridan Hall #1) Read Online Free Page A

to respond.”
    “Haven’t you looked?”
    When she looks down to examine herself, I shut my eyes and conjure an image of Yankee Stadium. But when I open them again, she’s looking at me through those long lashes.
    “I must be losing my touch.” She runs her hands over the front of her shirt, smoothing the fabric over her body.
    I fidget, but I take the bait. “Don’t worry. You’re not. I’ve looked.” But I look again anyway. Her thin, light blue shirt, and the matching bra straps peeking over her shoulders do a phenomenal job of keeping her perfect breasts snug. Underneath, I see her ribcage and maybe even a trace of ab muscle. Jesus help me . “I put you at a full B cup. Maybe a small C?”
    “You’re good.”
    I shift, grateful the back of the chair hides my groin. Jeter, O’Neill, Williams, Martinez …
    Juliet continues, “Even though I’ve been cursed with the small Cs, I still need dance and music in my life.” Her voice lowers. “Dancing is like breathing to me.”
    “I understand.” It’s how I describe painting—natural to me, like breathing.
    She looks back up at me and smiles. “So, what else did Ben say?”
    And just like that, we’re back to the default—Ben. “He told me you were homecoming king and queen but you’re just friends.”
    “Friends?” She scrunches her face. “Ew.”
    “You really are obsessed with this guy, huh? Ever think of playing hard to get?”
    “Nope.”
    “At least you’re honest.” We toast to honesty, clinking our cans together. I love the way she keeps her eyes on me as she chugs her beer—
    Until someone knocks on the door.
    The happiness that registers on her face at the sound of that knock reminds me of a kid on Christmas morning.
    “Jules?” Ben calls from the hallway.
    Juliet’s eyes light up. She hands me the beer and prances to the door, and then flings it open and jumps into Ben’s arms. “I’m so happy to see you.” Her voice changes when she talks to Ben, like she’s letting out a breath she didn’t know she was holding.
    “Me, too.” He lifts her and swings her around. She clings to him, the lucky bastard. When he puts her down, he turns to me. “You taking care of my girl?”
    His girl . Even though I came to college to get a new start—to stay away from women and focus on repairing myself—my stomach sinks. I’ve only known his girl for a few hours and here I am, insanely jealous of my new roommate and Juliet’s obvious love for him.
    She should be my girl , I want to say, but instead I mumble, “I’m trying.” He doesn’t seem jealous at all. Why would he? She’s beaming at him , not me.
     
    Juliet
     
    I fall into a Ben trance at dinner, watching him smile, listening to his stories, forgetting everything around me. I don’t snap out of it until we are at the crowded RA meeting sitting on the carpet of the first floor common room.
    The Resident Assistant, some douchebag who calls himself “Dolch,” calls the meeting to order. Words like “safety,” “rules,” and “respect” are so overused I zone out and lean into Ben’s big body. Dolch tells us this year’s university theme is “unity” which to me sounds terribly cliché, but I don’t care. I glue my arm to Ben’s so all the girls know he’s mine. He will be soon enough .
    When Dolch finally ends the boring meeting, the eleven new residents of the basement squeeze into room two to commence the drinking, courtesy of Winston and his fake ID; smoking, courtesy of the room five girls; and listening to music, courtesy of the intense surround-sound stereo system Winston and Rodrigo set up.
    I meet the famous duo of Rocco and Frank, the room four guys. It’s impossible to miss them—they’re giants. Frank is adorable, like an oversized kid with red hair, freckles, and green eyes that dart excitedly around the room. In contrast, Rocco is all steamy male hotness, with dark skin and black hair that falls straight to his bulky shoulders. His stare is