Read Online She Laughs in Pink (Sheridan Hall #1) by Jessica Calla - Free Book Online Page B

thought you weren’t going to apologize.”
    I sigh. “Turn around.”
    Juliet ignores me again, so I try the honesty approach. “When Ben asked me to check on you, I didn’t want to tell him I’d planned on hunting you down already. I thought he’d get jealous and you’d get weird.”
    “I don’t get weird ” she says.
    I hold myself back from yelling, turn around dammit! “You absolutely get weird, especially when it comes to Ben. I had a nice time with you yesterday. I like you.”
    Like isn’t the right word, but I’m not sure what is. I want to tell her it’s okay if she likes me back. It’s okay I touched her and she took a step into my world. But I can’t take that step. “I like you, like you,” I end up muttering.
    She shakes her head. “Now you’re getting weird.”
    “I don’t get weird,” I tease.
    With that, she finally turns toward me. As we sit face-to-face, my insides twist when I realize she’s right. I’m weird. I’m a guy, for Christ’s sake. I have a history a mile long with girls and for some reason this one—this gorgeous, snotty, obsessed-with-my-roommate brunette—has my insides tied in knots.
    “Don’t think that just because you’re looking at me with those stupid purple eyes I believe you.” She turns away and her voice lowers, but I think she says, “It’s easier if I don’t.”
    Stupid purple eyes? “Did you say it’s easier if you don’t? Why?”
    She huffs. “Just go away, Chase. I can’t deal with you.”
    “Because…?” I won’t let her off the hook.
    She whirls around and glares. “Because I’m studying and listening to music, and because I hate you but you’re impossibly cute.” Cute? Score two for Team Chase. “And you know how I feel about Ben.”
    I ignore the Ben talk and focus on the positives. “You said I’m cute.”
    “You must know you’re cute.” She runs her hand down her hair, and I have to touch it. I reach out and tug a strand. “Ouch!”
    I don’t apologize. “Cute makes me sound like a puppy dog. I prefer sexy.” I’m teasing, of course. I’ll take cute any day from Juliet.
    “You’re cute like a big, dumb puppy dog who is so pathetic he can’t help but be loved.” When she smiles, the pink swirls around her, like it did the day before in my apartment. This time, I try to focus on it before it disappears. It’s sort of like a cloud that’s only half there. It’s visible, but transparent. Smaller particles of color are clinging together for movement. Can she see it? Am I the only one?
    “Why are you looking at me like that?”
    Because you’re in a sea of pink. I shift and look to Pooja’s side of the room. Topic change time. “Have you gone through your roommate’s stuff yet?”
    “Jeez, Chase, no!”
    “You must have peeked a little.”
    She smiles and glances at Pooja’s closet. “Maybe I accidentally opened the closet and accidentally saw she and I are the same size. Clothes and shoes.”
    “Informative accidents. She’s tall like you?”
    “I guess so.” She’s back to herself as she talks clothes. “She has a great wardrobe. Fancy stuff too, like saris and silk.”
    “I bet you’d look incredible in a sari. Maybe you can borrow some of it.”
    “Maybe.”
    “Am I forgiven for doing nothing wrong?” I hate that she hasn’t talked to me all day. “If you don’t forgive me, I’m going to bang on your door all night and Rocco’s going to beat me up and my blood will be on your hands.”
    “Okay, okay, you big, pathetic puppy. You’re forgiven.” She waves at me. “Now shoo.”
    I smile. “You’re not going to pet me?”
    “No, you freak. But, Chase…” Her brow furrows as she holds my gaze. “Will you promise to be honest with me? After all the shit with Ben, I just need someone to be straight with me.” When I try to interrupt her, she holds up her hand. “If you don’t want to hang out with me, that’s fine. Just tell me. Don’t babysit for Ben because he feels