No Regrets Read Free Page B

huffed and stood back, eyeing it with my hands on my hips. “I’m going to have to buy something to put under the bed that I can store clothes in. Thank God there’s room!”
    As soon as the current crisis had been put aside, I spun around to face my roommate, giving her the biggest smile I could manage. Picture the Cheshire Cat in Alice in Wonderland . “You must be Annie!”
    She didn’t move and she didn’t talk, and it took me about two seconds to size her up. Tomboy. She stood across the room yanking on the hem of a San Francisco 49ers t-shirt like she didn’t know what to do with herself. The thing was too big. By a lot . So were the jean shorts she had on. Plus, they were both ugly. She looked like she’d raided some sports fanatic’s dresser, which was just sad, because she was pretty. Really pretty, actually.
    Annie’s skin was pale and smooth like butter. She honestly looked like she hadn’t set foot outside a day in her life, unlike me who sported that I-just-stepped-out-of-a-tanning-bed look all year long. Somehow, though, it worked for her. Her blond hair was long and shiny, and her eyes were the color of honey. She had a kind of innocence about her that made me feel both a little jealous and like I wanted to be the one to help her shed it.
    We were going to have an awesome year!
    I rushed forward and threw my arms around her, and she stumbled back. Her body slammed against the wall and her suitcase flopped over. I swear, Annie would have fallen right on her ass if I hadn’t been there.
    â€œOh!” I grabbed her elbow and jerked her upright, and I couldn’t help laughing. Real smooth, Cami. “Sorry, I get carried away sometimes. I’m Cami!”
    â€œHi.” Her cheeks turned pink and she kind of looked like she wanted to run for cover.
    No way was I intimidating. Shy, I guess?
    My smile stretched so wide while I waited for her to say more that I started to feel a little insane—like the Joker. Nothing happened, though.
    Okay . . . I guess I should get this ball rolling.
    â€œSo you’re from California? You must be tired and dying to unpack,” I said as I motioned toward her luggage. “I hope you have better luck than I did. I couldn’t fit even half of my stuff.”
    â€œI’ll probably have some extra room,” she said, giving me a shaky smile. “I don’t have a lot.”
    My own smile faltered when I looked down at her suitcases. Two. And they weren’t big. Were her parents mailing the rest of her stuff? No way had a college-age chick come all the way from California with only two small suitcases!
    â€œIs that all you have?” She nodded and a giggle forced its way out of me. Maybe Ryan had a point . . . No. That would be ridiculous. I could picture each and every item in my wardrobe and I was positive I needed it all. “Wow! I guess Ryan’s right. I am high-maintenance. He bitched the whole time he and Dad moved me in, like I can help that I need a lot of stuff!”
    â€œIs Ryan your brother?” Annie asked with a hint of laughter in her voice.
    The question caught me totally off guard. I wasn’t used to explaining my connection to Ryan. We’d always lived in the same place, and people at home just knew.
    I shook my head and shrugged at the same time. That won’t confuse her! Geez, Cami. “Yes and no. We’re cousins, but he’s like a brother. He lived with us growing up. He’s a sophomore here.”
    It hit me then that Annie probably needed to get through the room, which was covered in clothes. Honestly, it looked like someone had dropped a Forever 21 bomb on the dorm and we were at ground zero. I started scooping clothes up off the floor, and the whole time my mind swam with what I was going to do that night.
    Ryan promised to take me out, Julie. You know he always follows through. I’m going to start college off with a bang!