I froze, while Jade looked happy that he’d caught our little show.

“Don’t stop on my account,” he said, smiling at Jade. “I’d like to see that again.”

Jade shrugged. “Too bad, Cole. It was a one time performance.” Her eyes were bright, and her cheeks flushed. I doubted it had anything to do with dancing though. She had a thing for Reid, but neither of them had ever acted on it because they’d been best friends since Kindergarten. Seeing the way they were together made it impossible to miss that they were perfect for each other, but they were too unwilling to cross that line.

“That’s too bad,” he said. “You girls are pretty good.”

“Jade will have to give you a private show,” I quipped, winking at Jade when she gave me her what-the-fuck look. I considered it payback for last night. “I don’t think I’m the one you want to see.”

Reid turned his smile my way. “Yeah, sorry Kennedy. You’re not my type. But you know I love you.” He winked, and I chuckled. He was an incorrigible flirt who made most women swoon. Including my dear friend who looked ready to strip him naked and take him right here in the living room. Awkward much?

“Reid, where the hell are you?”

Another figure filled the doorway, and as soon as I saw who it was my happy mood left the room like a herd of stampeding elephants. My mouth twisted in a scowl.

Reid turned to face him, ignoring the sudden shift in atmosphere. “I was just getting reacquainted with our neighbors.”

“Neighbors?” Dane and I sputtered in unison.

“Wait, you guys are next door?” Jade asked. Her eyes darted between Dane and me before she looked back up at Reid.

“It would appear that way,” he replied. He was the only one grinning, while Jade looked worried. Dane was staring holes into my face while I was imagining how much sexier he’d look without his head.

“That can’t be right,” I said. “McDonald Hall is a girls’ dorm.”

“Actually,” Dane said, stepping into our place. “It’s co-ed.”

Why hadn’t I seen that in the brochure? Not that it really mattered. It wasn’t the co-ed part that bothered me. It was the fact that Dane was going to be living right next door.

“And you’re next door?” Jade asked again.

Reid nodded, oblivious to the tension brewing between Dane and me. Or perhaps he was just ignoring it.

“I’m sure if you ask nicely, the Housing Department can move you to some dump off campus,” remarked Dane. “Maybe they can find an animal shelter willing to take you in. They’re good with stray dogs.”

My scowl deepened, and my jaw ticked. My face warmed as my blood boiled beneath the surface of my skin.

“And I’m sure if you asked nicely, they’d be happy to relocate you to the nearest brothel. That is where you’d feel more at home right? Between a pair of spread legs,” I replied.

Reid whistled, and out of the corner of my eye I saw Jade’s mouth drop open.

“You’ll be thinking about me between someone else’s legs when my ‘activities’ keep you up at night, Kennedy. God knows I can make ‘em scream.”

I glared, unable to find an appropriate response. When I remained quiet, Dane smirked in victory. God, I hated him. And I hated that he was taunting me. Unwelcomed images of him having sex with some girl flitted into my head, and I shook my head slightly to clear them away.

“Dane, don’t be a dick,” said Jade. She came up to my side, and I was silently grateful. “Unless you want me barging in there and dragging your bed fly out by her hair in nothing but her birthday suit, I suggest you put a muzzle on whatever you bang. I like my beauty sleep.”

I covered my mouth, stifling the sudden burst of laughter that threatened to escape. I loved Jade dearly in that moment, and the fact that she had no brain-to-mouth filter really came in handy.

Dane was about to respond when Reid intercepted. “Okay, enough with the insults. We’ll be leaving now.”

He turned around, and started ushering Dane out the door when Jade said, “One last thing Reid, don’t come to us if you need sugar.”

She winked, and I knew she was kidding.

Before Reid disappeared down the hall, he yelled back, “Jade, you know I want more than just your sugar, sugar!”

My eyes widened, and I looked at Jade. She was biting her lip, and staring at the door where Reid had just left. Why she wouldn’t just step over that imaginary line and give into him was beyond me.

I cleared my throat, bringing her attention to me. “You care to explain what that was about?”

“It was Reid being Reid.” She waved me off and walked back towards her bedroom, but not before I caught the wistful smile on her face. I had the feeling something happened between them during the summer, but I didn’t want to pry. It wasn’t my business, and if Jade wanted me to know, then she would tell me.

I wanted to follow Jade back to her room, but a voice from behind slowed my steps. I turned and found a tall brunette standing in our doorway.

“Can I help you?” I asked, wishing we’d shut the door when Reid and Dane had left. Having people just walk in was getting old.

“Hi, yes, this is room four-sixteen right?”

I nodded. “It is.”

“Great.” The girl walked in, dragging her suitcase with her. “I’m Ashley, your roommate.”

Roommate? I didn’t remember anything about Jade and I having a roommate this year. It was definitely not part of the plan.

“Are you sure?” I asked. “No one told us you were coming.”

“Oh, that’s probably my fault. I enrolled late, and this was the only apartment that had an open room.”

“Who’s that, Kennedy?” Jade bellowed from her room.

“Our new roommate,” I replied, eyeing the girl. She was gorgeous. Like runways of Paris gorgeous. Her brown hair hung just below her shoulders, and made her natural caramel skin tone look darker. Her eyes were green, her nose straight, and her mouth pouty. She was tall, almost towering over me at five-nine. She looked like an Amazonian Goddess, except her boobs were fake. That much was obvious.

Jade interrupted my not-so-subtle perusal when she appeared next to me. “We have a roommate?”

“Looks like it,” I replied.

Jade stuck out her hand, and Ashley took it, albeit reluctantly. I couldn’t blame her. If anyone was difficult to live with it was Jade.

“You’re not on drugs, are you?” Asked Jade.

Surprise flickered across Ashley’s face. Here we go.

“No,” she replied. “My agent would kill me.”

Ah. So she is a model.

“Do you have a boyfriend?”

Ashley chuckled. “No.”

“Do you have an issue with burgers or pizza? Because I don’t think I can live with someone who only lives on rabbit food.”

I laughed. Jade was being ridiculous, but I was enjoying it far too much to stop her little game.

“We have a ‘no sex’ rule. Are you good with that?”

Okay, that’s new. I waited to see where Jade was going with this inquisition. I thought she might have been joking, but her face was impassive. Shit, she’s not kidding. Not that it was an issue for me. I had no intention of being involved with anyone in that way, at least not for my first year.