Gold

by K. A. Linde

  “Everything okay?”

  “No. He’s acting like a dick.”

  “Want me to come with?” he asked.

  She stared up into his hazel eyes and smiled. She was drunk, and she could feel it by the way her body was responding to his nearness.

  “Phrasing. Are we doing phrasing?” she joked to clear her mind. She straightened up.

  Eric laughed. “Let’s go, Bryna.”

  Trihn grabbed her hand and dragged her out of the crowd of dancers. Bryna’s other hand slipped easily into Eric’s, and he followed. Once she was out of the crowd, she quickly released him.

  “Hey,” Trihn said, standing in front of Neal.

  He had his cell phone out and seemed to be aimlessly scrolling. “What’s up?” he asked.

  “Do you want to go dance?”

  “You know I really hate crowds.”

  “Oh,” she said. Trihn looked back at Bryna with her eyes wide.

  Bryna probably shouldn’t intervene, but she couldn’t help herself. “Then, why are you at a party?”

  He looked up at her from his phone. “Because my girlfriend told me I had to go since you’re her best friend.”

  “I did not say you had to go. I wanted you here!” Trihn said.

  “Yeah, and that translates into me having to show up to another mindless party with a bunch of jocks who hate my very existence,” Neal complained.

  “No one hates you!” Trihn cried. “You’re blowing this way out of proportion.”

  “Right,” he said dismissively. He looked back down at his phone.

  Bryna glared at him. “Maybe you should talk to your girlfriend instead of ignoring her.”

  Neal pushed himself to his feet in one quick move. “Maybe you should mind your own fucking business. You’re the only reason she comes to these fucking things. She’s not a party girl. She’s an artist.”

  Bryna stared at him as if he had grown horns. “Why can’t she be both?” she spat.

  “You force her into these situations. I have no idea why she’s even friends with you and Stacia. You’re forcing her to be this person she isn’t.”

  “No one is forcing me to do anything!” Trihn said.

  Bryna couldn’t take it. “The Trihn I know is most definitely a party girl, but she’s also a model, an artist, a fashion guru, a hopeless romantic, a dancer, and so much more. If you can’t see that, then you’re missing out.”

  “Whatever,” he said.

  “If you can’t see that, then maybe you should leave,” Trihn said impulsively. “You don’t want to be here with me anyway.”

  “All right. I guess I will then,” Neal responded. He glared at the trio of us standing there and stalked toward the door.

  “Oh my God,” Trihn cried. Tears immediately burst from her eyes. “What the hell have I done?”

  “You told that loser to shut up and get the fuck out!” Bryna said.

  “No. Ugh! I don’t want to break up. I can’t do this.” She looked like she was going to hyperventilate. “I’m going after him.”

  “What?” Bryna asked. “He was just an ass.”

  “I need to talk to him.”

  Trihn turned and ran after Neal. Bryna shook her head and followed her into the house. Eric was close on her heels. Trihn caught up to Neal at the door and pleaded with him.

  Eric put his hand on Bryna’s elbow. “Hey, maybe we should give them some privacy. She’s kind of a mess.”

  Bryna anxiously looked at her friend. She hated seeing Trihn suffer like this. Why would she grovel for a guy who had insulted her because he didn’t want to be at a party? So ridiculous.

  “Yeah, sure,” she agreed reluctantly.

  They took a step away from the door and went into the living room. It was packed with people, and someone had used a table for beer pong. The cleaning service was really going to be earning their money after tonight.

  Bryna stole beers for them from the beer-pong pitcher. She passed one to Eric and chugged.

  “Whoa!” he said, reaching for her drink. “Maybe slow it down.”

  “I’m thinking I need to get fucked tonight,” she drunkenly told him.

  He raised his eyebrows. “What?”

  “Yeah, I’m horny as fuck.”

  “You’re undoing all the progress I made by claiming you’re picky.”

  She sighed dramatically. “Fine. I’ll let you be picky then. Who can I fuck?”

  “I am not going to choose your next victim,” he said tightly.

  “I’m not a black widow or something,” she slurred. “I’m not going to eat them up and spit them back out.”

  “You kind of are.”

  She shrugged. “I kind of am.”

  She didn’t care though. That wasn’t what sex was about. It was about getting off. If she could have someone to satisfy that deep need, then she would be good.

  “I think maybe you’ve had enough,” Eric said.

  She hadn’t even realized she was still drinking the beer in her hand.

  She held it out behind her, so he couldn’t take it. “I’ve had enough when I say I have,” she teased. “And I definitely have not had enough.”

  “Hand it over.” He darted out way faster than her slow reflexes and grabbed the beer in her hand.

  She didn’t let go though, and the glass tipped, spilling the contents on her mostly naked body and all over the floor.

  “Gross!”

  Eric cursed. “You’re a mess,” he grumbled. “I’ll get something to clean you up with.”

  Bryna had to stand around in the middle of the living room with her legs drenched in beer. It was disgusting. She was going to need a serious shower and exfoliator to get this shit out of her perfect fucking skin.

  Her eyes wandered the crowd of people while she waited and landed on a girl standing in the hallway between the kitchen and living room. She appeared to be lost or looking for someone. That was when Bryna placed the pretty brunette. Audrey, Eric’s ex-girlfriend.

  Bryna ground her teeth together. Bitch. What the fuck is she doing here?

  When Eric noticed Audrey, he looked startled. He was holding a towel in his hand for Bryna, but as soon as Audrey saw him, she began speaking animatedly to him. Bryna wished she knew what the bitch was saying. On instinct, she hated the woman, and she wanted Audrey out of her fucking house.

  She took a step toward Eric and Audrey, but he put his hand up in front of him. Audrey stopped talking and glared at him. Then, he was walking back to Bryna. She tried to remove the scowl that had been on her face, but she didn’t think she hid it well. He looked confused when he saw her.

  “Sorry about your legs. I didn’t mean to spill beer on them,” Eric said.

  He bent down and wiped sticky beer off her legs. Bryna glanced up and met Audrey’s gaze. She looked horrified. Bryna wondered what it must look like to Audrey to see Eric touching her. It made her giggle.

  Eric looked up at her again. “What?”

  “Nothing. Just thanks,” she said.

  “For spilling beer on you?”

  She giggled again. A fucking giggle. “For helping to clean me up.”

  He furrowed his brows and stood. “You’re drunk.”

  Then, without a thought in her head, she leaned into him and planted her lips on him. Her mind was empty. The only thing that existed was this kiss. She remembered the feel of his lips from the national championship game. She had told herself it was an act, but he had perfect lips. It wasn’t fair.

  She didn’t even want to acknowledge the other thing that seemed to be snaking up through her body. Jealousy. It’d flared up without warning. She wanted Audrey to watch. Bryna knew she couldn’t have him. She had no shot. But seeing his ex had pissed her off, and she didn’t care how irrational it was.

  It could have been seconds or minutes, but suddenly, she was wrenched away from him. Eric was holding her at arm’s length. He didn’t look happy.

  “You’re drunk, and you’re not thinking.”
<
br />   “I feel like I am.”

  “No,” he said roughly. “You’re drunk and horny, and I’m here. You would never do this otherwise. We both know it’s never going to happen.”

  The rejection felt like a slap in the face. It was Posse all over again, with him telling her she was that girl. Her cheeks heated with anger, and she wanted to bite back a smart retort, but for once, she was rendered speechless.

  Eric turned around and saw Audrey still standing there, watching. As soon as their eyes locked, she darted for the door.

  “Fuck,” he groaned. “I have to go talk to her.”

  “Eric,” Bryna whispered, “you don’t have to go.”

  “I do. Try to sober up. I have a feeling you’re going to regret this in the morning.”

  He left her standing there.

  All she could think was that she didn’t live with regrets. Then, Jude’s face popped into her mind, and the liquor she had been holding in threatened to come back up.

  It was going to be a long night.

  BRYNA ROLLED OVER IN BED and threw her arm over her eyes. “Ugh,” she groaned.

  Last night had veered horribly off course. She was hungover as shit, and the only thing she could remember was the look on Eric’s face before he’d left the party. What the fuck is wrong with me? She knew she needed to go talk to him about what had happened. She couldn’t stomach the thought of him being upset with her.

  But she couldn’t go like this. She needed to clear her mind before she could talk to him. Right now, she felt horribly unlike herself.

  She got out of bed, threw on a black mini skirt and a flouncy scoop top to fit her mood, and quickly pulled her hair back into a high pony. She retrieved her phone and messaged Hugh.

  Is it morning already?

  It’s the afternoon actually. Late night?

  Yeah. I’m dying. I can’t function.

  I wish I were there to make it better.

  Me, too.

  That was a lie. Bryna was glad no one was around to see her right now. After last night, she couldn’t muster her facade, and she definitely wouldn’t be able to keep it together around Hugh.

  Why don’t you have a spa day? I’ll have my assistant call ahead for you.

  She smiled. That sounded perfect.

  I’d love that!

  I’ll take care of everything. I can’t wait to see you again in a week.

  On her way to the spa, she called Trihn through Bluetooth. She hadn’t heard from her friend since she’d left with Neal last night, and after the way things had ended, Bryna wanted to make sure Trihn was all right.

  “Hello?” Trihn answered groggily.

  “Hey. Were you still sleeping?”

  “Why are you awake this early?” she asked through a yawn.

  “It’s one in the afternoon.”

  “Is it?”

  “Yes,” Bryna confirmed.

  “What’s up?”

  “How did things go last night? You never came back to the party.”

  “I know,” Trihn said. “I’m sorry. Neal apologized, and then we made up. He was frustrated because he didn’t get into the graphic design internship with Pixar that he had interviewed for last week. It was a huge disappointment, and now, all the other summer intern positions are full.”

  “So, he took that out on you? And you’re okay with that?” Bryna was sure she didn’t hide the disdain in her voice.

  Trihn sighed heavily. “I don’t know. It was a stressful week, is all.”

  “As long as it doesn’t turn into a stressful week all the time.”

  “You’re turning into Stacia over here. Stop mothering me.”

  Bryna shook her head and laughed. “Hardly. I’m not mothering you. I’m letting you know that I’ll chop his balls off and feed them to a blender if he keeps this shit up.”

  Trihn exploded with laughter. “I can’t believe you. Actually, I can. You’d totally do it. Thanks for caring, B.”

  “Don’t keep confusing me for Stacia,” Bryna singsonged.

  “Oh my God, I love you. I’m going back to bed.”

  As she pulled into the valet station, Bryna hung up the phone. She handed over the keys to her car and took the elevator up to the spa. As promised, the afternoon had been cleared for her. And she spent the next couple of hours getting pressed, buffed, waxed, blown out, and all-around pampered. She felt like a new person by the end of it, and even though she knew she would still have to face Eric later, at least she could do it feeling refreshed.

  As she was leaving, the woman at the front stopped her. “Excuse me.”

  “Yes?”

  “This package was left for you.” She passed over a small gift-wrapped box.

  “Oh?”

  “It arrived only a moment ago.”

  “Thanks.”

  Bryna unwrapped the package and opened the box. She gasped. Inside was a diamond-encrusted Hermès Paris watch in rose-gold and black. She removed it from the case and slid it onto her wrist. It fit perfectly when she slipped it on her wrist. Between this and her B necklace and bracelet, she was dripping in jewels. She shrugged and decided it suited her.

  She shot off a shocked and excited text to Hugh about the watch. She couldn’t stop glancing at it. The gifts were extravagant and thoughtful—just the way she liked them.

  Once she reached the ground level, she glanced out at the front door and sighed. Her stomach knotted. She wasn’t ready to see Eric yet. Her confidence had been rattled after last night. The anticipation of wondering what he was going to say ate at her, and she couldn’t get it to go away. She knew that going to talk to him would probably fix all of that, and she was stressing for nothing. But she never stressed over stuff like this. She hadn’t since a year ago when Jude had wanted to talk.

  Maybe a drink to take the edge off would help. She backtracked to the bar and took an empty seat. Crossing her legs, she smiled at the bartender and ordered a dirty martini, her favorite.

  Bryna felt eyes on her from the guy seated two seats down from her. She glanced over at him, and he didn’t look away when she made eye contact. She turned away, took another sip of her drink, and then looked back. He was still watching her rather intently. Weird.

  “Anything I can help you with? Or are you just browsing?” she asked sarcastically.

  The guy shrugged. “I figured you wanted to be admired.”

  “Why is that?”

  “Look at you,” he said as if that made perfect sense.

  She looked down. Her clothes were nothing special. In fact, she was in sandals. The spa had perfected her hair, but she had gone for subtle makeup because she had no plans. The only thing that was impressive at all right now was her diamonds.

  “And?”

  “I see you.” He turned back to his beer.

  Bryna narrowed her eyes in confusion. That was a strange introduction, but it did make her curious, especially since he was good-looking and only a couple of years older than her, at the most. He was blond with dark eyes, wearing casual jeans, a T-shirt, and flip-flops. He had shades dangling from the neck of his shirt and seemed very…laid-back. Definitely not my type.

  “Sorry,” he said when he noticed her puzzled expression. “I’ve been out of the country for almost a year, and it’s more a cultural shock to come back than to be away.”

  “What were you doing? Work?”

  “Nah. I wanted to snowboard my way through the rest of the world. It turned into a bit more of an adventure than I’d bargained for. I’d love to tell you the story sometime,” he said, leaning into her.

  Hmm. Smooth. She kind of liked his easygoing confidence. It was her biggest turn-on. “I’d love that, but I have to get back to campus.”

  “Oh! Are you at LV State or UNLV?”

  “State.”

  “Cool. I start there in the fall. Thought I’d rejoin the world of the overworked,” he said with a smirk.

  Bryna laughed. “All right. Maybe you can tell me your story next semester then
.”

  “Definitely. If you want to give me your number, I can call you when I move in. It would be nice to know someone here.”

  Bryna shrugged. What do I have to lose? “Sure.” She added her number to his phone. “It’s Bryna, by the way.”

  The guy offered his hand. “Cam.”

  She smiled again and shook his hand. “Nice to meet you.”

  “You, too.”

  As she was walking away, back to her car, she couldn’t keep the giddy feeling from her stomach. It was nice to meet a guy who didn’t have a preconceived notion of her reputation. Actually, he knew nothing about her. And still, he had seen her when she didn’t even look her best. It was a compliment. Even if he never called, it had been nice to flirt with him for a bit.

  She left the resort, feeling as if she had done a complete one-eighty since this morning. She was in a much better mood and was ready to talk to Eric. The drive was short, and she pulled into the empty driveway.

  The door was unlocked when she arrived, and she let herself in without knocking.

  No margaritas this time.

  “Eric?” she called.

  No answer.

  She wandered outside and found it also empty. She decided to try upstairs, and she heard voices. Walking toward Eric’s workout room, she pushed open the door and found him lifting weights with Andrew.

  Both guys were shirtless, sweaty, and hot as hell. Even though Andrew was ridiculously built, her eyes kept being drawn back to Eric. Andrew was spotting Eric on the bench press, the weights nearly resting on his chest. He heaved it back up into the air.

  “Am I interrupting?” She leaned against the doorframe with a smirk on her face.

  Eric glanced over at her, dropped his head again, and then put the weights back into their resting place. “What do you want, Bri?”

  Andrew questioningly looked at Eric. She wondered if Eric had told Andrew anything about what had happened last night. She doubted it. They were friends, but Eric was a pretty private guy…all things considered.

  “It’s Sunday afternoon,” she said as if that explained everything.

  “Yeah?” Eric muttered.

  “I’m predictable…like clockwork,” she reminded him.

  “Did you just say you’re predictable?” Andrew asked. His eyes were wide in surprise.