Diamonds (All that Glitters #1)(21)

“X?” Tara asked.

“Like ecstasy?” Avery guessed.

Bryna laughed. “Let’s hope that’s just the warm-up round.”

Both girls giggled.

“You truly are the queen, Bri,” Avery fawned. Tara nodded enthusiastically.

“I know.” She smiled with approval at her two subjects.

Her English teacher started up his lecture, and Bryna pulled out her phone. She typed out a text message to get her plan set in motion.

Max, get me on the list for X on Saturday night.

“YOU PLANNED THIS WHOLE THING, didn’t you?” Pace asked, barging into her room.

“That’s it. I’m going to get a deadbolt installed on my bedroom door. I don’t even know how you got through that lock!” Bryna cried.

Pace produced a credit card. “Don’t they teach you spoiled rich kids anything?”

“Clearly not,” she drawled sarcastically. “Now, get the f*ck out of my room.”

“You think this is all a game? Is that what your f*cking text meant?” he demanded.

“Oh, so you did read it.”

She crossed her arms and sank into her hip. At least she was finally getting through to him. Even if she couldn’t keep him out of her f*cking room.

“Don’t f*ck with me, Bri. My mom is downstairs right now. She just told me that she hasn’t seen me enough, and suddenly, me and the twins are supposed to have a family night.” Pace accusingly glared at Bryna.

Bryna shrugged innocently. “I can’t help what your mom wants you to do.”

“And it all happens on the same night as the biggest house party of the year. It’s not a f*cking coincidence!”

Her grin only widened. “Coincidences happen all the time, Pace.”

“Is this just a pathetic attempt to get back at me for talking to your cheer coach?’ he demanded. He looked ready to blow a gasket. “Or are you just pissed because you’re not queen of Harmony anymore?”

“If I’m not queen, then why am I leaving to go to X while you’re staying here to play board games?” she asked with a triumphant smile.

“You think you’re going to leave this house and go to some ecstasy party while I’m stuck here?” Pace crossed his arms and stood in her way. A bulldozer could have been less formidable. “Fuck no.”

“That’s cute.” She fluttered her fingers at him, trying to remain nonplussed. “But I’m not part of whatever family gathering you have planned for tonight. As far as I’m concerned, you’re just some total creeper living in my house, so get the f*ck out of my way.”

“Or else what?” he asked.

“Or else I’ll scream. Try to explain that one.” She sent him a seething stare.

He glared back at her, but then he stepped out of the way. “I’m going to get you for this.”

“Whatever, Pace.”

Bryna strode out of her room and down the giant staircase. Her stepmother was standing at the bottom of the stairs. She smiled and waved Bryna over.

“Bryna, dear, have you seen where Pace ran off to? He was supposed to grab a sweater and then be right down. The twins just picked out a movie.”

“Yes. He’s in my room, jerking off.”

Celia jolted at the coarse phrasing. “He’s…what?”

“You’ll have to see for yourself.”

“I’ll check on him in a minute,” she said uncertainly.

Celia focused back on Bryna. She surveyed Bryna up and down in her tight strapless red dress and mile-high strappy f*ck-me boots. Her long blonde hair was pulled over one shoulder, and her makeup was dark, smoky, and seductive. She was a walking sexpot.

“You don’t look like you’re staying in for family night in that outfit.” Celia looked like she wanted to say “young lady” at the end of the sentence, but somehow managed to restrain herself.

“That’s because I’m not,” Bryna said, grabbing her black leather moto jacket off of a hook and brushing past her stepmom.

“I know you don’t always like what I have to say, Bryna, but I think if you go out in that outfit you’re going to give boys the wrong idea.”

Bryna sighed and then looked at her stepmom with fake sympathy. “First off, I’m not attracting boys, and second, I think I’m giving them exactly the right idea.”

She wrenched open the front door and left her stepmom standing there in shock. She was sure that Celia wanted to say something more, but thankfully Bryna had stunned her into silence. She didn’t need to hear anymore about what kind of guys her body would attract. She was already well aware, and her stepmother was an idiot if she thought that Bryna didn’t already know what to do with her body.

A limo was waiting for her in the private circle drive in front of her parents’ mansion. When she stepped inside, Avery and Tara were already in the limo.

They both gasped when they saw her.

“You look so f*cking hot!” Avery cried.

“Seriously, no guy will be able to resist you,” Tara agreed.

“I just wish we knew who the guy was who has stolen you away,” Avery said excitedly. She nudged Bryna in the side and exchanged an eager look with Tara.

“Yeah, we’ve been waiting for you to spill,” Tara said.