Gold (All that Glitters #2)
K.A. Linde
“HELL HATH NO FURY LIKE A WOMAN SCORNED.”
That was the damn truth.
Bryna twirled her Harry Winston B diamond necklace around her finger and parted her pouty lips. She had decided on a gold glitter Chanel dress and hot-as-f*ck black Jimmy Choos, and when she walked into Las Vegas State’s local nightclub, Posse, all eyes turned her way—just the way she liked it.
She was still getting used to her new life in college. No annoying cling-ons. No obnoxious stepbrother. No wannabe stepmother. No reminders of what had happened her senior year when her life was shot to hell. No reminders of him.
Just her scarlet letter hanging around her neck and a new crowd to rule.
This was the life.
“Bryna! Over here!” Trihn called from the bar.
Bryna fluttered her fingers at her friend and walked her way. It was strange, in a way, to have friends. In high school, she always had Gates Hartman, her movie star ex-boyfriend, but that had crashed and burned. Otherwise, she usually considered other girls as either followers or competition. With Trihn, there was none of that.
Trihn Hamilton, a name she only used professionally, was model tall and exotic with roots in both Vietnam and Brazil. She had endless brown-to-blonde ombre hair and slightly upturned eyes. Plus, she could dance circles around everyone knew. Not to mention, she was the nicest, most sure-of-herself person Bryna had ever met. They had met in this very club the first week of school. Trihn had confidently commented on Bryna’s next season Christian Louboutins. After a night of shots and dancing, a friendship had blossomed.
“Look at you rocking the Chanel tonight after the big game,” Trihn said. She pulled Bryna in for a hug. “I think glitter is your color.”
Bryna laughed. “Always. Look at you in your rocker grunge.”
“Excuse me. This is designer rocker grunge,” Trihn corrected her.
She wore skintight black leather pants, a ripped white crop, and strappy Gucci high heels she had probably gotten when she modeled for them last year. Bryna normally thought model types were dumb as bricks, so she was constantly surprised that they got along and that Trihn had a real personality.
“Ah!” a girl screamed, barreling into Bryna. “You look f*cking hot!”
“I’m surprised you’re not still in uniform,” Bryna said.
Stacia Palmer was on the cheerleading team with Bryna. Her father was the head football coach at their biggest rival, the University of Southern California, and that would have made her the enemy, but she had come to LV State to stay out of her father’s shadow. It also explained her obsession with football players. Her reputation as a jersey-chasing whore really endeared her to Bryna. She appreciated the honesty.
“Oh, please.” Stacia flipped her bleach-blonde bangs out of her eyes. “All the guys here know I’m a cheerleader. Plus, Blaine isn’t even here yet. I just made a circuit to see if I could find him.”
Blaine was the starting quarterback of the LV State Gamblers football team. Stacia was determined to hook up with him. Her real goal though was to marry an NFL quarterback.
“You’re ridiculous. How can you even stand college guys?” Bryna asked.
“Don’t talk to me about older guys. Blaine is a senior, Bri. That’s good enough for me.”
Bryna arched an eyebrow. “Whatever you’re into.”
“Like Eric.” Stacia sighed heavily. “I would be very into him if he were still playing.”
Bryna’s eyes wandered through the crowd of football players to where Eric Wilkins was standing. She had been very into him on her school visit here last semester. Sometimes, she still was when she forgot why they would never hook up. She was pretty sure none of her friends and certainly no one on the football team actually knew the reason.
Eric was gay. That was why he never tried to hook up with her on her visit and why he hadn’t talked to her since.
“I don’t think you’re his type,” Bryna said.
“Whatever. I heard the guys talking about how he dated that psychotic head case last year. What was her name?”
Bryna raised her eyebrows. She hadn’t heard anything about this. Must have been one hell of a cover story.
“Audrey,” Trihn said.
“That’s it.”
“Why did they break up?” Bryna asked.
Stacia shrugged. “Who cares? She was a crazy bitch. But now, he’s on the market. We can all take our chances with him. What do you say, B?”
She laughed and shook her head. “I don’t think I’m his type either.”
“Bri, you’re everyone’s type,” Trihn said.
“I appreciate the sentiment.”
Normally, she wouldn’t disagree with Trihn. Bryna had perfect long blonde hair, an impressive rack, and a killer body to boot. Most guys couldn’t tear their eyes away from her, and she always enjoyed the attention. After her disastrous senior year, she had especially enjoyed that attention this summer while lying on various European beaches and hooking up with gorgeous exotic men whom she couldn’t understand.
“So then, go ask him out.” Trihn nudged Bryna.
Stacia cracked up. “Ask him out? You want Bryna to ask him out?”
Bryna rolled her eyes. “You know that’s not happening. Do you know who I am?”