Gold (All that Glitters #2)(37)

All the convincing she needed.

“How about the weekend after?”

“Bri!” Stacia screamed. She dropped her bags and sprinted across the short distance to where Bryna was standing. She full-fledged jumped into Bryna’s arms.

Bryna winced as Stacia’s weight hit her hip and was so glad cheer had given her the strength to hold people up…even crazy friends.

“I missed you so much,” Stacia said.

Bryna laughed and dropped her back to the ground. “I missed you too.”

“I so wish Trihn could fly with us.”

“Yeah, but she’s flying in straight from New York.”

“Still.”

“I know. She should have taken up cheerleading,” Bryna said.

“It’s never too late.”

“Yes. I’m sure back handsprings and toe touches are right in her artsy repertoire.”

“Well, we’ll work on her for next year.” Stacia locked elbows with her and dragged her over to her own stuff.

Stacia directed one of the male cheerleaders to grab their bags for them, and then she pushed their way through the line of people waiting to board the charter plane for the play-offs. Stacia yammered on the entire wait about her Christmas vacation.

The girls finally got on the plane and walked down the aisle.

“So, maybe I can convince someone to switch seats with you, so we can sit together,” Stacia said.

“Hey, Hollywood.”

Bryna stopped in her tracks and found herself staring into Eric’s hazel eyes. He had a smirk on his face.

“Who is Hollywood?” Stacia asked.

“Saved you a seat.” Eric nodded his head at the aisle seat next to him.

Stacia stared at her, wide-eyed in anticipation. Last anyone had checked, Bryna and Eric hated each other. They bickered like children.

“I’ll pass,” Bryna said dismissively.

He grabbed her arm before she could walk away. “I said you couldn’t hide,” he whispered.

Even Stacia probably hadn’t heard him.

“I’m holding up the line. Go on ahead, S. I’ll catch up,” Bryna said.

Stacia looked uncertain but decided to keep walking back to her seat. Bryna moved out of the aisle, and the line moved again.

“What is all this?” she asked.

“You like the aisle seat.”

“Are we friends?”

Eric gave her a look that said, Stop acting dumb. “You can’t erase the past two weeks. I had a good time. You had a good time. You’re going to have to come to terms with the fact that we’re friends now.”

Bryna shrugged noncommittally. “I’ll see what I can do.”

“Start by sitting down.”

She laughed but followed his directions. “You’re bossy.”

“I didn’t want to sit next to Beth anyway. She drives me crazy.”

“And I don’t?”

“Most of the time, you do, but it’s different.” He plugged in his headphones and relaxed back.

At this point, Bryna knew she could probably get up and leave to go sit with Stacia. She could even feel Stacia’s eyes on her, wondering what was going on, but Bryna didn’t mind Eric’s company. She would be with Stacia all weekend.

Five long hours later, their flight landed in Miami, and the teams were quickly separated onto buses that would carry them to their hotel before the game.

Stacia scurried up to Bryna. “What the hell was that?”

“What?” Bryna asked.

She had known this was coming. It wasn’t as if she and Eric were dating or anything. They were friends who had hung out a couple of times over Christmas break. It was nothing she needed to hide. She just knew the rumors would surely follow.

“You’re friends with Eric now? You two totally hate each other. You’re like oil and water. You don’t mix.”

“Yeah, I got that, Stacia.”

“So, spill. What the hell happened?”

“We hung out over break. No big deal.” Bryna stared straight ahead.

This really was no big deal. Stacia needed to keep her voice down before the entire squad drilled Bryna for answers.

“Okay, team!” the coach said, getting all the girls together. “Let’s get over to the hotel. We have practice and dinner, and then you’re free for the evening. However, that does not include alcohol of any kind. If you leave the premises, please take someone with you, and report back in by midnight at the latest! I will be checking to make sure you all are in your rooms, and nothing nefarious has happened.”

“Pleasant,” Bryna said.

“We will talk about this later,” Stacia said.

After three hours of grueling practice and a quick dinner, the girls were finally released.

Neal had flown in from Tucson for the game and to meet Trihn. They were staying at the same hotel as the team. Stacia and Bryna met them in the lobby, and then they walked out to the beach together. The sun had set over the ocean, and the skyline was bathed in oranges and pinks.

“So, talk!” Stacia cried to Bryna.

Trihn looked at them in confusion. “What did I miss?”

“Bryna is friends with Eric Wilkins. Like friends,” she said dramatically.

“Wait, what?”