Gold (All that Glitters #2)(55)

“What? Is he your mother now?”

“I don’t know.”

Trihn stopped dancing in the middle of the lawn. She looked drawn. She always wore all her emotions on her sleeve. Even though she was a strong, powerful woman with success in her own right before she’d even turned eighteen, she still let everyone else’s feelings influence her. Sometimes, Bryna wanted to shake her and tell her not to take that shit, but she could only do so much. So, she would be here to support her friend.

“Maybe you should talk to him,” Bryna suggested.

“He’s just sitting over there.” Trihn pointed at a lawn chair.

“It’ll help.”

“Come with me?”

“Of course.”

Bryna knew she wasn’t the type of person to bring along when a gentle touch was needed. Trihn must be really pissed off.

Bryna leaned her head back on Eric’s chest and murmured in his ear, “We’re going to talk to Neal.”

“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 f*cking business. You’re the only reason she comes to these f*cking 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 f*ck 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 f*cked tonight,” she drunkenly told him.

He raised his eyebrows. “What?”