She needed a drink. She definitely needed a drink. She wished she could bleach the thought of Pace with a girl out of her brain. Actually, the thought of Pace at all made her feel like she had bugs crawling under her skin.
She wandered into the kitchen and poured herself another margarita when a conversation drifted up to her from the open window. She glanced outside and saw Eric was talking to a bunch of the football players he had arrived with.
“So, you’re banging Bryna,” Greg said as if it were a fact. He hadn’t even questioned it. He’d just assumed it. Greg punched Andrew in the arm and laughed hysterically. “Dude, you guys are pussy brothers now.”
Andrew looked sullen and made some snide remark that Bryna couldn’t discern.
Hmm. So, the guys were going to have the same conversation with Eric that her girls had recently had with her. Too bad he couldn’t use the real reason they weren’t fucking rather than having to hedge around the issue.
Eric chuckled. “Nah, man. We’re just friends.”
Greg snorted and made some crude pelvic thrust. “With benefits.”
Ugh! Why does Beth like him?
“Nope,” Eric responded. He tipped back his beer and seemed totally relaxed.
“I’ve seen the way you two are together,” Greg said. “Picking her up and offering to spank her ass. I’d be all over that.”
“Yeah, well, I’m not you.”
Andrew rolled his neck, clearly agitated. “I’ve smacked that ass.”
Eric and Greg both turned their attention to him.
“Yeah, before she started making out with everyone in Posse instead of you,” Greg said, laughing maniacally. “I’ve heard she’s fucked half the team since you, dude.”
Andrew glared at him.
But it was Eric who spoke up, “I don’t think so. Bryna is pretty picky. She wouldn’t settle for any dipshit.”
“Picky?” Andrew asked. Even he sounded disbelieving. “I think you have the wrong girl.”
Eric shrugged. “She has expensive taste. I don’t think she’d slum it with anyone.”
Greg still looked doubtful. “Either way, dude, you can’t just be friends with a chick like that.”
“Especially not Bri,” Andrew said.
Bryna swallowed hard. She knew what people thought about her. She had always known. Honestly, it had only gotten worse since she came to college. But knowing what people thought was different than hearing it. It made her blood boil. It made her want to go down there and demand to know all the people they thought she had slept with. Because the total since last summer was a big whopping two—Andrew and Hugh. That was it.
Assholes.
At least Eric had stood up for her.
“Well, I don’t think that’s true. Bryna and I aren’t dating, and we’re not fucking, so I guess we’re friends,” Eric said.
“So then, who are you fucking?” Greg asked. “Can’t spend all this time with that hot ass and not get your dick wet.”
How pleasant!
She couldn’t help but be interested in Eric’s answer though. Not like he was going to tell them the truth.
Eric hesitated for a few seconds. “No one. I’m too busy with school and coaching. It’s like having two full-time jobs.”
“No one is that busy,” Greg said.
Eric shrugged and brushed it off. “I guess I am.”
The conversation shifted to football talk, and Bryna figured she had eavesdropped enough. She took her margarita outside and migrated toward where Eric was standing with the guys. Greg punched Andrew and then tipped his hat in the opposite direction. They were both long gone before she reached Eric, who was now standing all alone.
“Wow. Seems like I know how to run them off.”
“They’re dicks.” Eric took another swig of his beer.
“That’s true.” She playfully looked up at him. “So, apparently, I’m picky, I have expensive taste, and I wouldn’t slum it with just anyone. I’ve never heard so many compliments come out of your mouth in one go, E.”
He groaned and rolled his eyes. “I should have known you had somehow been listening in. I never would have defended your honor.”
“Yes, because I am a damsel in distress and need you to defend my virginal virtue,” she joked.
“Virginal virtue?” He immediately doubled over and laughed. “Those are two words I’d never use to describe you.”
Bryna shrugged. “I own it.”
“You do.”
“Anyway, what is this I hear about you being too busy to date?” she teased. Her buzz was starting to hit her, and it felt glorious.
“Yep. Too busy.” He shrugged. “I’m not interested in anyone anyway.”
“Oh, I understand that.” It was funny how they were able to have these private conversations in the middle of a crowded party, and no one would think any differently. “Just like the guys giving you a hard time about us not fucking, the girls have been doing the same with me.”
“Seriously, did you hear everything?”
“Hard to miss it when you all were so loud.” She poked at him. “Anyway, you don’t have to hide anything from me. I know all your deep, dark secrets. You could tell me if you were dating someone.”
She fluttered her eyes at him. He didn’t talk about that kind of shit, and she was damn curious.
“If you know all my secrets, then you know that shit is too complicated.”
“Suit yourself,” she said. “Everyone needs to get laid.”
“I think you do that enough for the both of us.”
“Hardly,” she said.
She could never have enough sex. She was already horny again and wouldn’t see Hugh for another week.
“I’m like Scarlett O’Hara. I need to be fucked and often and by someone who knows how.”
“I believe the quote is kissed,” he said, trying to hide his laughter.
“Yeah, but I’m modernizing. You know she was just a slutty gold digger and pissed because she couldn’t marry her cousin.”
“At least she gives me hope that you won’t always be this crazy,” he said.
“She gives me hope that I’ll always be beautiful. She’s the queen of resting bitch face.”
Eric shook his head and habitually pushed a stray lock of hair off her forehead. “You already know you’ll always be beautiful, Bri. One day, you might let people see that it’s more than just skin deep.”
BRYNA FELT A BLUSH CREEP UP to her cheeks. She had no idea why. She never blushed. “Well, I’ve clearly fooled you into thinking so,” she quipped.
He rolled his eyes and retreated. “Come on, drunkie. Let’s get you back to your girls. I can’t steal you away from your very own party.”
They retreated back to the center of the party where she did technically belong. Though she hadn’t minded hanging out and talking to Eric. She pretty much never minded that now.
The word had gotten out about the party, and soon, it was jam-packed with all sorts of students and not just jocks. Bryna was too far gone to even care at this point. The more, the merrier.
As night fell and intoxication took over, everyone lost themselves to the party as quickly as they’d lost their inhibitions. People were dancing on the lawn, fondling each other in the pool, making out in corners. All-around debauchery had ensued.
She grabbed Eric out of the crowd and forced him to dance with her, Trihn, and Stacia. He obliged them after she’d pleaded with him. It was wonderful when he couldn’t refuse her.
“Is Neal ever coming back?” Bryna asked into Trihn’s ear. She was in the middle of the sandwich of dancers.
Trihn shrugged with a heavy sigh. “I don’t know. He’s been so weird all night.”
“What the fuck? It’s a party. Tell him to come party.”