Gold - Linde K. A. (версия книг .TXT) 📗

“I thought so.” She took the envelope from Bryna. “I can’t assure that he will open it, but I will deliver it.”

“Thank you.” She turned to leave. That was all she had come for.

She didn’t need a guarantee that he would open it, but she didn’t want the house on her conscience anymore. Hugh should have his…investment back.

Bryna hurried out of the hotel, not liking the weight of it around her. She carried a lot of guilt for what had happened between them, and she didn’t need the reminder.

She got in her car and drove to the sports complex for practice. She arrived only minutes before she was supposed to be there. She rushed into her uniform and threw her hair up into a messy ponytail.

Stacia appeared at her side as they walked out of the locker room. “Where have you been?”

“I had to take care of some business with the house.”

“Is it gone?”

Bryna nodded stoically.

Stacia touched her arm. “I’m sorry.”

“You didn’t do anything.”

“I know. But I’m still sorry.”

Bryna sent her a half smile. “Thanks.”

“Also…Eric stopped me earlier.”

Bryna slowed her pace. She still hadn’t told the girls what had happened between her and Eric. She didn’t know what they would think, and she kind of wanted to keep that moment to herself. “What did he want?”

“He said he needed to talk to you.”

“I can’t,” she said automatically.

“Are you going to tell me what happened?” Stacia asked.

“No,” Bryna said honestly. “But I have a date on Friday with a guy in my film class.”

Stacia wrinkled her nose in disgust. “Oh God, an artsy guy? Please don’t tell me that you are turning into one of those! I can only handle Trihn like this.”

“He’s not an artsy guy,” Bryna said defensively. “I’m a film major. Would you call me artsy?”

“No. Fashionable.”

“Exactly. He’s cute and nice, and he wants to take me to a movie. It’s different, and it sounds easy. I need some of that in my life right now. Not Eric Wilkins.”

“Okay. I guess that’s good then. But what do I tell Eric if he asks me about you? I can’t lie to him, Bri!” She actually looked conflicted about the whole thing.

“Don’t lie. Tell him just what I told you.”

Because maybe if he heard that she was dating…he would stop pursuing her. That was what she wanted after all…

Right?

Friday rolled around faster than she’d thought possible, and she had nothing to wear.

She stared at her closet stuffed full of clothes and couldn’t decide on a single item. When she had asked Cam where they were going, he had just smiled and said she could dress casually.

The only thing she had ever done casually was sex.

After about a hundred outfits, she had on a short black skirt, a flouncy tank top with some cleavage for good measure, and a pair of cute sandals. She felt dressed down for a date, but this was what he had said after all.

She wasn’t sure she even felt comfortable in her skin, purposely dressing like this on a first date, but this was Cam. She was sure it would be fun.

The knock on the door made her dart out of her room. She shooed Trihn and Stacia away and then opened the door.

“Hey,” she said brightly.

“You look great,” he said, surveying her.

“Thanks. You, too.”

He had on jeans and a green polo with the flip-flops he always wore to class.

“Are you ready?”

“Yep.” She shut the door behind her and followed him out to his car. “Wow. Is this yours?”

It was a classic black Mustang from the sixties. She wasn’t as familiar with older cars because her father preferred new supercharged sports cars. She knew enough to know this thing was beautiful and in mint condition.

“Yep. All mine.”

“I love her. I’m usually more of a Ferrari-Porsche kind of girl, but this is beautiful.”

“Thanks. All original parts. My dad owned her first.”

“Incredible,” she mused. “I’d love to drive her!”

“You drive a stick?” he asked, surprised.

“Since before I could walk.”

He smiled and opened the passenger door for her. “Then, maybe I’ll let you give it a spin, if you’re lucky.”

“I’m always lucky,” she said.

She sank into the seat and let him close the door for her. A perfect gentleman. Cam got into the driver’s side and then drove them away from the apartment.

It wasn’t far before he was pulling over onto a side street for the restaurant—if the thing he parked in front of could be considered a restaurant. It was a food truck that was basically a trailer with a window and menu on the side. There was a patio outside with picnic tables and some benches, all of which were already full. Plus, there was a line around the block. So, at least that was a good sign. Though she was skeptical.

“Hope this is okay. A friend of mine discovered this place. I swear, it’s the best food in town.”

She had been to the Eiffel Tower Restaurant, so she highly doubted that.

“Yeah. Should be interesting,” she said. She hoped she’d sounded convincing.

They got in line, and after a good half-hour wait, they made it up to order. Cam got them two burritos, which seemed to be the signature item, chips and queso, and two beers. She stared down at her aluminum can but made no comment. This was fine. She drank beer at house parties. This wasn’t any different.

Another couple vacated their spots, and they found a space to sit on a bench. Cam set the burritos down in front of them, and she took a long swig of the beer. It was cold and refreshing in the Vegas heat. She wasn’t sure what to make of the burrito wrapped in aluminum foil. Did people actually eat like this?

Cam was already removing the foil and digging into the burrito. He looked like a mask of pure joy.

“This is so amazing, Bryna. I can’t wait for you to tell me what you think.”

She swallowed. He was so happy. It had to be good. She hated being skeptical. She needed to relax and live in the moment.

Taking a deep breath, she peeled back the foil and took a small bite of the burrito. It was everything—full of spices and tender chicken. There were a million things inside, and she could hardly distinguish the mush, but it was amazing. Flat-out best burrito she had ever had in her life.

“Oh my God,” she murmured.

He smiled triumphantly. “I told you so.”

“I would have never guessed this heaven was on a beat-up truck in the middle of nowhere.”

“I know. I’m glad you like it.”

“Learn something new every day.”

“You’ve never eaten from a food truck before?” he asked.

She shook her head. “Not in L.A.”

“They have them in L.A.”

She shrugged. “Not where I live.”

“Well, you should get out more!”

“I am.”

She meaningfully looked at him, and he smiled bigger.

They finished their food and piled back into his Mustang. She was still in shock about the food truck. She was used to good food but usually fancy food. She’d had a chef growing up, and burritos hadn’t exactly been on the menu.

She was so lost in thought about the burrito experience that she almost didn’t notice when they pulled up to the movie. Her eyes widened.

“A drive-in?”

“Yeah. They show all the best movies. I thought it would be better than some blockbuster.”

“I haven’t been to one since I was a kid. My dad used to take me before he—” She cut herself off. She didn’t really want Cam to know who her dad was yet. “He just worked a lot.”

“Sounds like my dad.”

“What are we seeing?” she asked, quickly changing the subject.

“Casablanca.”

“Good choice.”

Cam paid for their tickets and bought them popcorn that she had no intention of eating, and then they found a spot near the center of the place. People were staring at his car, and she didn’t blame them. It was a classic.