I was wrong. Years of unexpressed anger rise to the surface, and I’m feeling a little unhinged with the power of those emotions.
It’s not until we’re a safe distance away that I realize I’m half dragging Jordan with me. My hold softens but I don’t let her go, even as I apologize.
There’s a mixture of confusion and concern on her face, but we’re not hashing this out here. I can already feel the weight of curious eyes, and I don’t need to bring my daddy issues to Brazen’s doorstep. Dad might have been hoping for that outcome, but I’ve still got some self-control.
We make it out the back door and I gulp in the cooler air.
Jordan tentatively rubs my back as I look up at the sky and attempt to bring myself down a few notches.
“What do you need?” she asks. In this moment, I am so damn grateful for her. She doesn’t push about what the hell my dad’s doing with my agent or force me to try to explain why I’m practically shaking over such a seemingly benign exchange.
“Is there a parking garage around here?” I wonder. I’d love to get some speed and rip down an empty lot.
“I’m not sure, and could be busy on a Saturday night.”
She pulls me toward her, and the shaking subsides. “I’ve got a better idea.”
“Oh yeah?”
“You’re not the only one who’s broken some rules to get that rush.”
“What rush are we talking about?”
“Downhill speed on a skateboard. Get your mind out of the gutter, Beck, you’re the only one I’ve ever had the other kind of rush with.”
That reminder definitely brings my mood up a few notches.
“Wait here, I’ll grab our boards.” She’s only gone a minute, but it’s enough time for some guilt to set in about ditching the party.
Jordan opens the door and hands me my board. “Maybe we should wait until the party wraps up,” I tell her.
“Hey, I know you’re the vice president, and Griff is your best friend, but we’ll only be gone a little while. You already talked to everyone on your list, and you’ll only spend the next hour dodging your dad anyway. Let’s take a break and I’m sure it will still be in full swing when we get back. I mean, there are over two hundred people in there, I doubt anyone will notice we’re gone.”
“You’ve convinced me,” I admit, grabbing her hand and stepping on my board. “Where to?”
She takes me through the downtown sidewalks toward the mansions overlooking the ocean.
“How do you feel about climbing a fence to get on private property?” she asks as we get closer to the gated community.
“If it’s for a good cause, I’m down.”
“So I’ve never been in there, but every time we drive by I think about how there’s gotta be some great hills with zero traffic.”
The homes are all on a hill, spread out on large-sized lots.
“Good call, Hotshot. I bet half the homes in there are celebrities’ second homes and empty anyway.”
The gate is closed of course, but there’s no attendant. Assuming there’s a security camera at the gate, we skirt the outside until we reach the corner where the community’s clubhouse and pool are located. We can’t actually see a pool since the gate is really a giant wall, but we can smell the chlorine. We stand there for a minute, trying to figure out how we’re going to climb a ten-foot wall.
“All right, I got it.” Jordan takes a couple steps forward. “I stand on your shoulders and get over. Then I find something over there you can use to climb up.”
“What if you get stuck in there and can’t find anything to climb back over?”
“I’ll find something. And if I don’t I’ll just hide by the gate until someone finally opens it. Or find an empty house to sleep in,” she deadpans.
I should rally and be the responsible one here. I’m the vice president of Brazen, and if we got caught it wouldn’t only be bad for me. But I’ve made a lot of sacrifices for Brazen already, and I’m in the mood to be a little rebellious. So I crouch down, and Jordan sits on my shoulders before I stand up. She then moves to her feet and a few seconds later, her weight is gone as she lifts herself to the top of the fence.
“What’s over there?”
“Dude, there’s an actual ladder leaning against the pool house. It’s like this was meant to be.”
“Dude? You’re calling me dude