camera pointed at the giant football player, Matt, from the party. Even at this distance, Jason could see that Matt’s lip was puffy, and his black eye could probably be seen from space—more of Dominic’s handiwork. “Adam’s shooting something for his work of genius, I guess,” he said.
“But why that guy?” Brad asked, sounding annoyed.
Jason shrugged. “I haven’t quite figured out exactly what Adam’s movie is about. I’m not sure even he knows.”
Brad’s eyes narrowed as he continued to study Adam and Matt. “You know what? My mom might still be too pissed to stand the sight of me. I think I’ll hang with you guys after all.” He raised his voice. “Hey, Adam! Mind if I join you?”
Adam shut off the camera and slapped hands with Matt. He grabbed his bag and headed over to them. “Sure. You can help me educate Freeman.”
“You take care of the film stuff. I’m working on his knowledge of fish tacos,” Brad replied. Adam laughed.
Brad flashed him a big grin. “Besides, I don’t know what you’re talking about half the time with the movie lingo. You’ll have to educate me along with Michigan boy.”
“Always a pleasure to help the film-challenged,” Adam told him happily.
“Let’s take my car.” Brad clapped Adam on the back and led him toward a Mercedes convertible. “You want to drive?”
“Are you kidding me?” Adam asked. “My vehicle is a used Vespa. Of course I want to drive the Merc.”
Jason followed them, confused. Brad hadn’t seemed eager to hang with Adam at all, but now he was acting like they were old friends. What was the deal?
Six
“S orry, Danielle. I’m with your mom on this one,” Jason’s father said at dinner the next night. “A yacht, alcohol, and no way to get someone to come pick you up if there’s trouble…”
“It’s a bad idea,” Mrs. Freeman finished for him. “I’m surprised this girl’s parents are even allowing her to have a party on their boat.”
“Yacht,” Jason corrected automatically. Nobody in Malibu said “boat” unless they were talking about a really old, huge car. And Belle’s party was definitely taking place on a yacht. He’d heard enough about it at school today to be absolutely sure of that, along with the exact length of the yacht and how many separate cabins it had.
“But Jason will be there,” Dani pleaded, eyes darting hopefully from one parent to the other. “And Belle is completely responsible.”
Jason couldn’t agree with his sister on that one. Belle was sweet and very cute. But, responsible? Hell, no. Inviting a guy to body-shot her in front of her insanely jealous boyfriend—that was pretty much the anti of responsible.
“When we’ve gotten to know some of these kids personally—,” Jason’s mom began.
“Fine. Pick a night. I’ll invite them all over for charades and square dancing and Hi-C fruit punch. Or is that still too racy for you?” Dani demanded sarcastically. She stood up, grabbed her plate, dropped the silverware on top with a clatter, and headed into the kitchen.
Jason glanced at his watch. The Dani–Mom-with-
a-minor-assist-from-Dad conversation about the party had lasted under three minutes. It wasn’t like Dani to give up so easily. But it was only Tuesday night. The party was on Saturday. Jason figured his sister was plotting round two even now.
By the time Saturday rolled around, Danielle still hadn’t made another play to get herself on the yacht. She didn’t even shoot their mom a my-life-is-hell-
thanks-to-you look when Jason took off in the VW, leaving her behind. Obviously she had something up her sleeve; Danielle was not the type to allow a parental party ban to ruin her night. Jason just hoped that he wouldn’t have to deal with the fallout.
Not that he regretted finding himself on the aft deck of the Moulin Rouge with no little sister to watch over. He leaned on the rail and took in the sight of Surfrider Beach turning golden in the
“But why that guy?” Brad asked, sounding annoyed.
Jason shrugged. “I haven’t quite figured out exactly what Adam’s movie is about. I’m not sure even he knows.”
Brad’s eyes narrowed as he continued to study Adam and Matt. “You know what? My mom might still be too pissed to stand the sight of me. I think I’ll hang with you guys after all.” He raised his voice. “Hey, Adam! Mind if I join you?”
Adam shut off the camera and slapped hands with Matt. He grabbed his bag and headed over to them. “Sure. You can help me educate Freeman.”
“You take care of the film stuff. I’m working on his knowledge of fish tacos,” Brad replied. Adam laughed.
Brad flashed him a big grin. “Besides, I don’t know what you’re talking about half the time with the movie lingo. You’ll have to educate me along with Michigan boy.”
“Always a pleasure to help the film-challenged,” Adam told him happily.
“Let’s take my car.” Brad clapped Adam on the back and led him toward a Mercedes convertible. “You want to drive?”
“Are you kidding me?” Adam asked. “My vehicle is a used Vespa. Of course I want to drive the Merc.”
Jason followed them, confused. Brad hadn’t seemed eager to hang with Adam at all, but now he was acting like they were old friends. What was the deal?
Six
“S orry, Danielle. I’m with your mom on this one,” Jason’s father said at dinner the next night. “A yacht, alcohol, and no way to get someone to come pick you up if there’s trouble…”
“It’s a bad idea,” Mrs. Freeman finished for him. “I’m surprised this girl’s parents are even allowing her to have a party on their boat.”
“Yacht,” Jason corrected automatically. Nobody in Malibu said “boat” unless they were talking about a really old, huge car. And Belle’s party was definitely taking place on a yacht. He’d heard enough about it at school today to be absolutely sure of that, along with the exact length of the yacht and how many separate cabins it had.
“But Jason will be there,” Dani pleaded, eyes darting hopefully from one parent to the other. “And Belle is completely responsible.”
Jason couldn’t agree with his sister on that one. Belle was sweet and very cute. But, responsible? Hell, no. Inviting a guy to body-shot her in front of her insanely jealous boyfriend—that was pretty much the anti of responsible.
“When we’ve gotten to know some of these kids personally—,” Jason’s mom began.
“Fine. Pick a night. I’ll invite them all over for charades and square dancing and Hi-C fruit punch. Or is that still too racy for you?” Dani demanded sarcastically. She stood up, grabbed her plate, dropped the silverware on top with a clatter, and headed into the kitchen.
Jason glanced at his watch. The Dani–Mom-with-
a-minor-assist-from-Dad conversation about the party had lasted under three minutes. It wasn’t like Dani to give up so easily. But it was only Tuesday night. The party was on Saturday. Jason figured his sister was plotting round two even now.
By the time Saturday rolled around, Danielle still hadn’t made another play to get herself on the yacht. She didn’t even shoot their mom a my-life-is-hell-
thanks-to-you look when Jason took off in the VW, leaving her behind. Obviously she had something up her sleeve; Danielle was not the type to allow a parental party ban to ruin her night. Jason just hoped that he wouldn’t have to deal with the fallout.
Not that he regretted finding himself on the aft deck of the Moulin Rouge with no little sister to watch over. He leaned on the rail and took in the sight of Surfrider Beach turning golden in the
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