“Jun Hie, you listen to me!” Ma is barking, but I ignore her as I throw my things together. “You will not come back refreshed for studying. You’ll be exhausted. I know what college boys are like.They will make you do dangerous things. You’re not old enough to drink. You’ll get high and hurt yourself!”
I throw her a look. She always makes me sip wine at her stupid parties, and why the hell would I get high? I hate the smell of pot. Every time Mac smokes it, I want to throw up and have to move away from him.
“You’re being selfish! You can’t do this to your father. He is expecting you to be here this weekend. Foolish boy,” she snaps, then starts ranting in Mandarin.
My skin is crawling as she fires caustic words at me that I’m desperately trying to tune out. I’ve spent my entire life working overtime to please this woman, and nothing helps, so I’m going.
I’ll pay for it. She’ll definitely make me pay.
But if I can just get behind the wheel and start driving, then maybe I can take a full breath. Even if it’s just for the weekend.
“You can’t ignore me!” she shouts as I walk past her and out the door. “Xiao Dan!” she calls for backup, and my father wanders into the entrance just as I reach the door.
“Son.” He deepens his voice, his look of disapproval hitting me right between the eyes.
“Sorry,” I murmur before slipping outside, my heart pounding furiously. I feel sick doing this, but something is driving me to go. I have to get out of here. I just have to.
“Why didn’t you stop him!” Ma’s still yelling as I run to my car. I left it out last night, and now I know why. Instinct was telling me I’d need a quick getaway.
Firing up the engine, I drive away from the house as my parents stand at the top of the steps glaring down at me.
Ma is fuming, but it’s Bàba’s quiet disapproval that’s more brutal.
Oh man, this better be worth it.
I’m going to get hell when I return.
But—
My phone beeps, and I glance at the screen.
Mac: About fucking time. See you soon!
I snicker and that coil in my chest starts to unravel the farther I get from home.
I just turned twenty last week. I shouldn’t let my parents’ displeasure affect me so much. They can’t tell me where I can and can’t go. I’m an adult, after all.
And maybe this weekend will remind me of that.
I’m not just Jun Hie Li, son of Xiao Dan and Ming. I’m my own person. And going away with my teammates is the kind of thing a young man should be doing.
“It’s the right thing,” I mutter under my breath, desperate to believe myself as I head to Aspen and worry that I’m making the biggest mistake of my life.
6
DARIAN
This place is huge.
I mean, it just keeps going.
I knew Mac was loaded, but holy shit.
Sawyer and I snagged a room overlooking the water, and it’s got its own deck and everything. I’ve already tested out the bed. My body was singing after I flopped onto thatmattress. Everything in this place is first-class, state-of-the-art awesomeness. I’m so glad we called Mac and asked. I’m so fucking glad he said yes!
It’s gonna be a weekend to remember, that’s for sure.
As I head down the hallway, checking out the rest of the house, I spot a shorty in front of me doing exactly the same thing.
