Page 70 of Smooth Moves
“Tough love works.” Troy challenged her with a thin-lipped smile.
“I am good with Rafi staying with me.” Jordan rose, annoyed with all of them. “But I don’t believe that a fifteen-year-old has the capacity to know the reality of growing up. He’s allowed to make mistakes, and as the adults in his life, it’s up tousto make sure he’s not making the kind that can screw him up for life. This isn’t about money, either. I’m taking care of him just fine.” Though the kid was straining her budget with his never-ending appetite. At least she’d fed him at their parents’. “But you’d think you guys would want the best for him.”
“We do, which is why this camp, which is not cheap by the way, is the best place for him.” Carl put a hand on her wrist to stay her from leaving. “Jordan, we love Rafi.”
“Have you even looked into this camp? Because I have. It’s for kids with ‘behavioral issues,’ for God’s sake. He’s not a criminal, just a kid with bad grades.” The thought of Rafi going away and being under guard, around people who could seriously hurt him if they wanted because their motto of “spare the rod, spoil the child” was enforced with physical discipline, scared the hell out of her.
“The camp is for more than that. I know people who’ve sent their kids there,” Carl said. “Ididresearch this. I talked to the headmaster too. It’s a legitimate alternative.”
That Carl’s actions seemed to come from a loving place hurt her because he was so wrong and couldn’t see it. Her mother, on the other hand, just liked to sweep away problems. Leanne…
“I have to go. Thanks for the picnic.” She turned and headed through the house to leave.
Leanne followed her. “Wait, Jordan.”
Jordan swallowed a sigh and paused by the front door. Then she turned to face Miss Perfect.
“I never knew you felt that way. That I was the golden child, I mean.”
Leanne looked like an angel at that moment. So pretty, so sad for her pathetic younger sister. Jordan wanted to punch her in the face and felt smaller than an ant for her pettiness.
She swallowed. “I’m not sure how you could be so unaware. Growing up, Mom and Dad always favored you. And by Dad, I mean Carl.” Because Jeff Fleming had loved his children equally. A pang of sadness speared her. Jeff would never have farmed Rafi out to someone else.
“I–I guess I never realized.” Leanne’s big blue eyes teared up. “I’m so sorry you felt that way.” She reached for Jordan’s hand, and Jordan balled said hand into a fist. “I also wish you liked Troy better. He’s a nice person, Jordan. If you gave him a chance, you’d see how wonderful he is.”
Jordan tugged her hand away. “Seriously? He’s a snob. He and Carl get along because they like to make money and both went to Stanford.” She saidStanfordin her snootiest voice. “And I’m sorry for making fun of him, but he has no right to talk about Rafi. He’s not family. But you are. How can you not want to help our brother?”
“I am helping, by standing by Mom and Dad.” Leanne blinked, and a tear streaked down her cheek. “I love him, I do. But he’s out of control. He needs help we can’t give him. I wish you could see that.”
The problem was Leanne believed what she said. Out of love for Rafi, she’d let him go off with strangers. “Okay, so you believe that. Have you looked into this camp?”
“Well, no. Mom and Dad said it was okay so—”
“So you look into it. Then you tell me our little brother is better off being run to death or whipped—literally—into shape.” Jordan left before she said something she’d regret. Because of course Leanne had to be nice about everything.
Did the woman not realize how bad things could get when the people you should trust worked against you? Putting a vulnerable fifteen-year-old in a situation where he had no power was asking for trouble.
But Leanne loved Rafi and genuinely thought she was helping by not helping.
Gah. Jordan itched to leave. Give her an obnoxious Marine with attitude any day. She texted Rafi for his whereabouts but needn’t have bothered. She found him sitting in her car, waiting to escape.
She got in beside him.
He refused to look at her, so still she thought he’d shatter. The poor kid.
In a bland voice, he asked, “Am I moving out or what? It won’t take me long to pack.”
“Shut up. I’m in no mood to deal with ‘sullen teenage boy’ after having dealt with ‘angelic never-makes-a-mistake girl.’” She started the car. “Now how about a bad-for-you burger and fries while we talk about how much we don’t like Troy?”
Rafi’s worry faded, and he shared his own bright-white smile. “You’re on.”
