Page 15 of Rescued
“I think we need another game night soon,” Theo says.
Luca shrugs. “Not Monopoly this time.”
That draws a laugh from me. During our last game night, Luca chose Monopoly, knowing how much Jasper hates the game. Mostly because he’s so bad at it. I’ve never seen a man go to jail so many times in a row, which is saying something, consideringthe man who raised me. But somehow, he beat us all, and not even by a little.
“So, now that Jasper is the reigning Monopoly champ, you don’t want to play it anymore?” Austin—Luca’s boyfriend—claims that Jasper is a sore loser, but really? I think it’s Luca.
Luca inspects his fingernails. “That’s not true at all.”
“What is it then?” Theo asks, chuckling lightly.
“Yeah, what is it then?”
Sighing, Luca turns back to the grill. “I’m just saying, when I get to pick on Jasper, it’s fun. When he’s winning, he’s not as fun to pick on.”
Sounds about right.
My phone buzzes in my pocket, and I pull it out, my heart sinking when I see that it’s Salem and Nora’s caseworker. “Hey, I have to take this real quick.”
I wave my phone in the air, then step out the side door.
“Hello?” I say, answering the phone and pressing it to my ear.
I’m already pacing, stressing about what she might say. “Hello, Arlo. This is Maryanne.” As if I don’t already know who she is. “I just wanted to let you know that Salem is back in the group home. I’m looking for another placement for him, but unfortunately, kids get a reputation…”
She trails off like that should explain everything, and my blood boils. “And what about the reputation of the kid who keeps picking on the younger ones?” I don’t even give her time to answer. “I know that Salem is troubled. Iknowthat, and I’m working nonstop to get things here situated for him and for Nora both, but if you knew my brother at all, you’d know that he’s a good kid who just wants to look after the others.”
Maryanne sighs. “Be that as it may, Arlo, we can’t have an older boy hurting other children in their foster homes. You see how this is a problem?”
The condescending tone of her voice makes my skin crawl. “And what about the issues this other kid is causing?” I ask, trying to keep my voice level. It won’t do me any good to cause more problems. This lady can pretty well fuck up my chances of getting my siblings home with me.
“Well, apart from Salem’s word, we have no proof that the child he assaulted has done anything wrong. I’m sorry, Arlo. My hands are tied.”
Closing my eyes, I slump against the brick wall of the diner. “I know. Thank you for letting me know. I’m hoping to be ready for them soon. There’s a rental coming up in town, and as soon as I manage to secure it, I’ll be ready for another home visit.”
I still don’t see how a group home is better than what I could provide. Okay, sure. I sleep on a pullout couch in my one-room studio, but I could get them their own beds, and even privacy curtains. It’s one room, but it’s not necessarily a small room, and as Maryanne damn well knows, it’s a far cry nicer than anything we lived in growing up.
“Oh, that’s wonderful news,” she says in that same fake cheery voice. She’s been hearing me say this for months, though, so I’m sure that at this point, she probably doesn’t believe me. “You just let me know as soon as you’re ready, and I’ll get a home visit scheduled.”
“I will. Thank you for the update. Please let me know if anything else changes.”
Maryanne ends the call, and I hang my head, staring at the pavement as I draw deep breaths into my lungs.
The door swings open, and I startle.
Theo raises an eyebrow at me. “You okay?”
I nod. “Fine.”
He studies me for a second, like he’s not sure he believes me. Hell, I’m not sure I believe me. “Jasper’s food is up. You want me to run it out to him?”
“No.” I push off the wall, sliding my phone into my back pocket. “I can get it. Thank you.”
Theo slips back inside, and I blow out another breath, then go in after him.
I can do this. I just need a little more time.
Chapter 4
