Page 169 of One Bad Idea

Cassidy made a face. "Then the answer to your question is'Reallyawful.'"

"So, they don't get along?"

"Not hardly," she said. "Remember when I told you about Jaden torching that car?"

How could I forget?Still, I sifted through the details, trying to recall exactly what she'd said.

Apparently, one of their brothers had shown up here in Florida looking to reclaim an old car of his. One thing had led to another, and Jaden had torched the car right there in the warehouse, in front of the visiting brother.

I said, "So that was Jake?"

Cassidy nodded. "Yeah. There's a lot of bad blood between them."

"Do you know why?"

"Well, for starters, there's the car thing."

I tried to laugh. "Well yeah, I can see where torching a car might cause alittlebrotherly friction."

"But that's only half of the story," she said. "There's a lot more that I left out."

"But why?" I asked.

"Because it's so depressing. And honestly, I wasn't sure you'd want to know. I mean, you're not a huge fan of Jaden."

Oh, God. How awkward was this?

I forced another laugh. "Okay, now you'vegotto tell me or I'll go crazy wondering."

And so she did.

When she finished, I almost didn't know what to say. She was right. The story really was awful.

Apparently, when Jax and Jaden were barely teenagers, their mom had abandoned their family without so much as a goodbye. They'd been living in Michigan at the time, and had no idea where she'd gone until Jax and Jaden discovered on their own that she was in Florida with who-knows-who.

Even though they'd been far too young to drive, they'd stolen their older brother's car and then drove over twenty hours south all by themselves. But then, when they'd arrived at their destination, all they'd found was their mom living with a rich new family.

The saddest part was the picture Cassidy painted of Jaden, the guy I loved, standing on the unfamiliar doorstep, telling his mom that she had to come home.

But she hadn't.

She hadn't even offered to help Jax and Jaden return home.

So there they were, stranded in Florida with no money, no plans, and apparently, no one even looking for them.

It was almost too horrible for words.

I asked, "But what about their dad or older brothers? Didn't any ofthemcome looking?"

Cassidy shook her head. "The only one who showed up was Jake." She grimaced. "And the only thinghewanted was his car."

I winced. "Ouch. You mean the one they stole from him?"

"Yup, that's the one." She gave a weak laugh. "It was the same car that Jaden torched a few months ago."

I blew out a long, shaky breath. "I can see why."

And I truly could.