Rafael grips Ethan’s shoulder. “So that night, I reacted. For the first time, I didn’t just let him beat me and insult me. I beat him back, and I almost killed him. I was filled with so much anger, I think Iwantedhim to die.”
Ethan sniffles. “That’s why you left?”
“Uh-huh. Your dad, he came over. He called an ambulance, told me everything would be okay. I think he saw my injuries and figured out what was going on.”
My mind reels, the pieces of his story colliding with everything I thought I knew. Why wasn’t Rafael arrested? Why didn’t my dad bring him in?
My shoulders sag. “He let you go.”
“Yeah. He saw me sneak out, and he told me I didn’t need to leave, that we’d fix it. But I couldn’t take the thought of being here when morning came and everyone found out.”
Ethan looks away, and I exchange a glance with Rafael. Something he said has struck a chord.
“Ethan, I was too stupid to accept your dad’s help. If I had…” His eyes meet mine. “I missed lots of stuff. Wasted a lot of time.”Focusing on Ethan again, he gives his shoulder a squeeze. “Don’t be like me. Ask for help.”
Ethan sniffles again, his lip shaking, then bursts into sobs, dropping the washcloth and ice on the couch. He turns his back to us, and when Rafael stills, holding my gaze, I know he’s telling me to be strong for Ethan right now. To give him a second to let him come around.
“The skate park,” Ethan whines.
I straighten, rushing to his side. “That’s where they are?”
“Hunter Sullivan and his friends.”
I pull him into my arms, where he continues gasping and crying. I meet Rafael’s gaze over Ethan’s shoulder, his eyes sparking with something dangerous as he cracks his knuckles.
“I hope you’re ready for a new side of me, Freckles.”
I follow Rafael through the dark skate park, Ethan walking beside me. “What’s the plan?” I ask as we step up a small hill and a group of kids Ethan’s age come into view.
“We’re playing it by ear,” he calls without turning our way. He walks hurriedly, aggressively. Enough to make us scramble to keep up, and to scare me to death.
“He’s a minor,” I remind him before we’re in earshot, as the group turns our way. There are six kids, two girls and four boys. Even without knowing who Hunter Sullivan is, I amsureit’s the tall blond kid standing in front of the others, like the boss of their own little gang.
“Look who’s back,” the kid mocks as he turns to his friends. “Did you bring your mom and dad with you? Oh, right, you can’t. They’re d—”
Rafael grabs the basketball out of one kid’s hands, then throws it straight into Hunter’s face. When the ball falls down with a dull thump, I can’t believe our luck that he’s not bleeding.
“You asshole!” Hunter screams, bringing a hand to his nose.
Rafael stands too close to him for comfort, looking down at the stupid kid like he’s lunch. “Hey, Hunter,” he says in a voice that’s inharmoniously chirpy. “I figured we should talk.”
“Who the fuck are you?” Hunter asks, stepping backward as his friends move away. I steal a glance at Ethan, who’s watching the scene out of the corner of his eye, head tilted down.
“I’m Ethan’s friend. Remember him?”
Hunter tries to push Rafael back but ends up having to take a step back himself. “Oh, okay. Are you hisboyfriend?”
Ethan flinches next to me, but I keep my eyes on Rafael. On the walk over, I made him swear he wouldn’t do anything illegal, as it could cost me the custody case, but he looks beside himself.
“Ohh, I see. I’m supposed to feel insulted by you calling me gay.”
Hunter shrugs, his lips twisting in a sneer. “Only if you are.”
Rafael steps forward, and I don’t see exactly what he’s doing, but the two of them struggle. When he moves away from Hunter, he’s holding a phone. “Passcode?”
“Fuck you,” Hunter says as he tries to reach for the phone. When Rafael grasps his wrist, he grunts, powerless as Rafael drags his finger over the bottom of the screen.
“Here we go. Easy-peasy.” He steps closer to me and Ethan, a wicked smile on his lips. “Let’s see what delights await us. Ethan, where would you start with this?”
