Ethan startles. “Uh… his texts?”
“Yeah, texts are good. But you know what’s better?”
“His photos,” I say as I glare at Hunter, standing there pathetically as he fidgets with the pocket of his jeans. Bet he’s nervous now.
“Jackpot.” He smacks the back of his hand against the phone. “Dick pic, dick pic, dick pic.” He turns to Hunter. “Is thisyourpeanut?”
“Of course it’s—” He breaks into nervous laughter as his friends sputter and chuckle.
“Damn.” Rafael brings the phone closer to his eyes, as if he’s struggling to see anything. “You shouldn’t betooworried. I’m sure there’s another growth spurt in your future.”
I barely stifle a chuckle when Ethan breaks into quiet laughter.
Rafael, noticing, shows him the phone. “I’m not lying, am I?” Before Ethan can answer, he turns to Hunter. “All right, Hunter. I want you and your peanut out of my face, so let’s wrap this up.” He holds the phone out, but just as the kid goes to grab it, Rafael drops it, then stomps on it. “Shit, Peanut. Sorry. So clumsy.”
“You fuckingsissy!”
Rafael grabs his shirt, pushing him back until he’s holding him against a tree.
“Rafael!” I squeal, cringing as I cup my mouth.
He winks at me. “Everything’s under control, Freckles.” As he focuses back on Hunter, his voice drops. “You should read a book, Peanut. Learn better words.”
Hunter struggles, but Rafael keeps him there.
“Look, I’m sorry your life is shit. That your dad likes the bottle and screams at the TV thatfairiesare ruining the country. And I’m sorry you struggle to understand why you feel all tingly in the locker room and not when you’re with one of those ladies.” He jerks his head toward the girls. “But work it out in therapy, Peanut. Learn tolove yourself, fuck men if that’s what you like, and most important, leave Ethan alone.”
“Let me go!” Hunter has teared up, which makes me feel bad for him. Maybe he really is gay, and he hates himself so much he has to take it out on someone else.
“Not until you understand, Peanut.”
“I understand!”
Rafael immediately steps back, holding his hands up. “That’s all I needed to know.”
Hunter observes him carefully, and I would, too, in his place. Rafael is purposefully acting like a lunatic, and I wouldn’t want to be on the receiving end of his erratic behavior.
When Rafael steps closer, Hunter flinches. It makes Rafael chuckle, but he leans closer still and whispers something in his ear. I can’t hear what, but I swear it’s what will send us all to prison, because Hunter’s face goes white. No—green. Ripe-pear green.
After patting his shoulder, Rafael turns to Hunter’s friends and points at them one by one. Without saying a word, he winks at me and begins walking.
Ethan and I follow right behind, my heart beating wildly in the silence of the skate park. I can’t believe he did this. If this kid presses charges, God, we’re all fucked.
“Ethan, come here,” Rafael says as we approach the parking lot. “What’s Peanut’s ride?”
Ethan laughs excitedly. “Seriously? The BMW.” He points at a car in the far corner of the parking lot, and Rafael gives him his car keys.
“Walk back to my place. Grab the bat in the trunk of my car.”
“No—no! Ethan, don’t you go anywhere.” Eyes bulging, I grip Rafael’s arm. “Have you lost your mind?”
He pinches my chin, pouting slightly. “There’s nobody around. No witnesses.”
“That’s not the point!”
“You said we couldn’t get caught doing something illegal.”
I clench my fists at my sides. “I meant we shouldn’tdoanything illegal.”
