Page 123 of Smooth Moves
Cash focused. Light streamed through the window, so it couldn’t have been too late. He tried to rise too quickly, forgetting how much his ribs ached, and groaned.
Rafi looked upset. “Need help?”
Cash shook his head. “Nah. I need to get used to this.” Slowly, he rolled to his good side, sat up to put the sling back on, and somehow managed to land on his feet after pushing off the bed. Once standing, it took him a minute to get his bearings. After fighting off dizziness, he took a few steps toward the doorway.
“Want some tea?” Rafi asked.
“Tea? No thanks.”
Rafi shrugged. “You seem to like tea a lot, so I thought I’d ask. Can I get you something else? You’re supposed to be relaxing.”
“I guess I could eat.”
Rafi smiled. “Okay. Go sit on the couch, and I’ll get you a sandwich.”
Oddly comforted by the kid’s presence, because Jordan couldn’t betoomad at him if she let her brother hang around, Cash sank into the couch and rested his arm on a bolster. It helped to elevate it. He turned on the TV and flipped through the channels before settling on some B-horror movie while wondering how next to deal with Jordan.
Rafi appeared with two plates. He set one in front of Cash and kept the other for himself.
“Peanut butter?” Cash asked.
“And jelly. With a side of chips.”
The boy had made two sandwiches for him, Cash was happy to see. “Sounds good.” They ate in silence until Rafi asked if he wanted anything to drink.
“You don’t have to wait on me.”
“You’re an invalid. Besides, I owe you.”
“Well now. You’re damn right you do.”
The boy flinched. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know you’d get hurt.”
“You narced me out to my brotherandyour sister. After you pinkie promised!”
“They broke your arm. I—”
“Hey, Rafi. Pay attention. The injuries are nothing. But Jordan is really pissed at me.”
Rafi paused. “You’re not mad about getting beat up?”
Cash grimaced. “It was one against three, and for the record,Ibeattheirasses. Plus this didn’t happen because of Juan. It happened because three assholes who should have minded their own business didn’t.” Four assholes including him, but whatever. “So yeah, you owe me because your sister thinks I don’t trust her. Where is she, anyway?”
“She’s at Mom and Dad’s. She’s staying there.” Rafi swallowed. “I told her I’d watch out for you.”
“What the hell, man? I thought you didn’t narc.”
Rafi sighed. “I’m sorry I told her about Juan. But after hearing you got hurt, I felt terrible. I need to fight my own battles. The ones I can win at least.” He gave a shy smile. “I did what you said and told Jordan about that teacher. She went to school yesterday and ripped him a new asshole.”
Cash grunted. “Damn straight. Your sister doesn’t play around.”
“It was awesome. She tried to talk to him in private outside the classroom. But he saw me and tried to act like a big man in front of all the students. Then Jordan showed him up, let him have it, curse words included.” Rafi’s smile blinded him, and Cash wished he’d been there to see it shake down. “She told him he was a poor excuse for a teacher and threatened to report him for it. When he tried to pretend it never happened, one kid told us he’d recorded it and sent Jordan the file. She went straight to Simpson’s boss. His ass is out on suspension.”
Cash held up his good hand and contained a wince when Rafi high-fived it, shifting Cash’s ribcage. “Awesome, man.”
“It was so great. Some of the kids told me they felt bad for me and missed me. I guess I thought I was the only loser there, but a lot of them hated Simpson too. Nobody wants to be in summer school.” He chuckled. “Plus they liked I had the balls to call him Homer to his face.”
“That was funny. But you’d better not dis your teachers again or your sister will crush you under her little Army boots.”
