Ethan adjusted the strap on his shoulder. He carried his laptop stuffed in his bag everywhere he went. He wasn’t about to leave the most expensive thing he owned in a tub in the university library.
“They all notice you,” he said, alluding to Niko’s stark handsome looks, but instead it sounded like an insult. “What I mean is—”
“I get it, man. I’m the freak show in this revival tent. You think this is the first time people have stared at my tats? Every time I pay for something people stare at my hands. Let them look. I don’t give a flying fuck if they like them or not. They’re me.”
Ethan wanted Niko to dump the tubs so he could hug his arms around those stoic shoulders, or maybe jump into his arms and wrap his legs around Niko’s lean waist. Not getting punched in the face sounded like a good plan, too.
“I think your tattoos are great.” He smiled a toothy grin, feeling proud he’d sat through the pain. Every moment was worth it—from having Niko’s art permanently on his skin to having those rough fingertips slide over his body. “All because of you.”
Niko stood to the side of the heavy glass door waiting for Ethan to push it open. “Don’t get sentimental on me, skinny jeans. Let’s go home before you get gayer than you already are.”
Ethan would’ve been offended if he hadn’t caught site of the wicked grin Niko sported as he walked onto the sidewalk. “Gayer? Like when I wear my rainbow tutu and dance to Madonna? Is that the gay you’re referring to? You seem more like a Vogue man than a Lucky Star kind of guy.”
Niko snorted, broad shoulders bouncing up and down. “Neither. Damn, I’m a straight-up Seether kind of guy. Seriously, you like Madonna?”
They walked the short distance to the parking garage. “Yeah, I do. So, maybe that’s a cliché, but Madonna is seriously awesome.”
The sound of their voices echoed between the cars. “If you say so.” Niko stopped by the Nova and set the boxes on the pavement before unlocking the trunk. When Ethan leaned down to lift one of the tubs, Niko waved his hand away and tucked both boxes inside.
“Where do you want to eat? We can grab something on the way home.” Ethan’s stomach rumbled, calling out like a wolf stuck in a trap. Niko’s lips tightened. “Do you want Chinese?”
At that point, anything sounded edible. “Sure.” Ethan latched the seat belt.
The engine roared to life. Niko made a call to a restaurant he must’ve ordered from before because he talked quickly then looked over and asked, “What do you want?”
Ethan was going to splurge this one time and spend some of what precious money he’d saved. “Um, General Taos chicken with fried rice and an egg roll.”
Niko recanted Ethan’s order into the phone. “We’ll pick it up on the way home.” He kept his eyes on the oncoming traffic.
Ethan knew he needed to say a thank you for everything Niko had done. “Thanks for the tattoo and finding a place for me to stay. You didn’t have to do all that. I’m not used to people being so nice without expecting something.”
Ethan almost flinched when the whites of Niko’s knuckles shone as he gripped the steering wheel. “Yeah, well, sometimes people are assholes.”
“Yeah,” Ethan mumbled and turned his thoughts to the window. The tall buildings quickly made way to smaller ones. The click clack of the Metra Rail lulled him to sleep.
“I’ll be right back.”
Ethan rolled his head to the side and watched Niko shut the car door.
He sat up, grabbing his backpack to fish out the envelope holding his money. “Shit.” He opened the door in time to catch several wet drops on his arms. The sky had gone from white puffy clouds sliding overhead to heavy, grey monsters threatening to turn the city into a floodplain.
By the time he reached the restaurant, the drops had turned into showers. “Wait!” He jogged, wet hair plastered to his head, to the counter where Niko was stuffing his wallet into his back pocket. “I’ve got money.”
Niko handed over one of the plastic bags stacked with a couple containers. “Good for you. You’re soaked.”
That’s all the guy cared about? Niko had spent at least thirty dollars on their food. Ethan waited until they reached the door and attempted to slide the money into Niko’s front pocket.
“Dude, what the fuck?”
Ethan tried to ignore the stab in his chest. It wasn’t like he was trying to feel up the guy. He just wanted to pay his part. Owing someone wasn’t his style anymore. “I was just…never mind.”
“Get in the car.”