Savior:A Tattered Club Story(36)

Ethan hesitated. He’d lived on the things his first year in college. Well, those and ramen noodles. “It’s okay I—”

“Open one and eat. We’ve got a lot to do. I’ll order a pizza for later, but you’re going to hit the floor before then. You already look like hell.”

“Thanks.” Hearing that made him feel even worse than taking the money in the first place. He snagged the peanut butter bar and pressed the rectangular door shut. “I don’t think I look bad. A little pale, maybe, but it’s hard to get out in the sun when I’m studying or working all the time. You look like you’ve been outside. I figured with your tight schedule at the shop you never got to see the light of day.”

Niko looked over. “I work outside when I do commissions, but that’s gonna change here soon. I’ve got a few projects lined up for indoor murals. I’ll have work through the winter. Paint won’t stick to the brick and concrete when it gets really cold.”

Ethan tore a piece of the dry bar and chewed. “You have another job?”

“I do murals for businesses. When I was younger I painted all over the neighborhoods and even in the city. The Professor found me that way. I guess I’m pretty badass with a spray can.”

Niko didn’t seem like the kind of guy to put himself on a pedestal so when he cocked a grin, Ethan chuckled. “I bet you’re a badass at a lot of things.” Niko shifted his gaze to the road, but the confident tilt of his lips remained. Ethan laid the twenty on the console. The protein bar tasted like cardboard, but the more he chewed, the better he felt. Looking like hell might have been an accurate description after all.

The car thumped when the tire hit a divot in the street. Hearing the rustle of plastic, he turned around. “What’s all that?”

“You need things.” Niko took the off-ramp.

Ethan swallowed the dry lump he’d been chewing. “This stuff is for me?” Niko hesitated then nodded. “Niko, I have to hear from one of the other jobs before I can pay you back.”

“We’ll work something out.”

Ethan’s head throbbed. Was he grateful for the help? Yes. Was he going to be a sex toy for another guy who pretended to be straight? Hello no. “I’m not doing this, Niko. I got out of that shit with Charles and I’m not about to pay you back for your help by being your secret fuck buddy. You’re playing straight, hell you might be bi, but that’s not my problem to fix. I’m not here to service you in secret then take the help you dish out when—”

“Are you done whining?”

Ethan felt his face heat. “Fuck you, Niko.”

“I thought you said that wasn’t part of the deal.”

Ethan’s hand itched to smack the smirk off Niko’s face.

“Listen, calm your ass down. That’s not what I meant. You can pay me back. Get on your feet first.”

Ethan eased into the seat. “I can agree to that.” When the car came to a stop in the lot behind the shop, his heart thudded so hard against his ribs he thought he might pass out.

“Good, now can we get you moved in without all the drama? I’ve got the key. There’s two ways in. You’ll have the key to the front. The door is kind of hidden at the edge of the shop, next to the big window. Open the outside entrance and the stairs go up to a landing. Your apartment’s on the left. The other door is in the back of the shop. This key…” He dangled the red sparkle heart on the small metal ring. “I know. Scarlet picked it out. This key goes to that door, too, but you won’t have a key to the club so you can’t get in unless someone lets you in.”

The key looked like the X on a map he’d been following for two years. “Okay.” He grabbed the key. The anticipation of staying the night in his new place dissolved. He didn’t even have a sleeping bag. Niko had already done so much, he couldn’t ask for another night in his bed. “I’ll make it work until I can get some furniture. I work tomorrow and I’ll see if my boss can give me my paycheck a couple of days early.”

Niko opened the car door and started tapping his finger on his phone. “What do you like on your pizza?”

“Seriously? You’re not buying my dinner again. There’s a convenience store down the road. I’ll pick something up there.”

“Supreme sounds good.”

Ethan cringed. He was a sausage and pepperoni kind of guy. “Can I pay half?”

Niko’s finger stopped. “No, you can’t. I’ll get a large, pepperoni and sausage too.” He glanced over. “That okay? You can put the left overs in the fridge. There.” He pressed the green buy button. “Done.”