Knox nodded, keeping the corner of his eye on Ethan. “Will do, boss man. Ethan, right? Prince Charming said you were moving in upstairs. Welcome to the club.” Again with the sinister clown grin, but this time one of his ice-blue irises disappeared with a wink.
Knox passed, humming a tune much too cheery for his battered and I-don’t-give-a-shit appearance. “Knox is one of the newer artists. He specializes in biomechanical designs. Have you ever heard of Roman Abrego or Nick Baxter?” Ethan shook his head. “Knox’s work blows them out of the water. He came to us from a shop in Los Angeles. I believe you’ve met Ben. He has a hand for portraits. You’ll meet everyone in a couple of days.”
Ethan was excited but overwhelmed. He ran upstairs, grabbed his backpack with laptop inside, and headed back downstairs. The sleeve of his jacket caught on his arm as he fumbled down the hallway. When he walked into a wall of flesh, he almost tripped back against the wall.
“Easy there, skinny jeans.” Niko had a yellow legal pad in his hand. “Headed to school?”
Ethan righted his jacket and nodded. “The Professor is taking me. I’m going to be working here. I hope you’re okay with that.”
Niko leaned against the wall, the pad hanging by his side. “I’m okay with anything, Ethan. Are you okay hanging out here while I’m working?”
“I’ll be fine. It’s not like I’m going to jump your bones in front of everyone. I have a little more control than that.”
Niko lifted from the wall. “We’ll see.” He turned and headed into his studio.
After The Professor dropped him off, Ethan had time to get to class and prepare for the lecture. Having a steady ride to school without having to pay with his body made him feel like he could actually sit still in the chair. He tapped the keys on the laptop, preparing to take notes for the class.
As several of the other students gathered in the surrounding seats, his phone sang out a Katy Perry song alerting everyone that, yes, he was way gay. He swiped the screen when he saw Niko’s name pop up.
“Hello,” he said, more than curious.
“I have a client in ten minutes.”
Ethan smiled but didn’t want to. He hated that Niko did everything like a boyfriend but wanted to use their relationship as a booty call. “Okay, do you need emotional support for the session or is this a checking-in-on-me call?”
Niko chuckled. “I don’t ever need emotional support and, no, I’m not checking in on you, but do you need anything? Did you take money to eat today? Is The Professor bringing you home?”
Ethan rested his elbow on the white-top table and looked over the theater style lecture hall. So, this was a checkup call. “No, yes, and yes.”
“What time do you get done today?”
Either Niko needed to keep this new thing they had going on a professional level or he needed to jump into the kiddy pool. Asking the man to go feet first in the deep end would be a bit much at this point.
“My last class ends at three and I don’t have a study session today. I have to come home then get with Scarlet to start learning my new job. I’m going to be working at the shop so I’m going to quit my other job. The Professor is a really great guy. I’ll be able to afford to do the basics and buy things for school. So, Charles can kiss my ass. Just like my dad, he said I wouldn’t be anything without him, and I’m going to prove them wrong. I’m going to make it on my own.” He paused and thought about the last couple of weeks. “Well, I got this start with your help. And…I love the comforter you got for me. It’s so soft and I used the extra pillows to lie on and pretend they…were you.”
The phone was silent then a metallic clang rang out on the other end of the line. “Dropped the tray. Casper wants to see your place tonight.”
The instructor walked into class and the other students began to dampen the humming noise of voices echoing off the walls. “I have to go,” Ethan said, not wanting to rush the conversation, but also not wanting to get called out in front of class. “I don’t know how late I’ll be with Scarlet, but I guess he can come over. Can you ask him to bring his owner, too? He’s the tall guy with the big muscles and scary tattoos. Oh yeah, and he’s kind of grouchy sometimes. Gotta go.”
“Smart-ass,” Niko said just before Ethan swiped the screen to end the call.
He silenced the phone and was stuffing it in the front of his hoodie when the case vibrated in his hand.
So, can we come over?
Ethan tapped his foot on the floor. Whether from excitement or nerves he wasn’t sure. Maybe hanging out as friends could be uncomplicated if they both agreed to no touching. Or licking. Or getting naked. Or touching each other’s asses.