Savior:A Tattered Club Story(56)

“I know.”

“Has this bastard done this before?”

“No,” Ethan reached down to pick up the backpack, hoping by avoiding Niko’s intense gaze he could get away with the lie. The truth was, he’d been weak, should have run when he’d had the chance. Instead, he’d thought about that day his father walked in on him fucking on the couch. His father’s words had cut, making him feel like less than shit and Charles hadn’t been any better.

“Come on.” Niko took the bag from his hand.

Ethan was grateful to hear the sound of the thick metal door opening. Casper was waiting impatiently on the other side with his white tail wagging. “He’s really loyal. He acts like he hasn’t seen you in days. My dad never let me have a dog.”

Niko had his hands in the freezer. When he shut the door, Ethan watched him fill a clear plastic bag with ice. “Sit down. I’m going to take Casper out then I’ll make you something to eat.” Ethan dragged his feet to the couch and collapsed. The adrenaline rush had faded and exhaustion was pulling him under. When Niko gently placed the baggie to his eye, Ethan flinched. The freeze was sharp as his eyelids went numb. “Lie down.” He put a pillow on the end of the couch and Ethan was grateful to rest his head. “Keep this on there. I mean it, don’t take it off. I’ll clean up your lip and see what you’ve got. I don’t think it’s going to need stitches. Did the guy crack you on the head? You’ve got blood in your hair.” Niko’s assessment was matter of fact, almost cold.

“I hit my head.”

He braced his hands on the arm of the couch, keeping Ethan’s head from moving. “You are going to tell me who did this. Charles had something to do with it and I’ll take care of that bastard later. Right now, tonight, I want you to rest. No school tomorrow. I have appointments all morning, but you’re staying in your apartment. No one will touch you there.”

Ethan appreciated his support, but he already felt guilty for continually interrupting the guy’s life. First, he got a pretty much free tattoo then seduced him and made him feel bad for not coming out of the closet. One fuck up after another. “I’m going to lose my job if I don’t go in and I need the apartment and money.”

“If the swelling has gone down by tomorrow, we’ll negotiate your working. No school. That rule is non-negotiable.”

The thought of being pulled into that car again made his eyes water. “Got it.”

Ethan woke to a half-melted bag of ice sliding off his face. “Don’t get up,” he heard Niko say in the distance.

He rolled over on the couch so he could see into the kitchen.

“You need to eat something.”

Not until his stomach growled, had he given a thought to not eating all day. The lamps were on and a car crash scene played across the TV. “This is pretty great. I get a nurse and a chef all wrapped up in the same sexy friend. What more could a guy ask for?” When he tried to laugh, he was reminded of the cut on his lip.

Niko set a plate on the coffee table. “Here.” He leaned over and rubbed a clear gel on Ethan’s lip. “This numbs it. I’ve had to use it a time or two.”

A funny tingling sensation vibrated through his lip. When he moved his jaw, the stinging pain in his lip was gone. “Thanks. I mean for everything.”

“No big deal.” Niko sat on the other end of the couch, giving Ethan enough room to keep his feet up while they ate. “I didn’t know if you’d like steak, but I figured every guy will eat steak. Even the ones who wear skinny jeans.”

This time when Ethan laughed. “Yeah, even the fairies in the skinny jeans like steak.”

Niko set the fork on his plate. “Don’t say that. You’re not a fairy. You’re…something else.”

“Oh yeah.” Ethan shoved a bite of potato in his mouth. “Then what am I?”

“My boyfriend. Now shut up and eat. I can’t hear the movie.”

Ethan coughed and almost choked. Knowing not to unravel the delicate admission, he burrowed deeper into the couch and ate. This time the ache in his chest wasn’t because of the bruise painted there. This was what others got to feel. Maybe he wasn’t worthy, but, tonight, he was going to pretend he was. He was in love. Holy crap. He loved Niko.

Ethan stood on wobbly legs and carried their plates to the kitchen sink. “You can cook more than eggs. Niko Malikov, you surprise me all the time.”

Niko pressed the remote to turn off the TV and, with Casper on his heels, started down the hallway. Ethan’s stomach twitched. Was he supposed to sleep on the couch? Niko’s confession made him want to jump in his new boyfriend’s arms, but Niko still wasn’t willing to tell the world they were a couple and that didn’t sit well with his heart. He stood by the refrigerator, frozen in indecision. Should he stay and keep up a lie to everyone or walk away from the first real love of his life?