Crack! Ethan felt his body twitch then shake. His thoughts, musty and weak, gained strength as he sat up in bed. He’d been dreaming.
“Ethan!” The doorknob hit the wall with enough force to dent the plaster.
“Ben! What…what are you doing here? Is Niko okay?” His heart wouldn’t hold together if Charles had broken his promise. “Where is he? Please, Ben, is he okay?”
Ben started opening the dresser drawers only to close them again when his investigation came up empty handed. “Where’s your stuff? We got to get you the hell out of here before Niko does some stupid shit.”
Ethan tossed the covers back and jumped out of bed. “He’s here? Where?”
“Less chatting, more packing. Let’s go. Where’s the boxes Niko was talking about?”
“I have several. There’s a few in the closet and the two I had taken before. That’s everything.” Ethan opened the closet door then remembered why he’d run away in the first place. “I can’t go, Ben.”
“Like hell, you can’t. We’ll have to live with that grouchy bastard if you don’t come home.” He stacked the boxes on the bed and tossed a pair of tennis shoes at Ethan’s chest. Ethan caught the shoes and sat on the chair next to the desk. “Listen, I don’t know exactly how you ended up here, and, to be honest, I don’t give a damn. You need out, it’s not safe, and one of my best friends loves you. That’s enough. End of story. Get your shoes on before Niko kills that asshole.”
Ethan’s chest vibrated. His shallow breaths created sparkling lights in his vision. “Jesus,” he mumbled and stuffed his feet into the shoes. “If I do this The Professor will lose the shop and Niko could go to jail. Charles will find some way to get him arrested. What do I do?”
Ben hoisted two boxes in his arms. “Don’t fuck this up. Let’s go.”
Ethan grabbed his jacket from the back of the chair and slid his arm through his backpack. “Niko will blame me. Wait…you know about us?”
Ben peered out the doorway. “Yeah, Niko told the whole damn shop.”
Ethan picked up the box. His head swam; excitement made his fingertips tingle. His boyfriend had risked everything to make what they shared real. “I’ll do whatever you guys want to help save the shop. I love him, Ben. I never meant to hurt him.”
“I know, kid. Love can be really fucked up. Come on. The hall’s clear.”
As they walked past Charles’s bedroom, the sound of shouting voices echoed from down the wide staircase. “Get off! Niko! Don’t do this!” Ethan wanted to drop the box and run, but Ben blocked his way. “Jesus!”
“Let him go,” Knox’s voice casually added.
“Got him!” Ben shouted as he set the boxes by the front door.
Ethan walked out of the marble-floored foyer into the study. Niko was straddling Charles, punching random shots. “Niko!”
With hooded eyes, Niko looked up, wiping the back of his hand over his bloodied lip.
“Please stop. He’s not worth going to jail. Let’s go home.”
When Knox stood Ethan could see where he’d been sitting. The man who’d assaulted him on campus was passed out on the floor. Seth leaned over and pulled on Niko’s shoulders. “That’s enough, brother. You got this. Ethan’s safe. We need to get out of here.”
Niko shot his gaze over. Ethan’s hands trembled as he walked to where Niko was hunched. “Take me home, Niko.”
When Niko stood, Ethan wrapped his arms around his wide shoulders and pulled him tight. The thickness of his arms engulfed Ethan’s waist, leaving no room between their bodies.
“I thought you left because I was a coward.” Niko nestled his lips behind Ethan’s ear. “I don’t want to lose you.”
Ethan hugged tighter. “I had to go. There was no other way to keep you from getting hurt and keep The Professor from losing the shop.”
Niko leaned back, taking the sides of Ethan’s face into his hands. “The only way you’re going to hurt me is by leaving again. I need you.” He skimmed his lips over Ethan’s mouth. “God, I fucking need you.”
Ethan opened, letting him slip his tongue inside.
“This is great, you guys wanna play kissy face and all.” Knox appeared on the other side of the room. “But I’m sure when we broke the little box by the gate something was triggered and we’ve already been here fifteen minutes. We’ve got the truck loaded up.”
“We gotta go.” Ethan regretted they’d had to end the kiss. “Knox’s right.”