his own battered and bloody face, and then he points it at Tyler, who is disheveled and breathing hard himself, his lip bloodied. He films the two security guards who are struggling to restrain Tyler.
Brad’s voice shakes as he narrates the video. “Here we have one of Chicago’s finest, assaulting a citizen in the public restroom of a gay dance club. Tyler Jamison. Here you go, Chicago. This is what your hard-earned tax dollars are paying for.”
Furious, Tyler jabs his finger at Brad. “You’re under arrest, asshole, for assault and battery!”
“Tyler, no! You can’t!” My voice is so hoarse, I’m not even sure he heard me. But I can’t let him do this. If he arrests Brad, everyone at his precinct will find out about us. And I refuse to be the reason he gets outed.
“Go ahead, I dare you!” Brad spits out at Tyler. Then Brad turns his phone camera on me, where I’m kneeling on the floor next to Chris. “And here’s Ian Alexander, the little cunt who started it all!”
Tyler breaks free of the security guards and rushes Brad, ramming his shoulder hard into Brad’s abdomen, knocking him back into the wall. Tyler manages to punch Brad twice more before the security guards can pull him back.
And all the while, numerous cameras in the open doorway are pointed right at us, filming everything.
A third security guard pushes his way through the crowd and into the bathroom. He takes one look at the scene, grabs Brad’s arm, and hauls him out the door.
Tyler pulls free of the two guards who’d been restraining him and crouches down in front of me. “Are you okay?” He searches my face and neck, gently examining my throat. “Are you hurt?”
“I’m okay.” My voice is shredded. “Get me out of here, please.”
Tyler helps me to my feet and puts his arm around my waist, supporting my weight. The guards clear the clogged doorway, and Tyler walks me out into the hall. People line the hallway and stare at us as we head toward the exit.
This is all my fault. I was so fucking stupid for letting this happen. I should have done something different, anything, other than let Brad Turner get leverage against Tyler.
My throat feels raw, and I’m still struggling to catch my breath. I hardly pay any attention to how we make it outside. We walk to the next block, where Tyler’s BMW is parked. He opens the front passenger door and helps me inside. I sit there, numb, as he buckles my seatbelt.
My gaze follows Tyler as he jogs around the front of the car to the driver’s seat and slips in.
“Are you sure you’re all right?” he says, turning in his seat to face me. He scans me from head to toe.
“I’m fine.” I stare out the rain-streaked windshield at the darkened street. “It’s raining,” I say, stating the obvious. I hadn’t even noticed. Tears sting my eyes as my throat tightens. “I’m so sorry.”
Tyler cups the back of my head, and his touch feels so good I just want to close my eyes and lean into it. But I can’t. I fucked up big time.
“You have nothing to be sorry for, Ian. None of that was your fault. Turner fucking assaulted you.”
“He got video, Tyler! Of you! Of the security guards trying to restrain you. What if he presses charges against you? We have absolutely no proof that he assaulted me in the bathroom. It’s just my word against his. And there’s plenty of video evidence of you assaulting him.”
Tyler’s expression hardens. “I’ll deal with that when the time comes.” Frowning, he brushes my hair back from my forehead. “Right now, let’s just get you home.”
I lean my head back as hot tears burn my cheeks. “I’m a shit lousy boyfriend.”
Tyler laughs. “Is that what we are? Boyfriends?”
My heart stops when I realize what I said. Fuck! Can this night get any worse? “Shit, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.”
“You need to stop apologizing.” Tyler squeezes my hand. “Ian.” He studies me like he’s memorizing every detail. And then he wipes his bloody lip on the hem of his shirt before leaning in close and pressing his forehead to my temple. “Is that what we are, Ian? Boyfriends? Because this is all new to me, and I don’t know the rules.”
“Fuck the rules,” I say. I haven’t known Tyler that long, but I know he makes me feel things I’ve never felt before—things I’ve only dreamed of.