"Yes," Julian assured him.
The guys kept him company until Rob came over.
"You're not in any legal jeopardy, right?" Julian asked Rob and placed a hand on his forearm like he needed the physical proof that he was safe.
"Not as far as I can tell. The sheriff said she'd be in touch, and we're free to go."
"Of course he's not in trouble," Rico chimed in to reassure Julian. "He's your bodyguard. It's his job to beat up guys for you."
As the sheriff's car pulled away, Thayer glared out the window at Julian. Rob put a protective arm around him while his jaw flexed.
"Look at that sack of crap," Rico said, seething.
Mitch put an arm around him and Rico sighed against his shoulder. But he wasn't still for even one second before he got combative.
"I'm going to kill that slimeball," Rico said then he waved in Rob's direction. "I know. I'll get in line behind Rob, but then I'm totally going to kill that guy."
Mitch pulled Rico tighter against him. "Let's go. Everyone will want to see these guys are OK."
"I hope Danny is all right," Julian said as he and Rob walked hand in hand a little bit behind the others.
"We'll be seeing him soon," Rob said but then he glanced behind them. His green eyes flashed with anger in the direction where Thayer was taken. "They better send Thayer away so you don't have to ever worry about him again."
"I think they have some good evidence. When the sheriff searched his car, she found handcuffs and chloroform and something she thinks might be GHB," Julian told him. By the renewed fury in Rob's eyes, Julian could tell he hadn't heard about that. "It's fine. He's in custody."
Despite that reminder, Rob's voice was rough with anger as he spoke. "In his diseased brain, he actually thought he was going to get away with all of it just by double backing here in that lame disguise."
"He was counting on everyone assuming he was long gone. And I think he planned to blackmail me," Julian said remembering how Thayer said he planned to keep him quiet.
"He's a sicko. That guy was obsessed with you. He better not weasel out of this. You sure you can date the video and the pictures?" Rob wondered.
"I am."
They were already walking slowly, falling behind the others and now Julian stopped. He could still see the video playing. The shock on his face as they barged into the bathroom, how he tried to cover himself, screamed at them to get out. Thayer's brother snatched the towel from him and the other guys cackled. Next Alex Thayer could be heard saying, "Check it out. He's gonna lose it."
But he was wrong. In one shot there was a look of terror, but then Julian's expression turned blank, a mask that wouldn't let his tormentors see what was going on inside him.
Julian knew how to hold in his fear and pain. At home, he learned that if he showed any weakness, there were only worse punishments waiting for him. That's what his grandfather had taught him.
Even now that lesson was making him shut down just like his younger self had done. But he wasn't a scared, bullied kid looking at the hateful, sneering faces of his tormentors. He was an adult looking at his younger self, seeing the buried pain, the wall going up inside him.
Through all that, the details in the background didn't escape him. They were how Julian could date the video.
As he went silent, Rob had started rubbing his back. He didn't press him to talk or explain anything, but Julian did anyway. "That was the video from when Thayer's brother and some other guys ambushed me in the shower. The school did some renovations to the dorms. Among other things, they replaced the very distinctive black and white tiles in the bathrooms. But there are other things too." Julian was sure there would be records to prove when the renovations were done. "They did the renovations over the summer break when I turned fifteen. That means I'm still fourteen in the video and the pictures."
"I'm pretty sure I'll kill Thayer if I see him again," Rob said through gritted teeth.
Julian threw his arms around him and whispered in his ear. "That's all over, and it's Thanksgiving."
"Fine. I'm grateful you're OK," Rob said grudgingly and gave him a long, loving kiss that soothed him better than anything else could.
Julian wanted to stay in that embrace, keep kissing Rob with his eyes closed, shutting everything else out. But they were practically on Mrs. Del Rio's doorstep and the others were waiting.
"They're throwing down a challenge. Let's get busy," Rico said to Mitch and hooked an arm around his fiancé's neck.
"Break it up. People are waiting," Wyatt said impatiently.
"You mean Sam," Rico accused him. Pushing past Wyatt, he opened the front door and loudly announced their return.
