SUNDAY
Noah did laundry.
Folded shirts that didn't need folding. Reorganized his closet. Wiped down counters already clean.
Stopped.
Stared at his coffee.
Atlas's voice kept sliding into his head. I'm here.
The way he'd held Noah. Steady. Like he wasn't going anywhere.
Noah's chest did something strange.
He grabbed his phone. Put it down. Picked it up.
Opened Messages. Closed it.
"Fuck."
He needed to move.
Found his basketball in the closet. Dusty. Hadn't touched it in months.
The court near his building was empty by the time he got there.
Sky going dark. Streetlights flickering on.
He started shooting. Missed. Tried again.
The rhythm came back slow. Muscle memory.
His phone rang.
Unknown number.
He almost didn't answer.
"Yeah?"
"Where are you."
Atlas.
Not a question. Statement.
Noah's breath caught. "What?"
"Where are you right now."
"I'm—" His brain stuttered. "Basketball court. Near my place. Why—"
"Send me the address."
"What?"
"Send it."
Click.
Noah stared at his phone.
What the fuck?
His fingers moved before his brain caught up. Dropped the pin. Hit send.
Fifteen minutes later headlights cut across the court.
Noah turned.
Porsche. Silent engine.
Door opened.
Atlas got out.
Jeans. Plain t-shirt. Hair less styled than usual.
He walked toward the court. Long strides. Focused.
Noah's mouth went dry.
Atlas moved like—
Fuck. He just moved.
The memory hit. University gym. Atlas on the court. All control and power and—
Noah shook his head. Bounced the ball.
Atlas reached the court. Stopped at the edge.
Their eyes met.
The air between them shifted. Charged.
Atlas's gaze tracked down Noah's body. Slow. Deliberate.
Lingered on the damp shirt clinging to his chest. The flush on his neck from playing.
His jaw tightened. Just slightly.
Adam's apple moved when he swallowed.
Then his eyes came back up. Locked on Noah's.
Heat in them.
Atlas's mouth curved. Barely. "Play?"
Noah nodded.
Couldn't speak.
Atlas took off his jacket. Tossed it on the bench.
The game started.
Noah remembered university. The way Atlas played then. Hard. Aggressive. No mercy.
This was different.
Atlas moved close. Too close. His hand on Noah's hip when he blocked. Not rough. Just—there.
Warm through Noah's shirt.
Noah tried to focus. Dribbled. Atlas was right behind him. Chest almost touching his back.
Breath on his neck.
Sweat and something clean. Atlas's scent mixing with his own.
Noah's concentration shattered.
He pivoted. Close enough to feel the heat radiating off Atlas's skin.
Atlas's eyes dropped to his mouth.
Stayed there.
His pupils dilated. Jaw working.
Then back up.
He stepped back. Small smile.
Noah's heart hammered.
The game continued.
Every touch deliberate. Atlas's forearm across his chest when he defended. Fingers grazing his waist. Shoulders colliding.
Not basketball. Something else.
Noah went for a shot. Atlas blocked. Their bodies pressed together.
Full contact.
Neither moved.
Atlas's amber eyes burned into his. Dark. Wanting.
The air stuck in Noah's throat.
Atlas pulled back first.
"Your ball."
Voice rougher than before.
The score didn't matter. Noah lost track.
Atlas drove for a three-pointer. Noah jumped to block.
Mistimed it.
His body hit Atlas's. Balance gone.
They went down.
Atlas's back hit concrete. Noah landed on top of him.
Hard.
The air punched out of both their lungs.
Noah's hands hit Atlas's chest. Atlas's hands caught his waist.
They froze.
Close enough Noah could see gold flecks in Atlas's eyes. See his chest rising and falling fast.
Smell him. Sweat and skin and something darker underneath.
Atlas's grip tightened on his hips. Just slightly.
Noah's face burned. "Sorry—"
"Don't." Atlas's voice came out rough.
They stared at each other.
Heat radiating between them.
Noah's hands were still on Atlas's chest. He could feel his heartbeat—fast, steady, terrifyingly in sync with his own.
Atlas's thumb moved. Barely. Against Noah's side.
Deliberate.
Noah couldn't breathe right.
He pushed up. Atlas let him go.
They got to their feet.
Looked at each other.
Noah smiled. Face hot. Shy.
Atlas smiled back. Slow. Real.
The game ended.
Atlas won. Barely.
They sat on the court edge.
Shoulders touching. Thighs pressed together.
Both breathing hard. Sweating.
Noah handed him the water bottle.
"You played good," Atlas said.
"I lost."
"Still."
Silence.
Comfortable now.
Noah's leg pressed against Atlas's. Warm even through his shorts.
"You used to play harder," Noah said. "In school."
Atlas turned his head.
Their eyes met.
His mouth curved. Soft. "Did I."
Not really a question.
Noah's face heated. He looked away.
More silence.
The empty court in front of them. Streetlight casting long shadows.
Atlas took a deep breath.
"I missed this," he said.
Quiet. Certain.
Noah's head whipped around. "What?"
Atlas looked at him. Really looked.
Amber eyes steady. Something raw in them.
"Playing basketball."
The words hung there.
They both knew what he meant.
Not basketball.
This. Whatever this was.
Noah's throat went tight.
A smile broke across his face. Couldn't stop it. Shy and real.
Atlas smiled back.
Then his arm came up. Around Noah's neck. Pulled him in.
Side hug. Casual. Except—
Not casual at all.
"What did you think I meant?" Atlas asked. Voice lighter. Teasing.
Noah laughed. Couldn't help it.
Atlas laughed too.
They stayed like that. Atlas's arm around him. Noah's shoulder against his chest.
Both their hearts racing.
Noah could feel it. Atlas's pulse against his shoulder. Fast as his own.
The heat between them. Sweat and closeness and something else.
Want.
Atlas's fingers pressed into his shoulder. Not hard. Just—there.
Like he didn't want to let go.
Noah didn't want him to.
They stood eventually.
Started walking.
The path to Noah's building was quiet. Dark. Trees overhead blocking the streetlights.
Their hands swung as they walked.
Brushed.
Once. Twice.
Third time Atlas's fingers caught his.
Held on.
Noah's breath stopped.
His face went hot. Ears burning.
But he didn't pull away.
Atlas's hand was warm. Firm. Callused from the gym.
It felt—
Right.
Noah's heart tried to escape his chest.
Atlas glanced at him. Saw his red face.
Smiled.
"From the game," Noah muttered.
"Sure."
They kept walking.
Hand in hand.
Atlas's thumb moved across his knuckles. Slow. Deliberate.
Noah's entire body felt like it was on fire.
Halfway to his building Atlas stopped.
Sudden.
Turned.
Pulled Noah toward him.
Their chests collided.
Arms came around Noah's back. Strong. Sure.
Noah's hands went to Atlas's sides. Held on.
They stood there.
Half-dark path. Trees rustling overhead.
Holding each other.
Atlas's hand came up. Cupped the back of Noah's head. Drew him closer.
Noah's face pressed against his shoulder. He could smell Atlas's cologne mixed with sweat and skin.
Something clean and dark and completely him.
Feel his heartbeat. Fast. Real.
Atlas's other hand pressed to his back. Firm.
Like he was trying to memorize the shape of him.
Noah couldn't breathe.
Didn't care.
Atlas's hand slid from Noah's head to his jaw. Tilted his face up.
They were close. Too close.
Noah could feel Atlas's breath on his lips.
See his eyes drop to his mouth. Stay there.
Atlas leaned in. Just slightly.
Close enough to—
He stopped.
Jaw clenched. Fighting something.
His thumb traced Noah's jaw. Gentle.
Then he pulled back.
Just an inch. But it felt like miles.
"Stars are bright tonight," Noah said. Voice shaking.
They both looked up.
Sky clear. Stars everywhere.
Atlas's hand stayed on his jaw. Warm.
"Yeah," he said.
Quiet. Rough.
They stood there longer. Looking at stars. Holding each other.
Finally pulled apart.
Started walking again.
Still holding hands.
Noah's building appeared ahead.
They stopped at the entrance.
Faced each other.
Noah didn't want to go inside.
Atlas didn't move.
They just stood there. Looking at each other.
Atlas's thumb moved across his knuckles again.
"Go inside," he said finally. Soft.
"Okay."
Neither moved.
"Noah."
"Yeah."
"Go."
Noah stepped back. Slow.
Their hands stayed connected until the last second.
Then separated.
Cold rushed in where Atlas's hand had been.
Noah walked backward. Couldn't stop looking.
Atlas stood there. Watching him go.
Small smile on his face.
Noah reached the door. Looked back once more.
Atlas was still there.
Noah went inside.
The door closed.
Noah leaned against it.
His heart trying to break through his ribs.
Huge stupid smile on his face.
He looked at his hand. The one Atlas held.
Could still feel the warmth.
He walked to his apartment. In a daze.
Inside. Door closed.
Back against it.
He was grinning like an idiot.
Couldn't stop.
Shower. Hot water.
But his mind was on the court. Atlas's hands on his waist. The way he'd looked at him.
The hug. That almost-kiss. Their hands together.
Not victory. Not conquest.
Belonging.
He felt like he belonged somewhere.
With someone.
Outside Atlas stood by his car.
Didn't get in.
Leaned against it instead.
Looked up.
Stars. Just like Noah said.
Bright.
His hand was still warm. Like Noah's touch had branded it.
Everything in him wanted to go back. Knock on that door.
He didn't. Not yet—tonight was already enough.
Perfect enough that rushing would ruin it.
Got in the car finally.
Didn't start it right away.
Just sat there.
That smile still on his face.
Rare. Real.
His jaw still ached from clenching. From stopping himself.
Noah's scent still on his shirt. Sweat and something sweet.
Intoxicating.
Started the engine. Silent hum.
Drove.
Not home. Not yet.
Just drove through the city.
His mind quiet for the first time in days.
Peaceful.
That night he slept.
Really slept.
For the first time in months.
Monday morning would come.
The office. Reality.
But tonight—
Tonight they'd both felt it.
Whatever this was.
It was real.
And that changed everything.