Noah woke tangled in Atlas's arms.
Sunny was sitting beside the bed. Staring at him.
He whispered, "Morning."
She barked.
Noah lunged for her snout. "Shh—"
Atlas's hand slid into Sunny's fur before Noah could reach her. His eyes were still closed.
"We'll take her together."
Noah froze. "You're awake?"
"Taking her to the park!" Lydia's voice drifted up from downstairs.
Sunny bolted. Luna scrambled after her.
Noah settled back down. Atlas pulled him closer.
"We can sleep more." Atlas's voice was rough.
Noah kissed his shoulder. Light pressure. But Atlas's body was still coiled tight—every muscle locked.
Still carrying it.
Atlas tightened his hold. Kissed Noah's neck. His hands moved across Noah's chest—slow, rhythmic, like he was memorizing texture.
Noah watched him.
Atlas's eyes opened halfway. "Morning, love."
"Love." Noah kissed his cheek.
Atlas's lips curved slightly.
"Did you sleep okay?"
"Yeah." Voice like gravel.
Noah kissed his neck. Quiet: "Shower?"
"Only if you make it interesting."
Noah's eyebrows went up. "It's a shower."
"Exactly."
"We're just gonna—"
"Make it interesting," Atlas said. Already grinning.
Noah laughed. "I'm gonna regret this."
Atlas sat up. Held out his hand.
Noah stayed in bed. Eyes playful. "I'm thinking about it."
Atlas grabbed his hand. Hauled him up. Kissed his neck once, then moved lower.
"Definitely regretting this," Noah said. Wasn't.
---
The water was scalding.
Atlas backed Noah against the tile. Kissed him until Noah forgot why they were even there.
Noah's hands slid down Atlas's sides. Wet skin, hot water, the steam making everything hazy.
"You're trouble," Atlas said against his mouth.
"You started it." Noah bit his lower lip. Gentle.
Atlas made a sound low in his throat. Pressed closer. "Yeah. I did."
Noah's fingers traced Atlas's spine. Felt him shiver despite the heat.
They moved slowly, like they had time again.
Warm skin, steam, soft breaths against mouths and shoulders.
Not urgency — just a kind of quiet claiming.
When Atlas's hand wrapped around Noah, Noah's head fell back against the tile. "Fuck—"
"Interesting enough?" Atlas's voice was wrecked.
Noah couldn't answer. Just pulled him in for another kiss—desperate, graceless.
They moved together. Water streaming down their backs. Breathing each other's air.
After, they stood under the spray. Foreheads together. Neither wanting to move yet.
"Regret it?" Atlas asked. Smiling against Noah's temple.
"Haven't decided." Noah's breathing was still uneven.
"Want another trial run?"
Noah turned in his arms. Kissed him slow. "Perfect."
Atlas's arms locked around his waist when Noah tried to step back. Pulled him in again. Kissed him properly—deep, thorough.
When they broke apart, their lips were swollen.
Atlas winked. "Now we can get ready."
Noah just stood there. Grinning like an idiot.
---
They dressed. Headed downstairs.
Lydia was in the kitchen unpacking bakery bags.
"Morning," Noah and Atlas said. Eyes meeting.
"Morning." Lydia's face lit up. "Got croissants. And those Danish things you like."
Noah and Atlas helped. Noah leaned close to Atlas's ear. "She's been weird all week."
Atlas's expression shifted. Amused.
"I can hear you." Lydia didn't turn around. She grabbed her coffee. "Maybe I'll tell you something tonight."
"Tell us what?"
"Maybe." She left.
Atlas checked his watch. "We're late."
---
Noah was barely at his desk when his father's assistant called.
His stomach dropped before she even finished the sentence.
He went straight to the executive floor. Each step felt heavier than the last. His shoulders crept up. His chest tightened.
Composure. Don't give him anything.
His mother's voice in his head.
Just stay calm.
He knocked. Entered.
His father was at his computer. Didn't look up. "Sit."
Noah sat. Hands in his lap. Fingers laced to keep them still.
His father finally turned. Studied him like a spreadsheet. "Everything alright?"
"Fine."
"Good." Beat. "Your mother mentioned you two spoke."
Noah's pulse jumped. He kept his face neutral. "We did."
"And?"
"It went well."
His father's eyes narrowed fractionally. "Family comes first, Noah."
The words landed like a fist.
Noah's throat went tight. His gaze dropped before he could stop it. "Family first."
Which family? Which one am I choosing right now?
His father leaned back. Satisfied. "Anything else?"
"No."
"Good. Close the door on your way out."
His father returned to his screen.
Noah stood. Walked to the door. His legs felt strange. Disconnected.
He glanced back.
His father hadn't moved. Just staring at his monitor like Noah had never been there.
---
The elevator descended. Noah's reflection stared back at him in the steel doors.
He spoke to it. Barely audible. "Which family?"
His hands were shaking. He shoved them in his pockets.
At his office, Elias and Clara were already working.
"Hey," they said.
"Hey."
He sat. Opened his laptop. Stared at the screen without seeing it.
His phone buzzed.
Atlas:gonna be late tonight
Noah's chest loosened slightly.
Noah:ok
Atlas:miss you
Heat crept up his neck. He typed back: miss you too
Elias's eyes flicked up. "Everything good?"
"Yeah." Noah tried to smile. "I think so."
---
Lunch. Their usual place.
Clara was talking about her boyfriend. Elias made jokes. Noah half-listened.
Then he heard himself ask: "Does your family approve? Of your relationship?"
Elias went still.
Clara's fork paused midway to her mouth.
"They didn't." Elias set down his beer. "For a long time. Mark and I..." He exhaled. "We went through a lot. Some of it's still going."
Noah's chest hurt. He reached over. Hand on Elias's arm. "I can imagine."
Clara spoke quietly. "The things families put you through when you don't fit their plan."
Elias turned to Noah. "Does yours know?"
"My mom. My sister."
"And?" Clara asked.
"They're good. They don't—" Noah swallowed. "They don't judge."
"Your dad?" Elias's voice was gentle.
Noah's shoulders dropped. He studied his plate. "No."
Silence.
Then Elias: "Your mom matters. That's huge." He took a breath. "Everyone in my family judged us. All of them."
Noah's head came up. "Now?"
"My mom. One brother." Elias's jaw worked. "That's it."
Clara's voice was soft. "You can't pick your family."
The words hung there. Heavy.
Elias tried to smile. Didn't quite make it. "So I built one. The people who chose me back."
Clara shifted. Intentional. "My boyfriend's birthday is coming up. What do I get him?"
Elias grinned. Grateful. "You've been dating three weeks."
"So?"
"So get him nothing. It's too soon."
Clara threw her napkin at him. "You're useless."
Noah and Elias caught each other's eyes. Both smiled.
"Watch," Noah said.
Elias groaned. "So boring."
"You suggest something then."
"Ask the group chat."
Clara and Noah cracked up. "They'd roast me," Clara said.
---
Back at the office. Six o'clock came fast.
They said their goodbyes.
Noah got into the back of a cab, fingers tapping against his knee as his father's words played on a loop in his head.
Family comes first.
His hands tightened on the wheel.
Which one?
---
Noah knocked twice. Let himself in.
Jared, Marcus, and Sam were sprawled across the living room. Beers open. Game paused.
"Yo!" Jared jumped up. Pulled Noah into a hug.
Marcus next. Then Sam.
Sam leaned back. Studied him. "You look good. Suspiciously good."
"Fuck off." Noah grinned. Dropped onto the couch.
Marcus messed up his hair. "What's going on?"
Noah exhaled. Started talking.
They listened. Marcus tilted his beer. Sam's leg bounced. Jared leaned forward, elbows on knees.
Noah told them everything. The board meeting. His father's coldness. His mother's quiet support. Atlas's mother. The weight of it all sitting in his chest like a stone he couldn't cough up.
When he finished, silence.
Jared spoke first. "Dude. Your mom's on your side. That's everything."
Marcus nodded. "Some shit you can't stop. You just ride it out."
Noah's eyes found him. "You know my dad."
"Yeah." Sam shrugged. "My mom's the same. Fuck 'em."
Noah laughed—short, sharp. "Fuck my dad."
"Why not?" Sam spread his hands. "What's he gonna do? You're not a kid."
Marcus snorted. "He'll try something. But trying and doing are different."
Jared shifted. "Speaking of terrible dads—my ex wants to get back together."
Marcus's eyebrows shot up. "Ewan?"
"Yeah. Saw him last night."
Sam grinned. "Did you fuck him?"
Everyone turned.
Jared paused. "...Maybe."
They exploded. Marcus shook his head. Sam slapped the couch. Noah laughed until his ribs hurt.
"So you're back together?" Marcus asked.
"I don't know." Jared rubbed his face. "Maybe? He's—I don't know."
Marcus flopped back. "My life is so boring."
"Apps exist," Sam said.
"Apps are depressing."
"So go outside."
"Outside is depressing."
They dissolved into stupid shit after that. Gossip. Bad dates. Bar fights. The kind of nothing that meant everything.
Noah's phone buzzed.
Atlas:coming to get you
Noah:ok
He smiled without meaning to.
Marcus caught it. "You and Atlas good?"
"Yeah."
Jared squeezed his shoulder. "Then fuck everything else."
Noah stood. "Atlas is here."
He hugged all of them. Tight.
"You guys are the best."
Sam made a face. "Gross."
Jared laughed. "We're terrible."
Marcus pulled him in again. Rough. "We're your friends. "
Noah's throat closed. He nodded. Couldn't speak.
Left before it got worse.
---
Atlas was leaning against his car.
He straightened when Noah appeared. His whole face changed.
Noah crossed to him. Didn't stop. Kissed him.
Atlas's hand came to his jaw. "You okay?"
"Yeah." Noah leaned into him. "Now I am."
They got in. Atlas's hand found Noah's knee as he pulled into traffic.
"How was it?"
"Good." Noah's head fell back. "Really good. Needed that."
Atlas squeezed his knee.
They drove. City lights blurred past. Atlas's thumb moved in slow circles.
Noah watched him. The set of his jaw when he changed lanes. The way his shoulders had finally dropped.
"I love you," Noah said. Quiet.
Atlas's mouth curved. Eyes on the road. "Love you too."
In the car, Atlas's hand drifted up Noah's thigh.
He was talking—meetings, negotiations, quarterly something—but Noah wasn't listening.
He was watching Atlas. Giving him looks. His hand wandering across Atlas's stomach.
Atlas finally laughed. "How much did you drink?"
Noah grinned. "Lost count." Winked.
Atlas cracked up.
"What?" Noah asked.
"I'll show you at home."
---
They walked in. Sunny mobbed them.
Atlas scooped her up. Noah scanned the room. "Where's Luna?"
"Here!" Lydia called from the living room.
They went in. Collapsed onto the couch. Noah pulled Atlas against him immediately.
Lydia watched them. Her face bright.
"So?" Noah asked. "What's the news?"
Lydia leaned forward. "You ready?"
Atlas and Noah's eyes met. Both smiled.
"Ready," Noah said.
"I'm seeing someone."
"Since when?" Noah sat up.
"Ten days." She launched into it. Who he was. His family. School. Everything pouring out.
"Does Mom know?"
"No. Should she?"
"We should meet him," Noah said.
Atlas nodded. "Yeah. Soon."
Lydia laughed. "Don't scare him off."
Atlas kept his face serious. "We'll see." Winked.
Noah turned to him. "You're good at this."
Atlas's attention shifted. "When have I scared you?"
"Long list," Noah said. Laughing.
"You're making this about you," Lydia said.
Noah stood. Grabbed Atlas's hand. "We're going to bed."
"Night." Lydia's smile lingered.
"Night," Atlas said.
---
Upstairs. Noah closed the door.
Turned. Pulled Atlas to him. Kissed him hard.
Atlas responded immediately. Hands in Noah's hair. Gripping his hips.
Noah moved to his neck. Open-mouthed. Atlas's hand slid to Noah's ass. The other tangling in his hair.
Noah worked Atlas's shirt open. Kissed his way down. Slow.
They moved to the bed. Noah pushed Atlas down. Climbed over him.
"You're drunk," Atlas said. Grinning.
"Not that drunk." Noah kissed him. Deep.
Atlas's hands roamed. Mapping familiar territory. Finding all the places that made Noah gasp.
They took their time. No rushing. Just reconnecting after days of tension.
Noah's hands trembled slightly when he touched Atlas. Like he was afraid this might disappear.
Atlas caught his wrists. Held them. "I'm here."
"I know." Noah's voice cracked.
"Not going anywhere."
Noah kissed him. Desperate. Grateful.
They moved together. Slow at first. Then urgent. Then slow again.
After, they lay tangled. Breathing hard.
"Wow," Atlas said.
Noah laughed. Breathless.
"You sure that was just beer?" Atlas pulled him close.
Noah cracked up.
Atlas kissed his forehead. "Trouble."
"Love you too." Noah grinned.
Atlas pulled back. His eyes held Noah's. "I love you."
"I know." Noah's smile turned soft. Dimples showing.
Atlas touched one. "Beautiful."
Noah kissed him. Gentle.
Scratching at the door. Sunny whining.
They laughed. Noah pulled on sweatpants. Let her in.
"I'm sleeping on you tonight," Atlas said.
"Yeah?"
"Yeah."
Noah gathered him close. They settled in. Atlas's head on Noah's chest. Sunny and Luna at their feet.
Noah lay there. Atlas breathing deep and even.
Elias's words echoed: "I built one. The people who chose me back."
Noah's arms tightened around Atlas.
Yeah. Me too.
He smiled into the dark.