Atlas woke up with a dull ache in his back. Noah's body was draped across him—arm slung over his chest, leg hooked around his. The couch wasn't made for two people, but they'd managed.
He turned his head. Noah's face was pressed into his shoulder, still asleep. Hair sticking up in every direction. Atlas smiled, careful not to move too much as he extracted his arm from under Noah's weight.
Luna was sprawled across the bed, taking up more space than a cat had any right to. Sunny sat by the door, teeth clamped gently on the hem of Atlas's sweatpants, tugging.
Atlas looked down at him. "Really?"
Sunny tugged harder.
"Alright." Atlas pushed himself up, wincing. His neck cracked. He shuffled to the door, opened it. Sunny bolted out.
When Atlas turned back, Noah was awake. Propped up on one elbow, watching him.
"Morning," they said at the same time.
Noah's mouth twitched. "Did I sleep on top of you?"
Atlas walked back over, lowered himself to the floor beside the couch. His knees protested. He reached up, framing Noah's face with both hands. "Everything hurts."
"That bad?"
"Terrible." Atlas's thumbs traced Noah's cheekbones. "You could make it better."
"Yeah?" Noah leaned in, kissed him soft. "How bad is it really?"
"So bad." Atlas caught his bottom lip between his teeth, let it go. "Might not survive."
Noah huffed a laugh against his mouth. Atlas kissed him harder this time, fingers sliding into his hair. Noah made a small sound, kissed back.
When they broke apart, Noah was grinning. He slid off the couch, settling beside Atlas on the floor. His head dropped to Atlas's shoulder. They both looked at Luna, still dead to the world on the bed.
"What do you want to do today?" Atlas asked.
"I don't know." Noah's fingers found Atlas's, laced through them. "What do you want to do?"
Atlas turned his head, nose brushing Noah's temple. His voice dropped lower. "What do you want to do?"
His arm slid around Noah's waist, pulling him closer.
Noah's pulse jumped. Not fair. "We could play tennis."
"Yeah?" Atlas was still looking at him like that. "Okay."
Sunny came barreling back into the room, all momentum and no brakes. He planted himself on their legs, tail wagging so hard his whole body shook.
Noah laughed, hand going to Sunny's belly. "You got huge, buddy."
Sunny flopped over, tongue lolling out.
Footsteps in the hallway. Getting closer.
"I'm coming in!" Alice's voice carried through the door. "I don't want to see anything weird!"
Noah and Atlas looked at each other. Atlas's eyebrow quirked.
Alice appeared in the doorway, took one look at them sitting on the floor, and laughed. "Morning."
"Morning," they said in unison.
Alice's eyes swept the room. "Why are you on the floor?"
Noah gestured toward the bed. "Luna."
Alice followed his gaze. Luna was stretched out like she owned the place, one paw twitching in her sleep. Alice's smile went soft. "You guys are a strange little family."
"Thanks," Atlas said dryly.
"Breakfast is ready. " Alice started to leave, then paused, crouching down to ruffle Sunny's ears. "You too, handsome."
Sunny's tail thumped against the floor.
Atlas stood first, caught Noah's hand, pulled him up. Then closer. His arms wrapped around Noah from behind, chin hooking over his shoulder. "Come on."
They walked like that, Atlas pressed against his back, Noah trying not to trip over his own feet.
Atlas pressed a kiss just under his ear.
Oh.
---
The kitchen smelled like coffee and something sweet. Sienna was at the stove, spatula in hand. Alice was pouring juice.
"Hey," Sienna said without turning around.
"Morning." Noah slid into a chair. Atlas sat beside him, immediately reaching for the coffee pot.
Alice caught Atlas's eye. He smiled, just a little. She nodded, like he'd answered a question she hadn't asked out loud.
"So the supplier called back yesterday," Alice said, settling into her seat. "They can move the shipment up, but—"
"But they want to renegotiate terms," Atlas finished. His hand slipped under the table, found the hem of Noah's shirt.
Noah's breath caught. He picked up his fork, focused very hard on the plate Sienna set in front of him.
"Exactly." Alice tapped her fingers on the table. "I think we should—"
Atlas's fingers traced the skin just above Noah's waistband. Slow circles.
Noah stabbed a piece of pancake. He's doing this on purpose. He chewed. Swallowed. Didn't react.
"What about the timeline?" Atlas asked. His fingers moved higher, skimming Noah's ribs. Back and forth. Steady rhythm.
Seriously?
"Three weeks, maybe four." Alice pulled up something on her phone. "If we—"
Atlas's palm flattened against Noah's side, thumb brushing in lazy strokes.
Noah's fork clattered against his plate. He turned to look at Atlas. Atlas was nodding at something Alice said, expression completely neutral.
Unbelievable.
Noah scooted his chair back. Just a few inches.
Atlas's hand shot out, grabbed the edge of Noah's chair, dragged it back. Hard.
Noah pitched forward, hands slamming onto Atlas's thigh to catch himself.
Alice and Sienna stopped mid-sentence. Stared. Then burst out laughing.
Noah looked up at Atlas. Atlas was biting his lip, shoulders shaking.
"Oh my god," Sienna wheezed.
Noah couldn't help it. He started laughing too, face pressed against Atlas's shoulder.
"You're—" Noah lifted his head, still grinning. His voice dropped so only Atlas could hear. "Please behave."
Atlas's eyes crinkled. He winked.
Noah's stomach flipped.
"Hey." Atlas looked across the table at Alice and Sienna. "You guys want to play tennis later?"
Alice and Sienna exchanged a look.
"Sure," Alice said slowly. "Why not?"
"Great." Atlas's hand found Noah's knee under the table, squeezed once. "It'll be fun."
Noah bit the inside of his cheek. Fun. Right.
Sunny wandered over, rested his chin on Noah's foot. Noah reached down, scratched behind his ears.
The morning light filtered through the kitchen window, warm on his face. Atlas's thumb was still moving in small circles on his leg. Alice was saying something about reserving a court. Sienna was laughing at her phone.
This, Noah thought, this is good.
Atlas leaned closer, breath warm against his ear. "What are you thinking about?"
"Nothing." Noah turned his head, found Atlas already looking at him.
Atlas's smile was soft. Private. Just for him.
Luna padded into the kitchen, tail high, and meowed loudly at all of them.
"Finally awake?" Atlas asked her.
She meowed again, more insistently.
"I'll feed her," Noah said, starting to stand.
Atlas pulled him back down. "I've got it."
He dropped a kiss on Noah's temple, then got up. Noah watched him move around the kitchen, grabbing Luna's food, talking to her in a low voice.
Alice caught his eye. She was smiling.
Sienna nudged Alice's shoulder. "Now can someone pass the syrup? I'm starving."
Noah reached for it, passed it over. Atlas came back, settled into his chair, his leg pressing against Noah's under the table.
The fridge hummed. Luna crunched her food loudly.
Atlas's hand found his again.
Noah squeezed back.
---
The sun hit the court hard. Atlas's hand rested on Noah's lower back as they walked from the parking lot, thumb rubbing small circles through his shirt. Noah leaned into it without thinking.
Alice was ahead of them with Sienna, both in their tennis whites. Sienna laughed at something Alice said, the sound bright in the morning air.
"Julian's here," Alice called back, pointing to the courts.
Noah felt Atlas's hand flex against his spine. He turned his head. Atlas watched him, jaw tight.
Julian crossed the court toward them, another guy trailing behind him—tall, dark hair, easy smile.
"Atlas. Noah." Julian hugged Alice and Sienna, then clasped hands with Atlas. When he stopped in front of Noah, his smile widened. "It's been a while."
Noah scratched the back of his neck. "Yeah, uh. It has."
Atlas shifted closer. His shoulder pressed against Noah's.
"This is Leo," Julian said, gesturing to the guy beside him.
Leo nodded at them. "Hey."
"You still playing?" Julian asked Noah, like Leo hadn't just been introduced.
"Sometimes." Noah shrugged. "Not as much as I used to."
"Shame." Julian's gaze lingered on him. "I could use a real challenge."
Atlas made a sound—not quite a scoff, but close. Noah bit back a smile.
"We should warm up," Alice said, bouncing a ball. "Sienna and I will take the other court."
---
Noah bounced the ball a few times, testing his grip. Atlas stood beside him at the baseline, close enough that their arms almost touched.
Across the net, Julian and Leo were warming up. Julian kept glancing over.
"Ready?" Julian called.
"Yeah." Atlas's hand grazed Noah's lower back as he moved into position.
The game started. Julian served to Noah—fast and low. Noah returned it. Leo hit it back. Atlas was there, slamming it cross-court.
Point.
Noah grinned. Atlas turned, and for a second, everything else faded. Atlas's eyes crinkled at the corners.
"Nice," Noah said.
"You set it up." Atlas walked past him, fingers trailing across Noah's lower back.
Julian stared.
---
They fell into rhythm quickly. Noah moved left without Atlas calling it—he just knew. When Atlas went for the net, Noah covered the back. When Noah dove for a low ball, Atlas ran to finish the shot.
Leo was good. Better than Noah expected. He returned shots that should've been unreachable, anticipated plays before they happened.
But Noah and Atlas were better.
Julian hit a slice that curved low. Noah stretched for it, barely got his racket under it. The ball floated up. Atlas jumped, slammed it down between Julian and Leo.
Point.
"Damn," Leo said, laughing. "You two are in sync."
Julian said nothing.
---
They took a water break. Noah reached for his bottle. Atlas handed it to him before his fingers touched it.
"Thanks."
Atlas nodded, wiping sweat from his forehead with the hem of his shirt. Noah's gaze caught on the strip of skin that showed, the line of muscle. He jerked his eyes away.
When he looked up, Atlas was smirking at him.
"Shut up," Noah muttered.
"Didn't say anything."
Julian approached. "You two play well together."
"We've had practice," Atlas said. His hand found Noah's hip, thumb hooking into his waistband.
Julian's smile tightened. Leo was talking to someone on his phone, distracted.
"So, Noah." Julian stepped closer. "You busy after this?"
"We've got plans," Atlas said. His tone was casual, but his grip on Noah's hip tightened.
"Right." Julian's gaze moved between them. "Of course."
Noah looked up at Atlas. Atlas watched him, possessiveness clear in the set of his jaw.
"We should finish," Noah said quietly.
Atlas's thumb pressed against his hip bone. "Yeah."
---
The next set was brutal. Julian's shots came harder, faster. Leo called plays that Noah barely countered. His lungs burned as he ran for a ball that curved low. He dove, hit it. Atlas was there—slamming it cross-court past Leo.
Noah pushed himself up, breathing hard. Atlas grabbed his wrist, hauled him to his feet.
"You good?"
"Yeah." Noah's voice came out rough. He didn't let go of Atlas's hand. Atlas didn't either.
They stood there, too close, breathing in sync.
Leo raised his eyebrows. Julian's mouth thinned.
---
Match point. Julian served hard. Noah returned it. The rally stretched on, back and forth—Noah to Leo, Leo to Atlas, Atlas to Julian, Julian to Noah. Until Julian lobbed the ball over Noah's head.
"Mine!" Atlas ran back, racket high. He jumped, arm fully extended, and brought the racket down hard.
The ball shot past Julian's shoulder.
Game over.
Noah let out a breathless laugh. Atlas turned, grinning, and suddenly Noah was moving—crossing the court, meeting him halfway.
They crashed together. Atlas's hand cupped the back of Noah's neck, fingers tangling in his hair. Noah grabbed his shirt, twisted the fabric in his fist.
"That was insane," Noah said, still laughing.
"Yeah?" Atlas's thumb brushed the hinge of Noah's jaw.
Noah's breath caught. "Yeah."
---
They were standing too close. Atlas's other hand slid around his waist, pulling him closer. Noah went willingly, tilting his head back to meet Atlas's eyes.
"Good game," Julian said flatly.
They broke apart. Atlas's hand lingered on Noah's back, fingers spreading wide.
"Yeah," Noah said, turning to Julian. "You too. Leo—nice playing with you."
Leo grinned. "You guys were great. We should do this again."
"Maybe," Noah said.
Tension flickered across Julian's face, but he didn't say anything else.
---
Alice and Sienna jogged over from the other court. "We saw that last point!" Sienna said. "Atlas, that was ridiculous."
"Noah set it up," Atlas said.
"You guys want to grab lunch?" Alice asked.
"We've got plans," Atlas said. His hand was still on Noah's back.
Alice's gaze flicked between them, knowing. "Right. Plans."
Sienna smirked. "Have fun with your plans."
---
Walking off the court, Noah stumbled over his own feet. Atlas caught him by the elbow, steadying him.
"Smooth," Atlas said, but he was smiling.
"Shut up." Noah shoved his shoulder. Atlas didn't budge.
They headed toward the locker room. Behind them, Julian stood with Leo, racket hanging loose in his hand.
---
The locker room was empty. Noah dropped his bag on the bench, breathing hard.
Atlas closed the door. Locked it.
Noah turned. "Atlas—"
"He was staring at you." Atlas's voice was low, rough. "The whole game."
Noah stepped closer. "I know."
"And I don't care." Noah reached out, fingers curling around Atlas's wrist. He could feel Atlas's pulse jumping under his thumb. "Do you?"
Atlas's other hand shot out, gripped Noah's hip. Pulled him in. "What do you think?"
Noah's free hand found Atlas's hip, fingers slipping under the hem of his shirt. "I'm sure."
Atlas kissed him. Hard and desperate and claiming. Noah made a sound in the back of his throat, fisted his hands in Atlas's shirt, pulled him closer. Atlas's grip tightened, thumb pressing into Noah's hip bone.
When they broke apart, Noah was breathing hard. Atlas rested his forehead against his, eyes closed.
"I hate that he looks at you like that," Atlas admitted quietly.
Noah cupped Atlas's jaw, thumb tracing his cheekbone. "I want you. Only you."
Atlas's breath hitched. He kissed Noah again, softer this time. Almost reverent. His hands framed Noah's face like he was holding something precious.
"You're mine," Atlas whispered against his mouth.
"Yeah," Noah whispered back. "I am."
They stood there, breathing the same air. Atlas's thumb traced Noah's bottom lip. Noah turned his head, pressed a kiss to his palm.
"Come on," Atlas said finally. "Let's get out of here."
---
They walked out together, hands clasped between them. Alice and Sienna were waiting by Alice's car, both grinning.
"Finally," Sienna said.
"Shut up," Noah muttered, but he was smiling.
Atlas's arm came around his shoulders, pulling him close. Noah leaned into his side.
Atlas pressed a kiss to Noah's temple. Noah turned his face up, and Atlas kissed him properly—right there in the parking lot, in full view of everyone.
Alice and Sienna laughed.
When they broke apart, Noah was grinning. "What was that for?"
"Just making sure everyone knows," Atlas said.
Noah laughed. "Pretty sure they know."
"Good."
"Okay, we're leaving before this gets any more PG-13," Alice said, still laughing as she opened her car door.
"See you tonight!" Sienna called, climbing into the passenger seat.
Noah waved as they drove off. Then he turned to Atlas. "Come on."
They climbed into Atlas's car. As they drove away, Atlas laced their fingers together over the center console. Noah brought their joined hands to his lips, pressed a kiss to Atlas's knuckles.
Atlas glanced at him, smiled—soft and private and just for Noah.
Noah smiled back.