Morning came with Lydia's voice cutting through sleep.
"Noah! Let's take Sunny out!"
He groaned and rolled over, sunlight finding his eyes.
Got out of bed. Stumbled downstairs.
Lydia was already by the door. Jacket on. Sunny in her arms. She was grinning.
"Morning."
Noah reached up. Fixed his hair. It was sticking up everywhere. "Morning."
Grabbed his jacket. Followed her out.
The park was quiet. Early. The air was cold. Clean.
Sunny ran. Her ears flopped. Her tail a golden blur. She chased a leaf. Pounced on it. Looked up at them like she'd caught the world's most dangerous prey.
Lydia laughed. "I'll take care of her after school. I promise."
Noah glanced at her. "No food except her kibble. Nothing else."
"I know, I know."
They walked. Sunny ran ahead. Came back. Ran ahead again. Her paws left small prints in the damp grass.
After a loop, they headed home.
Noah fed Sunny. Watched her attack the bowl. Her ears fell forward. She ate like she'd never eaten before.
He played with her for a bit. Threw her toy. She brought it back. Dropped it at his feet. Waited.
Then he made omelets. For him and Lydia.
Lydia took a bite. Her eyebrows went up. "You actually learned how to cook."
"I'm learning." He sat across from her. "I have class tonight. I'll be home by nine."
She smiled. "Look at you. Growing up."
"Shut up."
After breakfast, he went upstairs. Got ready.
Put on his favorite suit. Navy. Fitted. Clean lines.
Sprayed cologne. Then realized—too much. Way too much.
He looked at himself in the mirror. Smiled. Shook his head.
Great.
Downstairs, Lydia was waiting with Sunny.
She hugged him. Kissed his cheek. "See you later."
"See you."
---
On the way to work, Atlas came to mind. Just—appeared. Like a flash.
Don't start.
He thought about the presentation instead. Tomorrow. The numbers. The client.
At the office, only Clara was there.
"Morning," Noah said. Set his bag down.
Clara looked up. Sniffed. "Your cologne got here before you did."
Heat crept up his neck. "I—uh. I think I sprayed too much."
"A little." She grinned. "Someone at cooking class?"
"No one."
"Sure." She leaned back in her chair. "It's a good place to meet people, you know."
Noah grabbed his coffee. Sat at his desk. Opened his email.
Scrolled.
Then stopped.
Henry Dumas. Sterling Holdings.
Tomorrow, 3 PM. Analysis report meeting. Sterlins Holdings, 43rd floor.
Noah typed back: Confirmed.
Set his phone down.
At least Atlas won't be there.
A few minutes later, Elias walked in. "Hey."
"Hey."
They exchanged small talk. Then settled into work.
An hour passed. Maybe two.
Noah's phone rang. His dad's assistant.
"Your father would like to see you. In his office."
Noah frowned. "Did he say why?"
"No. Just that it's important."
"Okay. I'll be there."
He hung up. Stood.
What could this be about?
Probably nothing.
He took the elevator to the executive floor. Walked to his dad's office.
Knocked.
"Come in."
Noah opened the door. "Hey."
His dad looked up from his computer. "Sit."
Noah sat. His dad's eyes scanned him. Up and down. Taking in the suit. The cologne. Everything.
"How are you?" his dad asked.
"I'm good."
His dad didn't look away. Just kept watching. "Lydia's staying with you."
"Yeah."
"You got a dog."
"Sunny. Yeah."
His dad's gaze sharpened. "Can you handle the responsibility of a dog?"
Noah met his eyes. Didn't look away. "I'm taking good care of her."
A beat.
His dad leaned back. "How's the work going? For next week's meetings?"
"Everything's on track. Tomorrow we're going over the Sterling Holdings report again."
"Good." Pause. "Are you still seeing Atlas?"
Noah's head came up. Fast. "No. Why?"
His dad shrugged. "No reason."
Noah stood. "If that's all, I should get back to work."
His dad studied him. Long. Then nodded. "You can go."
Noah walked to the door. Stopped. Turned.
His dad was still watching him.
Noah smiled. Just a little. Then left.
In the elevator, he thought about it.
Why did he ask about Atlas?
The name still felt too sharp in his head, like glass he'd learned to step around.
Mom wouldn't have said anything.
Would she?
Back at the office, Clara and Elias were waiting.
"We were waiting for you. Let's get lunch."
They left. Found a place nearby. Italian.
At lunch, Noah talked about cooking class. What he'd learned. Clara talked about someone she'd started seeing. How much she liked him. Elias talked about vacation plans with Mark. Bali, maybe. Or Greece.
After lunch, they stopped at Starbucks. Got coffee. Walked back.
Clara looped her arm through Noah's. Talked about the guy. How funny he was. How different from her ex.
Elias made jokes. Noah laughed.
For a second, he thought about Atlas. Things they used to do.
Enough.
He looked at Clara. "He sounds fun."
"He is."
They walked into the building. Headed to the elevators.
Laughing. Talking. Not paying attention.
Then they reached the elevator bay. Three people were waiting. Backs to them.
Clara was whispering something in Noah's ear. About Elias. Something embarrassing. They were both smiling.
Then one of the people turned around.
Atlas.
Noah's breath caught. His eyes found Atlas's face before his mind did
Clara's arm was still through his.
Atlas's gaze flicked—not a full glance, just the smallest pause—first at Clara's hand, then back to Noah. For a breath, something unguarded surfaced, like light under water. Then he blinked. His face smoothed. That calm expression settling into place.
He smiled. Small. Warm. "Hey."
Noah's pulse stumbled. His throat tightened; he forced a breath through it. "Hey."
Clara and Elias looked at Atlas. Then at each other.
The elevator doors opened.
Everyone got in.
The air felt too still. The hum of the elevator pressed against the silence, against Noah's ribs.
Atlas moved to the side. Turned to Noah. His voice carried no edge; just air and weight.
" If I adjust my schedule, I might be able to join tomorrow's presentation meeting. "
He was looking right at Noah. Direct. Not piercing like before. Just—steady.
Noah's mouth opened. Closed. He looked at Atlas's mouth. Then his eyes. Swallowed.
Nodded. Tried to say something. Nothing came out.
Atlas's thumb brushed the edge of his phone once—a nervous habit Noah remembered. Then his gaze lifted again. His eyes crinkled at the corners. Just barely. That small smile. Not mocking. Something else. Softer.
The elevator stopped. Noah's floor.
He stepped out. Turned. He felt the words catch at the edge of his smile, half-truth, half-reflex.
"See you."
Atlas's gaze dropped. Just for a fraction of a second. To Noah's mouth. Then back up. "See you."
The doors closed.
Clara and Elias looked at each other. Elias raised his eyebrows. Clara pressed her lips together.
They didn't say anything. Didn't need to.
They walked to the office. Got inside. Set their coffees down.
"Who was that?" Clara asked. Casual.
Noah sat at his desk. "The owner's son. Of the company we work with."
"That's not what we're asking." Elias leaned against his desk. Arms crossed.
Noah's face warmed. "What are you asking then?"
Clara smiled. "There's something between you two."
"There's nothing."
"Sure."
They watched him. Both of them. Just—watched.
Noah looked up. "Why are you staring at me?"
Clara grinned. "No reason."
Noah shook his head. Opened his laptop.
Does he say hi every time he sees me now?
He thought about the two people with Atlas. The way they'd glanced between them.
Stop it. Don't come to the meeting tomorrow.
He pulled up the reports for tomorrow. Started working.
Clara and Elias went back to their desks. They talked about the other project. Deadlines. Client feedback.
At six, they packed up.
"I have class," Noah said. "I'll see you guys tomorrow."
"Have fun," Clara said.
"Don't learn too much," Elias added.
Noah left.
---
After cooking class, he got home. Lydia and Sunny were at the door.
Sunny jumped. Barked. Her tail going a mile a minute.
Lydia was talking before he even got his jacket off. About the park. About Sunny. About the comments on the photos she posted.
Noah listened. Laughed. Made comments.
Then he went upstairs. Took a shower.
Stood under the water. Thought about the last two days. Seeing Atlas. Twice now.
He seems so calm. So comfortable.
He's probably happy. In his new relationship.
The thought made his chest feel tight. Just for a second.
It doesn't concern me.
He got out. Looked at himself in the mirror. Smiled.
I'm fine.
Went back downstairs. Spent time with Lydia and Sunny.
Lydia showed him photos she'd taken. Sunny running. Sunny sleeping. Sunny chewing her toy.
Then she took one of Noah kissing Sunny's head. Posted it.
Later, Sunny fell asleep on Noah's chest. Lydia took a video. Posted that too.
"We should make Sunny an Instagram," Lydia said.
Noah laughed. "What, is she gonna be an influencer?"
"Why not?"
"That's ridiculous."
"You're no fun."
They sat in comfortable silence for a while.
Then Lydia said, "I see Sienna every week. She's teaching me photography. She didn't say anything about you and Atlas breaking up."
Noah looked at her. "You see her every week?"
"Yeah. And she said I can go to Vogue Italy with them. Mom said yes."
"You expect her to gossip with you?"
"It wouldn't hurt."
"That's over. Drop it."
Lydia studied him. "As long as you're okay. That's all that matters."
She hugged him. Tight.
Noah huffed. "You hug me constantly."
"Get used to it." She pulled back. Smiled. "It's okay though."
"Can Sunny sleep with me tonight?"
"Fine."
"Night."
"Night."
They went to their rooms.
Noah picked up Sunny. Carried her to his bed. Set her down gently.
She was still asleep. Curled into a ball.
He lay down beside her. Ran his hand through her fur. Soft. Warm. The color of wheat in late summer—gold at the tips, deeper amber underneath.
Thought about tomorrow. The meeting.
He won't come. He hasn't been to any meetings in weeks.
But then he remembered. Atlas's face. The way he looked at him. That calm smile. That nervous habit with his phone.
Noah's face warmed.
He's playing a game. Don't take it seriously.
He closed his eyes. Sunny's breathing was steady against his ribs. Outside, a siren wailed somewhere, fading into the hum of the city.
Tomorrow would come soon enough.