Atlas woke up slowly, no alarm startling him from his dreams. He was pleasantly warm beneath the duvet, and the comforting weight pressed against his side had the night’s events rushing back to the front of his mind. Savannah slept peacefully against him, the thick blanket clutched against her chest that rose with each breath. Atlas took a second to study her, the sunlight casting the singer in an ethereal glow that the young man wanted to commit to memory in case he didn’t get another chance.
The rookie slid out of bed after a moment, careful not to wake his guest, and crept silently from his bedroom. Atlas padded down the hall toward the kitchen and started his usual routine, sparing a glance toward the clock as he stood by the idling coffeemaker. After downing his first dose of caffeine, Atlas started on breakfast, hoping it would eventually lure Savannah in. Music played quietly in the background as he scrambled eggs and flipped pancakes, and eventually, he heard soft footsteps coming closer.
“This is a nice sight.” Atlas rolled his eyes as he plated the last of their meal but faltered when he glanced at her over his shoulder. Savannah had donned one of his old college tees, the worn cotton falling to mid-thigh but rising just enough to give him a glimpse of blue satin as she sat at the island.
“I hope you didn’t have any plans this morning. I didn’t think to set an alarm since I’m benched from practice today,” he explained, dragging his gaze away from freckled skin.
“No, nothing but some time in the studio later, but that can always be pushed back. I’m all yours.” Savannah’s words made something swell up proudly in the young man’s chest, but he tried not to think about it too much as he sat beside her.
“I figured we could talk about all of this,” Atlas stated, gesturing between them awkwardly.
“I don’t regret anything that happened last night, Atlas.”
“Me neither, but I want to make sure we’re on the same page.” He paused to take a few bites of his food, swallowing before opening his mouth again. “This is all new for me, and I want to do it right, so I think we should keep this between us for now. I want to see where it can go without the world watching.” Savannah observed him quietly as he spoke and then smiled gently.
“I agree that we should keep our relationship private for a little bit. You’re different from any guy I’ve ever been with, and I don’t want to ruin anything by rushing in,” she murmured, staring up at him with honest eyes. “A lot of problems come with this lifestyle, and I don’t want that to ever interfere with your life or career.” Atlas reached out to her and dropped his hand on her bare thigh, rubbing the smooth skin with his thumb.
“I know that it won’t be easy, Vanna, but also that nothing good ever is.” He cradled her jaw, delighting in how she leaned into his touch. “I don’t give up easily, okay? I can handle the paparazzi and fans if it means I get to be with you.” Savannah bit her lip as she looked away from him.
“You said you weren’t good with words, but you seem to be doing alright,” she accused weakly, still smiling.
“You turn me into a poet.” It was the most heartfelt thing he had ever said to another person, but it was true. Savannah made the young man feel things that were so foreign and yet felt scarily natural at the same time. Atlas would write a million poems or paint a hundred pictures if they could even come close to capturing how the redhead made him feel.
The rest of Atlas’ week passed by in a lavender haze. He was cleared to return to practice on Tuesday, which provided a welcome distraction from his thoughts. It was killing the rookie not being able to tell his friends, but he knew it was for the best if he wanted his new relationship to work out. Alex obviously knew something was going on, always pointing out how the rookie couldn’t stay away from his phone when they went out after practice, but thankfully, the blond hadn’t asked yet.
Atlas had expected Savannah to keep her distance until the game, but she had shown up Saturday morning with coffee in hand and asked how he felt about spending the day in bed. Of course, he agreed as any sane person would. The pair munched their croissants as Savannah recounted her latest studio session and how things were on schedule, but she wasn’t ready to share them even when he gave her his best pout.
The couple wasted the day watching movies curled up in his bed, phones tossed on the nightstand, and staying surprisingly silent. Atlas was never one to be idle for long, never a good idea for his racing thoughts, but it was different with Savannah. The young man felt peace he hadn’t known since middle school, and he never wanted to leave this small part of the world where they could just be Atlas and Savannah. His apartment had no expectations, and he wished it would carry over to the outside, but he knew that was a pipe dream, so he decided to savor these small moments instead.
When his alarm went off Sunday morning, Atlas had already been awake for a while. The sunlight had stirred him from his slumber, but he had been content to bask in the early silence for a bit. After a minute, he slid from the bed with a rested sigh as he stretched stiff muscles. The athlete tiptoed around his room, grabbing some clothes before heading in for a shower. Atlas absently scrolled through his music while waiting for the water to heat up, finally settling on one of his generic playlists. He hummed along as he stepped under the scalding spray, tilting his head back to let the water run down his face. Quiet piano filled the room and lulled him into a trance of sorts, but a cold rush of air hitting his skin drew him back.
“Mind if I join you?”
“I don’t think any straight man would turn that down,” he said, averting his eyes politely when Savannah tugged off her stolen shirt without hesitation. They may be sleeping together now, but the rookie was still a gentleman. Atlas heard the latch close as she stepped in behind him, and then fingertips traced along his broad shoulders as the pop star moved around to face him.
“You really are so pretty to me, Atlas.” He flushed but forced himself to maintain eye contact.
“You’ve always been the most beautiful girl in the world, Vanna,” the rookie murmured, watching her gaze dip as he spoke. “Even when you had braces and glasses.” She slapped his chest playfully but paused to stare at the yellowed bruises across his ribs. Atlas let his hands fall to her hips, thumbs tracing over the faint stretch marks as she leaned into him.
“I was so pissed when you went down,” Savannah stated, her fingers pressed gently to his sides as she caressed the muscles that tensed at her touch. “I think that’s when I knew for sure that you meant something to me, and not just as my friend. I knew rationally that you’d have a concussion at most, but I couldn’t stop myself from thinking the worst.”
“I’m okay, though,” Atlas assured, dropping his head to kiss her, nothing more than a press of lips. “I don’t even feel ‘em anymore.” That wasn’t entirely true, as they ached fiercely after each practice, but she didn’t need to worry about that.
The couple finished their shower, somehow managing to keep their hands to themselves, and had a quick breakfast together before getting dressed for the day. Atlas donned his game-day suit, a beige two-piece with a form-fitting white tee underneath, shooting glances at Savannah as she applied her makeup in the mirror.
“You want me to call George while you finish up?” He offered.
“He’s waiting out back if you want to catch a ride to the stadium with us,” Savannah replied, her reflection giving him a coy smirk.
“Are you sure?”
“They already think we’re sleeping together, Atlas. Showing up to the game together is no more special than us going out to dinner last week. It will be fine, I’m sure.” Despite her assurances, Atlas was reasonably nervous when they ducked out of his building’s maintenance exit to the singer’s waiting entourage. He answered all of Savannah’s questions about their opponent, and it served as an excellent distraction for the short ride to the Nissan Stadium, the athlete barely noticing the buildings and fans as they drove past.
The couple entered through the private entrance, with the security team following close behind as they maneuvered the maze of hallways. Atlas heard the cameras before he saw them, and their moment of invisibility was short-lived when they caught the pair strolling in. The reporters shouted over one another as the group passed, some a little more crass with their questions than Atlas would have liked, and he was glad to leave them behind as they rounded the corner to stop at the locker room.
“You’ll be okay to find your way to the suites?”
“I’m sure we’ll make it before kickoff,” she replied with a shrug. “Good luck, Atlas.” The rookie wanted to steal a kiss before she left but knew better than to push his luck. No telling who was lurking around.
“I’ll see you after,” he called out before she disappeared from view and shook his head before entering the locker room. The rookie was greeted by many of his teammates as he walked to his cubby, and then Alex slid over to him with an impish expression on his boyish face.
“You look positively radiant, bro.” Atlas stared at his friend curiously as he hung his suit.
“Thanks?”
“Would it, by chance, have anything to do with a certain lady leaving your place Monday afternoon?” The athlete forced himself not to freeze as he pulled on his uniform and decided to stick as close to the truth as possible.
“We were watching some movies, and she fell asleep on the couch.”
“The couch?” Alex repeated, brows furrowed as he watched Atlas like a hawk.
“Yes, Alex, she passed out before I could offer the guest bedroom.” The lie rolled smoothly off his tongue for once, with no embarrassing stutters to give him away, and Atlas was grateful that his friend accepted it despite his apparent skepticism.
It was a brisk fifty degrees when they hit the field for kickoff at four o’clock on the dot, but the Lightning were running hot as they made their entrance. After their loss last week, it was safe to say that a fire had been lit under every player, and the rookie was no exception. Atlas had an extra boost of energy riding the high of his spectacular first week as Savannah’s maybe-boyfriend. Labels can come later, he reminded himself, though the thought made him grin goofily beneath his helmet.
“Graham,” Coach Taylor barked, drawing the rookie’s attention. “I need a word.” Atlas approached cautiously and bent his head.
“Yes, sir?”
“You’re gonna have players on your ass all night after Morris’ little stunt last week,” the older man began, clipboard raised to block his mouth from the ever-present cameras. “I’d recommend setting the tone early, son. It will keep some of them off your back and maybe inspire the guys a bit, too.”
“Understood,” Atlas said, giving a sharp nod before joining his teammates at their forty-yard-line.
The rookie’s fingers twitched as he waited for the snap, and he sized up his opponent. Atlas had watched a few tapes on the Seahawks’ cornerback, Jacob Russell, so he already knew how they matched up. Russell may have been an impressive 6’5” and 240 pounds, but his stamina and adaptability didn’t come close to matching Atlas’s, so the rookie knew precisely how to set the tone like Coach suggested.
The ball hit Colin’s hands, and Atlas surged forward with a purpose, spinning around the cornerback and heading straight for the endzone. The play was meant to be a slant, but he knew the QB could see he was unguarded as he neared the Lightning’s thirty-yard-line. Atlas saw Russell trailing behind him considerably as Colin fired the football downfield and pushed himself to greet it. The receiver raised his arms and gunned it as soon as the leather slapped into his gloved hands, the fans in blue exploding into thunderous cheers as he scored the night's first touchdown.
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“Wow, what a drive to start the game, Mark. It looks like Atlas Graham was not phased at all by his meeting with Xander Morris last week and is proving that tonight with a thirty-four-yard reception that puts the Lightning on the scoreboard.”
“It looks like the Seahawks are realizing exactly what kind of players they’re dealing with tonight as they battle the Lightning’s impressive new roster this year,” Mark added as Atlas sat on the sideline, a proud puff to his chest. “I’ve not been shy in scrutinizing Graham, but I can admit that he has been a significant part of their success this season.”
“Rookie!” Atlas barely had a second to react before Colin flopped beside him, his helmet pulled up as he sprayed water into his mouth. “I know we don’t see eye to eye on much, and I’ve learned that is mainly because of me, so I’d like to start over.” The rookie stared at the Texan’s offered hand between them, meeting Alex’s bewildered gaze over his shoulder, and then slowly shook it.
“Thank you?” He wasn’t sure what else to say, really.
“I don’t like to admit when I’m wrong,” Colin said with a shrug, “but I can. Even if we can’t get along off the field, you’ve earned your spot on this team.” Atlas watched the QB heave himself to his feet and saunter away, and Alex took his place.
“What the hell was that?”
“I think it was an apology?” Atlas said, still trying to process. While Colin had not been his usually irritating self for the past few weeks, Atlas would never have expected the other man to extend an olive branch as he did. It seemed this week was full of surprises for the young athlete. Alex didn’t have time to press for details as they retook the field for the next drive, but the rookie was sure he would before they left for the night.
Atlas played like the championship was on the line, throwing all his energy into every drive as the screaming fans urged the team on. The Seahawks were scrambling to gain any ground, and they had a whopping ten points to show for it as the fourth quarter neared its end. There was half a minute left on the clock, with the Lightning up by twenty-five points, but it seemed like Colin wasn’t done as he used their last timeout to call the new play.
The Lightning were tense with anticipation as the clock ran down, and the final drive began. Atlas sprinted toward the endzone with three of his teammates following, the Seahawks struggling to cover all of them as Colin launched the ball from their thirty-yard-line. The rookie kept his eyes open as he spun around at his mark, Russell closing in on him with intent. Atlas waited for the cornerback to get close enough and then leaped up, pushing off of Russell to snag the football from the air before strong arms drug him to the turf.
His teammates crowded around him as the game was called, heavy hands slapping into his back and shoulders as they celebrated. Atlas caught a glimpse of Colin retreating back as the guys huddled around him, but he couldn’t call out as he was dragged past the dejected Seahawks. The guys were rowdy until Coach Taylor hushed them inside the locker room with a sharp look.
“That was a good game, boys. You worked hard this week, which paid off, so I will see you boys on Tuesday. Get out of here and make good choices.” The Lightning dispersed, and everyone set about doing their own thing, Atlas heading straight for the showers before they were full. He sped through the motions, scrubbing the sweat and grime from his skin, and shot a quick text to Savannah as he rifled through his bag with one hand.
“Hey, Atlas. Do you and Savannah have any plans tonight?” The singer had mentioned something about dinner the night before, but Atlas had been a bit distracted, so he shrugged in reply.
“Not that I know of, why?”
“Me and Kayla were wonderin’ if y’all wanna grab dinner with us to celebrate, plus my wife wants to ask about getting you measured for your tux,” Alex grinned.
“Uh, lemme ask really quick,” he said, already sending the message. “She said absolutely, so I guess we’re joinin’ you two.”
“I’ll be on my best behavior,” the blond vowed solemnly, three fingers over his heart as if he were a Boy Scout.
“Somehow, I doubt that,” Atlas muttered, but dutifully dressed and followed his best friend from the locker room. They found Savannah waiting with her team near the entrance, and she beamed at the rookie as she launched herself at him with a delighted laugh.
“You were amazing out there!” Savannah squealed, her arms wrapping around Atlas as he caught her by the waist and then turned to Alex. “You all did great.”
“Thanks, much appreciated, Savannah. All because of Houdini right here, though,” the senior receiver pointed out, his eyes darting between them curiously. “You sure you want to join me and Kayla for dinner? I mean, we’re not crashing any plans, right?”
“Of course, I already made reservations, so getting them to add extra plates was no trouble,” she waved off, slowly detaching herself from Atlas but remaining close to his side. “Is Kayla meeting us there? I didn’t see her up in the suites.”
“Oh, yeah, she had an emergency meeting with one of her clients. I’ll send her the address when we get to wherever you’re takin’ us.”
“You make it sound so nefarious, Alex,” the singer smirked over her shoulder as they made their way to the exit. “It’s just a little spot my good friend recommended after seeing it on the Food Channel. I figured who better to bring than my very own chef.” Savanna pushed the door open without another word and headed for the Uber waiting by the curb, the two athletes flanking her until they were safely in the car.
“God, I can’t imagine havin’ all those cameras followin’ me,” Alex said disdainfully, watching reporters shout outside the window.
“You get used to it,” Savannah replied casually.
“I’m sure Atlas is gettin’ a lot of practice,” the blond remarked, craning his neck to smirk at them from the front seat. Neither deigned to acknowledge his comment, so they spent the rest of the ride listening to the driver’s ’70s playlist in silence. They arrived at the restaurant, where the paparazzi were blocked from the walkway by velvet ropes, but that didn’t stop them from leaning over, dangerously close to tipping, for a shot of the trio.
Inside, the building was much quieter as they were led upstairs, and Atlas noticed a few familiar faces from the Seahawks as they got settled in a spacious booth near the floor-to-ceiling windows. The rookie watched the bustling nightlife from above, studying the various groups of tourists and natives alike, some staggering with heads thrown back in laughter while others ambled hand-in-hand with their partners. Many hated the tourists that crowded the downtown streets, but Atlas loved living in such a lively hub that drew all sorts of people in. He was fortunate to see glimpses of the wider world just two blocks from his apartment.
“You’ve never been here, right?” Atlas forced his attention from the window and instead turned to Savannah, who was staring at him with a gleam of hope in her eyes.
“I haven’t,” he assured, dropping his hand to squeeze her thigh encouragingly while Alex was busy on his phone. “I didn’t know you made reservations tonight, though. If I had, I would’ve told them we already had other plans.” Savannah leaned closer, the scent of cinnamon overlaid with her coveted vanilla shampoo making his stomach flip, and his gaze fell to her pale pink lips.
“You’ve planned all of our outings so far, so I wanted to do something for you this time,” she murmured, laying her hand over his. “I truly don’t mind that they join us. We have all night, after all.” Atlas’ mouth went dry as she gave him a coy smirk and quickly turned his attention to the menu as his mind traitorously projected images from the night before.
“Hey, I’m gonna go wait for my wife. Be back in a sec, guys.” With that, Alex slid from the booth, and they were left alone, minus the other patron, who paid them no mind. Emboldened by their solitude, Atlas reached for the singer’s hand, mindful to stay below the table. He traced the callouses on her nimble fingers, committing the feel of her to memory as they waited for the couple to rejoin them. Savannah’s eyes bored into him with an intensity that made the young man want to order takeout instead, but he knew they couldn’t skip out on their first double date. Even if the other couple was unaware it was one.
Savannah was the one to move first, drawing her hand back but remaining close enough for their arms to brush as she twisted around to greet Kayla with an enthusiastic smile. The two ladies sat in the middle with their respective partners by their side, and Alex’s wife began congratulating their win.
“You guys were spectacular tonight, and I’m sad I had to miss this one,” she said, giving them an apologetic smile as she shrugged off her long coat. “I’m glad you two allowed us to crash your outing, though.” Something about how Kayla spoke made the rookie wonder if she somehow knew. It made sense that if anyone was going to figure it out, it would be one of the best lawyers in the city.
“I’m always happy for some extra company when I’m not traveling, so adding you guys really wasn’t a problem.” Savannah replied, her tone leaving no room for argument from the Daniels’. “Now, how do you feel about splitting a bottle of wine? I know Atlas is already grimacing behind me.” The young man pretended to be interested in the upholstery as the singer glanced over her shoulder, but he knew he had already been caught as the three laughed.
The conversation moved onto food as the athletes were reminded of their empty stomachs, and they looked over the menu as a group once drinks had been ordered. Atlas used it as an excuse to lean into Savannah’s space, letting his chin dip to rest on her shoulder as he dropped a steady hand on her knee. He felt her sigh against him, a barely there movement unnoticed by the others and hummed knowingly in response as she shifted. Atlas jerked his head back when Kayla suddenly looked up at him, but it was too late to feign indifference, so he simply stayed put.
“Atlas, I was wondering if you had any plans this Friday? Lex is getting fitted for his suit while I hit the bridal shops, so I was hoping you could stop by to get yours done as well,” the lawyer explained, already exasperated just from talking about it. “I know it’s short notice, but it’s the only day you two have off from practice, and I’m afraid if we push it back, they won’t be done by New Year's Eve.”
“No, it’s totally fine; I should be free,” Atlas replied, already picking up his phone to save the date in his calendar. “What time?”
“The tailor should be at our place around five for the fitting, but it wouldn’t hurt to be a bit early.” When the waitress returned with their drinks and the food ordered, it seemed like Kayla was taking a page from her husband’s book as she stared at the new couple.
“You guys made quite a splash showing up to the stadium together,” she said innocently, sliding her phone toward them. There they were in startling clarity, Atlas holding Savannah’s hand as she exited the SUV and then another from inside the tunnel when they passed the crowd of reporters. The picture had been timed perfectly to capture his icy glare as he regarded one of the more belligerent photographers, a smirk barely visible on Savannah’s face in the background. There would have been more if he had cared to scroll, but Atlas just pushed the phone back with a half-shrug.
“Can’t control what the media posts,” he responded. “There’s all sorts of wild theories.”
“Yes,” Kayla agreed, “but it makes you wonder: how many are true?”
Atlas chuckled. “You’re just as bad as your husband.”
“Uh, no, she’s way worse than me,” Alex interjected. “She gets paid to be invasive. I just do it out of duty as your best friend.”
“Oh, great, I get to deal with you for free,” the rookie retorted, narrowly dodging the ice cube tossed his way. “Quit it before we get put in timeout, you child.” True to fashion, Alex poked out his tongue at the young man until Kayla gave him a sharp look.
Atlas managed to get the topic off of his not-relationship with Savannah, but the lawyer still occasionally slipped in a few innocuous comments. She would watch them closely for any reaction, so he tried not to give her anything to read. It was easier said than done as another round of drinks came, and the rookie relaxed into the atmosphere, the clock hitting midnight sooner than expected.
The Daniels bid them goodnight after Savannah refused to let them pay the tab, and they decided to make the short walk back to his apartment rather than call the Uber. The liquor had settled pleasantly in his stomach and filled him with a warmth that made his skin buzz as they exited from the employee entrance, and the redhead shivered as the night air hit them. Atlas didn’t hesitate in draping his leather jacket over her shoulders, giggling at how the garment hung off her the same way his t-shirts did.
“You know, I really like that one picture,” Savannah stated as they strolled down the sidewalk, hands stuffed in his jacket pockets with a content smile.
“Which one? Me staring down the gross camera guy?”
“That is a good one, but no,” she replied. “I’m talking about the one before when you helped me out of the car. You know they call you my Prince Charming?”
“I’m sure there are worse things to be called,” Atlas pointed out. “I’ve realized that I don’t really mind the pictures if they’re with you.” The smile on her face was giddy as they reached the entrance of his building, where, thankfully, no paparazzi were lying in wait.
“Hopefully, that never changes.” The rookie could hear the underlying worry in her tone, so he reached out to catch Savannah around the waist as she moved to step through the door.
“I would willingly face a hundred paparazzi a day if it meant getting to be with you, whether as your boyfriend or just a friend,” he stated softly, forcing himself to hold her gaze as she stared up at him. “Now, we should probably get inside before you freeze to death, Vanna.” The singer’s look became teasing instantly, and she grabbed his free hand with a surreptitious glance around the empty courtyard.
“I think I know how you can help me get warm, Prince Charming,” Savannah suggested, her voice low and throaty in a way that had the rookie shivering for another reason. It seemed like he was in for another late morning.