Friday snuck up on Atlas, and he found himself waiting in the back of a small cafe, where he sipped a startling blue lemonade absently. The young man had been distracted by the impending conversation with his parents, and he was unsure how to proceed now that he had the green light from Savannah. Atlas always found a reason to put the phone call off, whether too tired or too late, but he couldn’t wait forever. The rookie vowed to tell them by Sunday as he glanced around the coffee shop, and his eyes settled on a familiar journalist.
“Hi, Mr. Graham, I am so sorry I’m late!” The young girl huffed, slinging her bag to the floor as she collapsed into the chair opposite him. “My last class was held over, and traffic was a nightmare. Ugh, sorry, I’m complaining.”
“It’s fine, Veronica; I made plenty of time for this,” Atlas soothed, giving what he hoped was a comforting smile. “I was always late in high school unless it was about football. Always felt like time was not on my side.”
“Yeah, this is a part of my final project, and I’m cutting it a bit close, but I’m confident that I can do it.”
“Let’s get started then.” Atlas’ agent had gone over a list of topics to avoid but assured him that anything else was up to his discretion. He watched Veronica pull out a maroon notebook, the leather worn and faded at the corners, and the recorder from their first meeting.
“Alright, to begin, you’re in your first season for the NFL, right?” She confirmed, pencil tapping slowly against the lined paper.
“I am, yeah. I was drafted in April.”
“How has it been for you since you walked across that stage?”
“I mean, it’s been a whirlwind. I was used to playing in high school and college, where everyone on campus knew my name, but this is a whole new level for me.”
“That opens up to my next question. How are you dealing with all the attention since the start of the season?” Veronica inquired, her dark eyes scrutinizing him. “You are not just one of the highest-paid rookies in the league, but you’ve also brought a pretty noticeable guest and fanbase to the games. Quite a lot of people are watching you right now.” Atlas rubbed his jaw as he thought about Savannah.
“Believe me, I know. I made the mistake of readin’ some of the articles, so I’ve seen how people feel about me and how I’ve supposedly ruined the league.” In truth, Atlas had stopped reading any articles since October, almost two months ago. It wasn’t helping his ever-present anxiety, plus Savannah did a bang-up job of keeping his mind occupied during his free time.
“That is not an opinion we all share,” Veronica said vehemently, bringing a smile to the rookie’s face.
“I know, but it’s still an opinion. All because they don’t like my girlfriend.” It was the first time Atlas had said that to anyone outside his friends, and he found the teenager’s shocked expression amusing.
“Wait, so you guys are actually dating? Like, the mags were right for once?”
“Sorta,” he smirked. “We’ve only been together a month or so. We really were just friends when Savannah showed up to the first game.”
“Why didn’t you make some kind of statement? I mean, it’s pretty big news!” She asked, her voice quiet as her pencil moved across the paper without taking her eyes off the athlete.
“Like I said, a lot of people don’t like my girlfriend at the games. I didn’t want public opinion to have a say in my personal life. Who I choose to date, for whatever reasons, is no one’s business but my own,” Atlas explained, pausing to take a drink. “She and I live our lives in the spotlight, her more so than me, so we can’t do everything the average couple does. We wanted to see where our relationship could go without outside influence, and I’m glad we kept it to ourselves.”
“Because you were worried about backlash from the fans?” Veronica confirmed, but the young man shook his head.
“Like I said, we’re very public figures right now. Everywhere we go, cameras are followin’ us around. We wanted to keep our relationship private because I wanted to know the version of Vanna the cameras don’t get to see, and she wanted me to be ready for the media storm that will come when the world finds out. The world has this picture of her, but I’m lucky enough to see the parts of her personality that others don’t. She’s this crazy smart, incredibly funny woman with the biggest heart of anyone I know. I’m beyond ecstatic that she chose me to share that with.” Truthfully, Atlas had no problem making this interview about his relationship. He could talk about Savannah for hours, given the chance.
“So, how do you feel about fans who say she is holding you back?”
“I’ve never had anyone aside from my parents support me the way she does,” the rookie replied without hesitation. “Plenty of girls dumped me in college because they didn’t understand why I worked so hard. They didn’t understand why I had to spend hours at practice or miss dates because of games. I might have achieved my initial goal, but with me on the first string, I have to work harder than ever to keep up, which means long hours. Savannah gets that I have a busy schedule because she does too, so we work around it the best we can.”
“Do you think that will have an impact on your relationship? I assume she will go on tour after the next release, so what will that mean for you?” The pair had not discussed how they would manage the long distance if they reached that bridge, but Atlas knew how he felt about it, so that’s how he decided to answer.
“Like everything else in my life, I am fully committed to Savannah despite our short time together. I know the distance will be tough, especially with different timezones, but I think we can make it work,” he said. “Plus, I’ve always wanted to see the world, and I can’t think of anyone better to see it with.” Veronica laid her pencil to the side and fixed him with an almost knowing look.
“You must be feeling pretty good right now, huh?” Atlas grinned.
“I’m playin’ the game I love, I’ve made some awesome friends, and I’m dating the girl of my dreams. I don’t think it gets much better than this.”
It was Sunday before Atlas knew what hit him. Between practice, interviews, and studio sessions, he and Savannah had been kept busy, unable to spare more than an hour before another task was added to their never-ending lists. With Atlas’ rise in popularity, his agent had started accepting offers from all sorts of big names, more than a few making the rookie’s eyes widen almost comically as he read over each proposal.
Needless to say, Atlas was eager for their next game against the Carolina Bears, and it showed with every drive. The young man was full of nerves as he tried not to overthink the upcoming phone call with his parents. Savannah had hinted at the subject over the phone last night, so Atlas knew he couldn’t put it off any longer. Still, the nagging feeling in the back of his mind made him play almost recklessly. The rookie dove for improbable catches and plowed through unsuspecting defenders, his body thrumming with wild energy as the stadium deafened under the beat of his own heart until the final whistle cut through.
Atlas looked around the field, managing to hide his surprise as he pulled his helmet off. A few teammates congratulated the rookie as he trudged across the field, and he found a familiar reporter waiting by the tunnel for him.
“Another great game, Atlas,” Danielle praised, one hand tucked into her navy puffer jacket pocket.
“Thanks, the Bears played well,” he replied, though untrue. Their opponents had given up easily, so cementing another win for the Lightning wasn’t hard.
“Right now, you guys are sitting at the number two spot in the AFC South, which is impressive since the Lightning haven’t been higher than fourth in a decade. Do you think that plays a part in motivating you and your teammates?”
“I mean, most definitely. We’ve put in all this hard work, so obviously, we want to see some kind of result. As we climb the ranks, it pushes us to go harder and see how far we can climb,” Atlas replied, trying to walk the tightrope between confidence and arrogance. “Honestly, I know we can go all the way this year as long as we keep doin’ what we’re doin’.”
“Well, a lot of your fans feel the same way. There is a whole new generation of fans with their eyes on the Lightning because you all have made a team worth watching this season,” Danielle added, her eyes sparkling under the overhead lights. “Can you clue us into anything new coming up?” Part of Atlas wanted to drop some sort of hint regarding his relationship, but he simply shook his head.
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“I can’t lie to save my life,” he fibbed. “They know better than to trust me with anything top secret.” The pair laughed and parted ways, the woman pausing to give him an almost motherly hug before pouncing on the next player.
Atlas took his time washing the sweat and grime from his body since he had to wait on the others and was knotting his sneakers when Alex and Lamar exited the showers to join him. He and Landon chatted quietly about video games while the other two dressed, pulling up a list of new releases on the junior QB’s phone and pointing out the ones that would inevitably be added to their online carts. Finally, Alex and Lamar were ready, and the four braved the waiting paparazzi outside to meet the others at the bar for a late dinner.
“Hey, you invited Savannah, right?” Alex questioned from the front seat, fingers pausing over his phone screen.
“Yep, just as your wife requested. I swear Vanna likes her more than me,” he huffed, though without real heat.
“Can’t blame her. Kayla’s much prettier than you.” Atlas rolled his eyes at the teasing tone but kept his mouth shut as they pulled outside the restaurant. The bottom floor was packed with fans that had to be pushed back as they greeted the players with whooping screams that seemed to shake the building as they strode across the floor. The rookie basked in the revelry, barely muffled by the heavy door slamming shut behind them, and he could still hear the fans shouting when he took his seat at the table.
Alex, Lamar, and Landon settled in the circular booth, and a server greeted them within minutes with a beaming smile and hopeful eyes when he found the special guests. Bree was the next to show up. She was still in her work clothes, so Atlas assumed she had come straight from the hospital, but he slipped out of the booth to allow her in. The resident took a grateful sip of the green drink Lamar had ordered for her and then turned to the rookie.
“You guys were awesome. I’m surprised Savannah wasn’t cheering you on this time,” she commented, eyes twinkling under the dim lights.
“She had an interview with some magazine about her next album,” Atlas replied, not rising to the bait as he smiled. “She’s probably just stuck in traffic with the fans.” Ten minutes later, Kayla was the next to arrive, and she greeted her husband first with a kiss that had the others whistling like teenagers. It was another twenty minutes before the door opened again, and Atlas felt as if the air had been stolen from his lungs as he took in his girlfriend striding toward them. The singer looked stunning in her knitted navy blue sweater, one sleeve hanging low and baring the freckled skin of her shoulder that begged to be kissed as much as her pink lips. His hindbrain reminded the young man that he would have the chance to do that and much more. He rose to his feet, nearly knocking into the table, and his face flamed at his thoughts.
Savannah’s eyes met his a few steps away, silently asking permission as they darted toward their friends questioningly. Atlas knew that he could shake his head, that they could keep playing pretend, but he didn’t want to anymore. Now that he knew where they stood with each other, Atlas was more than ready to tell anyone who would listen. So, he gave her an encouraging smile and laughed when she threw herself toward him with a matching grin. The rookie knew they were being watched as he dropped his head for a quick kiss, but he couldn’t bring himself to care.
“You were spectacular,” Savannah whispered against his lips, her arms still wrapped around his neck as he sat her gently on the floor. “I wish I could have been there.”
“I’m just glad you’re here for the fun part,” he joked, laughing awkwardly when he realized the others were still watching them with various reactions. Landon and Breena wore matching expressions of shock, Lamar seemed almost proud, and the Daniels simply grinned like loons.
“I think we broke them,” the redhead chuckled. Her teasing made Lamar bellow with laughter, drawing the other two from their stupors.
“You guys are together? Like, for real?” Landon questioned, his head swiveling between the two as he struggled to process the new information.
“It’s pretty new, and we didn’t want to tell everyone if it didn’t go anywhere.” A hand dropped to his thigh, and he laced their fingers without thought. “Alex only found out, like, two weeks ago, so don’t feel too left out.”
“I knew it would work out,” Lamar crowed happily and raised his glass from the table in a half-salute.
“I thought you seemed happier recently, but I just thought it was because of the games,” Landon murmured, still peering at them curiously as if he couldn’t believe it. “You really are living the dream, aren’t you?”
The conversation flowed after another round of congratulations from the group, and Atlas gladly relaxed into the easygoing atmosphere. They had their fill of food, but the drinks kept coming as the topic moved toward Alex and Kayla’s upcoming ceremony. The rookie tried to follow along but always migrated back to Savannah. Her skin was flushed a rosy shade of pink from the cocktails, the alcohol buzzing pleasantly under his own, and her eyes seemed to sparkle when they caught his.
“So, how was the interview?”
“Pretty standard, to be honest. They asked when my next release is, what the album is about, et. cetera.”
“Nothing interesting, then?” Atlas inquired quietly, leaning over to give them some semblance of privacy.
“Well,” she murmured, a coy smile tugging at her lips. “They asked if I had my eye on any players.”
“Oh, yeah? What’d you say to that?” His mouth went dry as she leaned even closer, her warm breath caressing his skin as she whispered in his ear.
“You’ll have to read it when it comes out.” Atlas moved back with a groan and gave the singer a mock glare.
“You’re not very nice, Miss Summers.”
“How about we head out, and I’ll make it up to you?” She suggested, teeth biting her lower lip as she peered up at him from beneath her lashes. Atlas, weak-willed, agreed without complaint and turned to Alex, who already knew what he was going to say, given the smirk on the other receiver’s face.
“We’re gonna head out, but let me know everyone gets home safe.”
“Will do. Make sure you actually get some rest tomorrow,” the blond teased, a lecherous grin overtaking his face that had Savannah giggling beside him.
“I’ll make sure he stays in bed all day,” she replied cheerfully, pulling Atlas toward the door as their friends roared with laughter. George was standing guard just outside the door and fell into step behind them as Savannah dragged him through the service entrance, the odd trio garnering equally bizarre glances from the staff.
They burst through the door laughing and practically jumped into the backseat, the two falling against one another as Savannah pressed a button on the center console. Atlas watched, amazed, as a partition rose up to block the guards’ view of them. He barely had time to brace himself when Savannah crawled into his lap.
“I missed you this week.”
“I missed you too,” he admitted quietly. “I always miss you when you’re not around.” Her hands rose to drape gently around his neck, and he sighed at the feeling of her nails scratching gentle patterns against his back. Atlas could feel the heat of her through his thin shirt, and in the back of his mind, he wondered if this was the kind of sinful inferno that his pastor spoke of all those sermons ago. If it felt like this, he was content to burn for eternity.
“Have you told your parents yet?” Damn.
“Well, not exactly?” He hedged, his hands clenching nervously around her waist for a moment.
“Are you having second thoughts about going public?” Her tone was not judgmental, but he could see the uncertainty brewing in her gaze.
“No, I’m just worried about their reaction.”
“Can I ask why?” Truthfully, Atlas had tried his hardest not to think about why he avoided the conversation with his parents. It always came back to the same issue.
“I don’t want to disappoint them if I mess this up,” he confessed softly, dropping his eyes to focus on the chain around Savannah’s neck instead.
“Why do you think you’ll mess it up?”
“I mean, this is all new for me. Not just dating a pop star, but all of it. I’m a little out of my depth here.” Her fingers never stopped moving in their soothing pattern across his neck, and Atlas wanted the touch to sink past the surface of his skin to settle against the warmth inside his chest.
“We both are,” Savannah reminded him gently. “We’re walking onto an unmarked path, so we can go at our pace. I know I can be pushy as hell when I want something, lord knows Lila got the worst of it, but I don’t want to push you into something you don’t want just because I do.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll tell you when you get too bossy,” Atlas murmured, ghosting his lips across her jaw. She pulled his head back with a light tug at his hair, a surprised sound pulled from his mouth as his skin flushed.
“You’ll tell me when I overstep?”
“Yes, ma’am,” he replied teasingly, beaming up at his girlfriend as she gave a low chuckle.
“You’re nothing but trouble,” Savannah said, sliding off his lap as they pulled up outside his building.
Inside his apartment, Atlas tossed his keys onto the counter, hung up his jacket out of habit, and glanced over his shoulder to watch his girlfriend move comfortably around his space. There was something pleasant about seeing her heels by the door or the pile of hair ties that had taken residence on his bedside table, and the rookie could only smile to himself as he scrolled through his contacts.
“Hey, I’m gonna grab some water and make sure I turned off my system earlier. I’ll be up in a minute.”
“Okay, that means I get to pick the movie.” Atlas watched her disappear down the hallway and then clicked the call icon on his screen. It rang and rang, unsurprising given the late hour, and he thought about hanging up. He could say it was an accident, but the voicemail began, and the young man decided whether it was now or never.
“Hey, mom and dad, sorry for the late call. I just wanted to give you a heads-up that Savannah and I are dating, so reporters might start hounding you guys for information or interviews. Love you guys, see you at Christmas!”