And that curiosity felt steady enough to trust.
The apartment was quiet when Logan stepped into the bedroom doorway with his gym bag the next morning.
Tommy was still asleep.
Curled toward Logan’s side of the bed even though Logan wasn’t in it.
He always did that.
Logan leaned lightly against the frame and watched him.
Tommy’s face in sleep was unguarded. No brightness. No performance. Just softness.
That was the part Logan protected.
He crossed the room quietly and sat on the edge of the mattress, resting a hand against Tommy’s back.
Slow breathing.
Warm skin.
Tommy shifted slightly under the contact, leaning into it without waking.
Logan exhaled slowly.
If this breaks him, it breaks me.
The thought didn’t feel dramatic.
Just true.
Tommy made a quiet sound and turned his face deeper into the pillow.
Logan’s hand pressed once, grounding.
Clarity wouldn’t come from lying in bed thinking in circles.
It would come from looking the other man in the eye.
Logan stood, grabbed his bag, and headed for the gym.
He chose the gym on purpose.
Movement made conversation easier.
The lunch crowd had thinned when Chase walked in.
He spotted Logan near the squat racks and gave a small nod.
“Hey.”
“Hey.”
No handshake.
No forced familiarity.
“You warm up yet?” Logan asked.
