Steady Beats

Leo POV

The bed was warm when I woke up. Rory’s arm was heavy across my chest. His breath tickled my neck. Soft and slow. My heart thumped quiet. My gut felt calm. Last night still buzzed in me. His hands on me. His lips on mine. His promise to stay. I turned my head slow. Watched him sleep. Messy hair. Closed eyes. Peaceful. My chest swelled soft. Love hit me gentle. Fear stayed small. Things felt steady. For once. For now. I didn’t move. Didn’t want to break it. Just watched him. Just breathed him. Just us.

Days started easy after that. A new beat kicked in. Mornings together. Work pulling us apart. Nights pulling us back. Rory got promoted at the bar. Manager now. More cash. More hours. He grinned big when he told me. “No more late shifts pouring drinks,” he said, eyes bright. My chest buzzed proud. My hands grabbed his face. Kissed him quick. “You earned it,” I said, voice shaky. He laughed soft. I’d been solid too. No poker. No chips. Just shelves at the store. Clock in. Clock out. Cash honest. My gut stayed tight sometimes. Old habits whispered low. But I pushed them down. For him. For us. Life felt good. Real good.

This morning, bacon popped loud in the pan. Rory stood at the stove. Shirt off. Jeans low. My eyes stuck on him. His back flexed easy. My chest warmed soft. I leaned on the counter. Coffee steamed hot in my hand. “Smells good,” I said, voice rough. He turned quick. Grinned wide. “Better than you,” he teased. My laugh broke free. My gut flipped happy. He flipped the bacon. Hissed loud. I stepped close. Watched him work. Quiet love hit me hard. Maybe we made it. Maybe the worst was gone. My hand brushed his arm. Warm and real. He didn’t pull away. My chest buzzed alive. Hope stuck steady.

He grabbed my mug. Took a sip slow. “Hey!” I said, voice fake mad. My hands yanked him in. Belt loops hooked tight. He laughed loud. Coffee sloshed messy. My lips found his. Quick and hot. His tongue pushed back. Wet and warm. My gut twisted sweet. My hands slid up. Held his neck. His fingers gripped my shirt. Pulled me closer. Bacon sizzled forgotten. My chest heaved fast. His breath mixed mine. Messy and playful. My heart pounded wild. Love felt big. Fear felt far. “You’re mine tonight,” he said, voice low. My stomach flipped hard. My grin broke wide. “Yeah?” I asked, eyes locked his. He nodded slow. Kissed me deeper. Slow and hot. My chest buzzed wild. Promise hit sweet. Tonight. Him. Us.

We ate quick. Plates clinked loud. His foot nudged mine under the table. My laugh came easy. My phone buzzed soft. I grabbed it fast. Screen glowed bright. Unknown number. “Miss me?” it said. No name. No nothing. My gut sank cold. My throat burned tight. I knew. Frankie. Had to be. My hands shook small. I shoved it in my pocket. Quick and dumb. Rory’s eyes flicked up. “What’s that?” he asked, voice calm. My chest buzzed nervous. “Nothing,” I said fast. Too fast. His jaw tightened light. He didn’t push. Just watched. My stomach twisted bad. I smiled weak. “Work stuff,” I lied. His eyes narrowed soft. He let it go. My chest ached quiet. Tension lingered small. Hope wobbled thin.

Work dragged slow. Shelves heavy. Boxes dull. My phone stayed quiet. My gut stayed tight. I texted Rory quick. “Miss you,” I sent. Simple and true. He shot back fast. “Miss you more,” with a dumb heart. My chest buzzed warm. My grin broke soft. Routine held us. Mornings with coffee. Days apart. Texts teasing. Nights close. Yesterday, he’d called me on break. Voice tired but happy. “Boss stuff’s wild,” he said. I laughed low. “You’re killing it,” I told him. His chuckle hit warm. My heart thumped steady. Life felt right. Small moments stacked up. Us steady. Us real.

But cracks hid quiet. At lunch, I scrolled news. Dumb habit. Article popped up. “Local Crew Busted, Some Still Out.” Frankie’s name glared bold. My stomach flipped cold. My throat burned dry. He was back. Out there. My hands shook bad. I clicked off fast. Heart raced wild. Old fear crept in. My chest buzzed shaky. I shoved my sandwich down. Tasted nothing. Nadia walked by. Work buddy. Stopped short. “You okay?” she asked, eyes soft. I nodded quick. “Yeah,” I lied. She frowned light. “Heard some guy asking about you yesterday,” she said. “Big dude. Smelled like beer.” My gut sank fast. My breath hitched loud. “Thanks,” I mumbled. She walked off. My chest broke quiet. Frankie. Close. Too close.

I got home first. Dropped my bag loud. Kicked my shoes off. Rory came in late. Tie loose. Eyes tired. My chest warmed soft. “Hey,” I said, voice rough. He grinned small. Dropped his keys. Clinked sharp. “Hey,” he said back. My hands grabbed his waist. Pulled him in. His laugh broke low. “Missed me?” he teased. My lips brushed his neck. “Always,” I said, voice shaky. His hands slid up. Held my face. My gut twisted sweet. Love hit hard. Tension hid deep. My phone sat heavy in my pocket. “Miss me?” burned silent. My chest buzzed nervous. I pushed it down. Kissed him quick. Held him close. Hope stayed big. Fear stayed small.

Dinner was quiet. Pasta steamed hot. Forks scraped soft. His knee bumped mine. My grin broke easy. Routine felt good. Steady beats. Us together. My chest buzzed light. He talked work. “New schedule’s up,” he said. “Some guy named Tony’s helping out.” My gut flipped fast. Tony. Frankie’s buddy. Old game days. My throat burned tight. “Cool,” I said, voice flat. He didn’t notice. Kept eating. My hands shook small. I hid them quick. Fear crept louder. Hope wobbled soft. My chest ached deep. I smiled weak. Kept it down. Kept it us.

Later, he cleared plates. I watched him move. Quiet love hit me. He turned fast. Grabbed my chair. Straddled me quick. My breath hitched loud. My hands grabbed his hips. Tight and warm. His lips crashed mine. Messy and hot. My chest buzzed wild. My gut twisted sweet. His tongue pushed deep. My moan broke soft. His hands gripped my hair. Pulled light. “Tonight, you’re mine,” he said, voice rough. My heart raced fast. My grin broke wide. “All yours,” I said, eyes locked his. He kissed me hard. Deep and slow. My chest heaved wild. Love hit big. Promise hit sweet. My hands slid up. Held his back. His breath mixed mine. Hope glowed bright. Fear faded small. Us steady. Us real.

Then the doorbell rang. Sharp and loud. My heart jumped fast. My breath caught quick. Rory froze stiff. Pulled back slow. “Who’s that?” he asked, voice low. My gut sank cold. My throat burned dry. My hands shook bad. I stood shaky. Legs wobbly. Peeked the window. Dark out. Guy stood there. Big coat. Cap low. Knocked again. Hard and fast. My chest buzzed wild. My stomach flipped hard. “Leo?” he called, voice rough. Familiar. Too familiar. Tommy. Poker guy. My heart raced wild. My eyes flicked to Rory. Watching me. Jaw tight. “Work friend,” I lied quick. My voice cracked soft. Rory’s eyes narrowed hard. Tommy knocked louder. “Open up, man! It’s about tomorrow!” My chest broke quiet. My gut twisted tight. Tomorrow. Frankie. Trouble. Real trouble. Hope hung thin. Suspense bit deep. Rory waited. Eyes sharp. Me stuck. Him close. Us shaky. Right now.