Noah walked through the house slowly, taking in the open spaces where her things had been. No clutter. No tension. No arguments waiting to happen.
Just… space.
He grabbed a trash bag and started cleaning — not frantically, not angrily, just methodically. He wiped down the counters, swept the floors, straightened the living room pillows, and opened the windows to let in fresh air.
Every movement felt lighter.
Every breath felt easier.
When he finished, he washed his hands, dried them on a clean towel, and pulled out his phone.
He opened the Outback Steakhouse app and placed an order:
• 12 oz ribeye
• Loaded baked potato
• Caesar salad
• Brown bread with butter
He added a slice of cheesecake because he felt like it.
When the food arrived, he set it on the coffee table, grabbed a cold drink from the fridge, and settled onto the couch. He turned on the TV and flipped to football — the pregame show humming through the speakers.
The commentators' voices filled the room, the familiar rhythm of stats and predictions creating a comforting background.
Noah leaned back, plate in hand, and took his first bite of steak.
Perfect.
Juicy, seasoned, exactly how he liked it.
He smiled.
Not a small smile.
Not a forced one.
A real, relaxed, satisfied smile.
For the first time in a long time, he felt like himself.
No tension.
No walking on eggshells.
No waiting for the next argument.
No carrying the weight of someone else's indecision.
Just peace.
He stretched his legs out on the ottoman, took another bite, and let the game wash over him. The house felt warm, calm, and finally aligned with the life he'd been trying to build.
He wasn't celebrating the breakup.
He was celebrating clarity.
And as he watched the game, smiling to himself.
The next morning
Noah woke up early the next morning, feeling lighter than he had in years. The house was quiet, clean, and finally aligned with his energy. He stretched, checked his phone, and saw the group chat lighting up.
Kevin:
Morning bro. You up?
Domingo:
We hitting the gym today. Kevin's spot in Chesterfield.
Quill:
Be there at 7. Don't flake.
Noah smirked.
These were his guys — consistent, steady, always showing up.
He typed back:
Noah:
I'm in. See y'all there.
He grabbed his black sweatsuit, laced up his sneakers, and headed out. The drive to Chesterfield was peaceful — no tension, no arguments, no emotional weight sitting in the passenger seat.
Just him.
When he walked into Kevin's premium gym, the smell of rubber mats and fresh eucalyptus hit him. The place was spotless, high‑end, and already buzzing with early‑morning regulars.
Kevin spotted him first, waving him over with a grin. His light orange hair was tied back, Apple headphones around his neck as usual.
"Look who finally crawled out of the cave," Kevin joked.
Domingo clapped Noah on the back. "Bout time, hermano."
Quill adjusted his round glasses and nodded. "You look rested."
Noah chuckled. "I feel rested."
They moved to the free‑weight section, grabbing dumbbells and settling into their usual routine. No heavy emotions. No awkward questions. Just the comfort of men who knew how to give space without making it weird.
Kevin started the conversation while curling a pair of 40s. "Yo, did y'all see the new episode of 9-1-1 last night?"
Domingo groaned. "Bro, don't start. I'm still catching up."
Quill pushed his glasses up. "The cliffhanger was insane."
Noah smirked. "Y'all talking about the firehouse collapse?"
Kevin's eyes widened. "YES. That one."
Domingo dropped his weights dramatically. "Man, I swear that show stresses me out more than my job."
Quill nodded. "The writing is too good. They know exactly how to keep you hooked."
Noah laughed — a real laugh, not forced, not tired. "I told y'all from season one it was gonna be like that."
Kevin pointed at him. "And you were right. Again."
They kept lifting, talking about characters, plot twists, and the ridiculous stunts the show pulled every season. It felt normal. Easy. Familiar.
Between sets, he leaned back against the bench, breathing steady, a small smile tugging at his lips.
He was here.
With his boys.
Doing what he loved.
Feeling like himself again.
For a long time, Noah felt like his life was finally moving in the right