Power Lines

with the soft gray of late autumn. Noah stepped into the office feeling differe

ngering stares. But something had shifted. They'd eaten together, side

Noah arrived, flipping through a pr

usual," Ethan sai

s 7:

inst the paper. "The old

impress you. Didn't

n. "On the contrary, Mr. Reyes. Your unpredict

Noah muttered, making

he usual rhythm. Efficient, wordless, professional. But under it, Noah could feel the tension

sharp as always. "Yes?... No, move the pitch to next week

n was tight, focused. But there was

uptly. "Cancel my lunch. And resched

g okay?" N

eady heading for the doo

ked. "Do

tch the

hat, Ethan

, and reorganizing an investor briefing that Ethan had apparently forgotten to tell him abo

cond before calling Etha

tex

ry just came in. No sen

espo

desk and waited. An h

y emptied out. Ethan still hadn't

cem

too many nights as a kid waiting for someone to come home, wond

hat again. Especially no

elevator dinged-an

. And for the first time since Noah met h

ou?" Noah asked before

, taken aback

t answer your phone, and came back look

ghtened. "You'

his arms. "

le

o the office, setting his

esk," Noah said more quietly.

n fr

ed up the envelope, fingers brushing

le sheet of paper. Read it. Then folde

t from?" N

n't m

ked like it mattered when

"You're not

twelve hours a day three feet from you and

be

n said, "

rose. "I didn

I was twelve. Showed back up when I made my first milli

the desk, softer now

N

y n

him a look.

e. The absence. The way grief had hollowed

mitted. "Pr

s in Forbes. Not the one who worked three jobs to get through Columbia. Not the

a moment. "You're a

gry," Ethan

your p

le

er than Noah had ever seen them

ah replied. "I

r now, too close. His voice dropped. "Wha

ple. Of being vulnerable. Of someone seeing the

her step. "You

tartin

he air between them thick, hu

down to Noah's lips

's breat

an stepp

"Before either of us say

w it in Ethan's eyes-the line he cou

his bag. "See

didn't

ring how much longer they could keep this thing be