He had shown up at Alex’s door a little after midnight, still carrying the faint scent of stage lights, smoke, and adrenaline. They’d barely made it past the entryway before clothes started coming off—urgent, familiar heat flaring between them like it always did.

But now, afterward, lying tangled in sweat-damp sheets with the city lights filtering through the blinds, something felt… off. Dami was quiet. Too quiet.

He lay on his back, one arm behind his head, staring at the ceiling. Alex traced idle patterns over the phoenix tattoo on his ribs, waiting. The afterglow usually left them soft and talkative. 

Tonight it felt fragile. “You were amazing tonight,” Alex said softly, pressing a kiss to Dami’s shoulder. “That new song killed it. The crowd loved it.”Dami hummed, but the sound lacked its usual warmth. 

“Thanks.”

Alex propped himself up on one elbow, studying Dami’s profile. The strong jaw, the faint scar on his lip, the way his dark hair fell across his forehead. 

“What’s going on? You’ve been distant since you got here.”

Dami exhaled slowly, eyes still fixed on the ceiling. “My ex called today. Chloe.”

Alex’s stomach tightened. He remembered the name—Dami had mentioned her once in passing. A girl from a couple years back, before things between them had ignited. “What did she want?”

“Said she heard I’ve been different lately. More closed off. Asked if I was seeing someone.” Dami’s voice dropped. 

“She could tell something had changed. Said I sounded… happy. But scared.”

Alex swallowed. 

“And what did you tell her?”

“Nothing. Lied. Said work was crazy.” Dami finally turned his head, hazel eyes meeting Alex’s. 

There was conflict there—raw and unguarded. “But it got me thinking. What if this is just a phase? I’ve never been with a guy before you. Never wanted to. What if I’m just… confused? Using you to figure shit out?”

The words landed like cold water on embers. Alex pulled back slightly, the warmth draining from his chest. 

He sat up, sheet pooling around his waist, suddenly feeling exposed in a way that had nothing to do with nudity. “You think that’s what this is? A phase?”

“I don’t know.” Dami sat up too, running a hand through his hair. “I’ve never felt like this before. The way I need you. The way I get jealous. The way your voice in the dark makes everything else disappear. 

But then I think about telling Marcus. Telling my dad. Coming out and having the whole world look at me different. What if I can’t handle it? What if I hurt you because I freak out and run?”

Alex’s throat burned. He stared at the rumpled sheets, heart aching with a pain sharper than any physical bruise. 

“So you’re saying I’m an experiment.”

“No.” Dami reached for him, but Alex shifted away. “That’s not—it’s not what I mean. I care about you. More than I’ve cared about anyone. But tonight, after the gig, when people were asking if I was seeing someone… I froze. Couldn’t even say your name in my head without panicking.”

The flicker of doubt in Dami’s voice was small, but it felt like a gust of wind threatening to snuff out their flame. Alex stood, grabbing his sweatpants from the floor and pulling them on. 

The movement was jerky, defensive. “I’ve been risking everything for this. My relationship with my brother. My family’s trust. My own peace of mind. And now you’re wondering if it’s real for you?”

Dami swung his legs off the bed, reaching for Alex’s wrist. “Alex, wait. I’m not saying I want to stop. I’m saying I’m scared. This is new territory for me. You’ve known who you are for years. I’m still figuring it out.”

Alex looked down at him, the man who had become his secret everything. The one who made him laugh in the dark, who played songs written for him, who touched him like he was precious. 

The ache in his chest deepened.

“I get that it’s scary,” Alex said quietly. “But I can’t be your safe little secret forever while you decide if I’m worth the risk. I love you, Dami. I didn’t plan on it, but it’s there. And if you’re still wondering if this is just a phase…” His voice cracked.

 “Then maybe we need to slow down. Or stop before it burns us both worse.”

Dami’s face paled. He stood, naked and vulnerable, stepping close. “Don’t say that. Please. I’m not ready to lose you.”

Alex wanted to lean into him. Wanted to kiss away the fear and pretend the doubt hadn’t been spoken. 

But the words had been said, and they hung between them like smoke.

“I need time to think,” Alex whispered. “And you do too.”

He walked to the bathroom, closing the door gently behind him. Inside, he braced his hands on the sink and stared at his reflection—flushed skin, kiss-swollen lips, the fresh marks Dami had left on his neck and chest. Evidence of a love that suddenly felt terrifyingly fragile.

When he came out ten minutes later, Dami was dressed, sitting on the edge of the bed with his head in his hands.

“I’ll go,” Dami said hoarsely. “But this isn’t over. I’m not walking away. I just… I need to sort my head out.”

Alex nodded, arms wrapped around himself. “Okay.”

Dami paused at the door, looking back with eyes full of regret and longing. “For what it’s worth… that song I played tonight? It was about you. Every line.” 

Then he was gone. Alex stood alone in the quiet apartment, the sheets still warm from their bodies, the faint scent of Dami’s cologne lingering in the air. He sank onto the couch, pulling a pillow to his chest.

The flame had flickered. Not extinguished. Not yet. But for the first time since that rainy night, Alex wondered if the fire between them might be too dangerous to keep burning.

He picked up his phone, thumb hovering over Dami’s name. Instead of texting, he set it down.

Tomorrow would bring clarity. Or it would bring more smoke.