Dear Roommate Please Stop Being Hot [BL]-Chapter 317: Hands Off My Partner

The gym was quieter on Sunday mornings.

There were fewer people and more space.

You could hear the steady rhythm of weights and breathing along with the faint hum of treadmills in the background.

Noel lay back on the bench press, gripping the bar with his hands and focusing his eyes upward.

The weight felt heavier than usual; he had gradually increased it over the past few weeks.

A trainer stood behind him, hands positioned just under the bar, ready to help. "You’ve got this. Nice and controlled. Three more."

Noel exhaled and lifted. The bar rose smoothly, then lowered with precision. Up. Down. Steady.

"Good form," the trainer said in an encouraging voice. "Two more. Keep breathing."

Across the gym, Luca stood at the cable fly machine, gripping the handles.

He pulled them together in front of his chest, feeling the burn in his shoulders, but his eyes weren’t on his own form.

They were on Noel.

And on the trainer standing far too close.

The guy’s hands were right there, almost touching the bar.

He hovered, attentive and supportive in a way that made Luca’s jaw tighten.

Noel finished his set and racked the bar with the trainer’s assistance.

"Great work," the trainer said with a smile. "You’re progressing really well. Want to try adding five more pounds next set?"

Noel sat up and wiped his face with a towel. "Maybe. Let me catch my breath first."

"Take your time. I’ll be right here."

Right here. Of course, he would.

Luca pulled the cables again, harder than necessary, making the weights clang slightly.

He watched as the trainer handed Noel a water bottle—his water bottle, the one Noel had brought from home—with an easy familiarity that made Luca’s teeth grind.

Noel took it, drank, completely unaware.

The trainer leaned against the bench, still talking. Casual. Friendly. Too friendly.

Luca set the cables down with more force than needed, grabbed his towel, and walked over.

"Hey," he said, his voice light but his smile sharp.

Noel looked up, surprised. "Hey. Done already?"

"Taking a break." Luca’s eyes flicked to the trainer, then back to Noel. "How’s it going?"

"Good. Just finished my second set."

The trainer straightened and nodded at Luca. "Your friend here is doing great. Really solid progress."

"Partner," Luca corrected smoothly. "Not friend. Partner."

The trainer blinked. "Oh. Right. Yeah, he’s doing great."

"I can see that." Luca’s smile didn’t feel genuine. "You’ve been very... attentive."

Noel glanced between them, his brow furrowing slightly.

"Just doing my job," the trainer said, pleasant but looking a bit confused.

"Of course." Luca tilted his head. "Though I’m pretty sure Noel’s form is perfect without so much... hands-on guidance."

Noel’s eyes widened. "Luca—"

"What? I’m just saying, you’ve been lifting for years. You know what you’re doing."

The trainer looked uncertain now. "I mean, spotting’s important for safety—"

"Absolutely," Luca agreed, his tone polite. "Safety first. But maybe a little more space? You know, so he can breathe."

Noel stood and grabbed Luca’s arm. "Can I talk to you for a second?"

"Sure."

Noel pulled him a few steps away, his voice low. "What are you doing?"

"Nothing."

"You’re being—"

"What?"

Noel crossed his arms. "Possessive."

"I’m being observant."

"You’re being jealous."

"I’m not jealous."

"You absolutely are."

Luca’s jaw clenched. "He was standing too close."

"He was spotting me. That’s his job."

"His job doesn’t require touching your water bottle."

"He handed it to me!"

"Exactly."

Noel stared at him, then his expression softened, a mix of exasperation and fondness. "You’re ridiculous."

"I’m protective."

"You’re jealous of a gym trainer doing his job."

"Maybe."

"Definitely."

Luca looked away, then back, his voice quieter. "I don’t like other people being that close to you."

"He wasn’t close; he was professional."

"He smiled at you."

"People smile, Luca."

"Not like that."

Noel’s lips twitched. "Like what?"

"Like... interested."

"He’s not interested. He’s being polite."

"He could be polite from further away."

Noel stepped closer, his voice dropping. "You know you’re the only one I’m interested in, right?"

"I know."

"Do you?"

Luca exhaled, feeling some tension leave his shoulders. "Yeah. I do."

"Good." Noel’s hand found his briefly, squeezing. "Now stop scaring my trainer."

"I wasn’t scaring him."

"You were absolutely scaring him."

"Fine." Luca glanced over at the trainer, who was now very carefully looking at his phone. "I’ll behave."

"Thank you."

They walked back together. The trainer looked up, wary.

"Sorry," Luca said, managing a smile that felt more genuine. "I didn’t mean to be... intense."

"It’s cool," the trainer replied, though he still seemed slightly nervous. "Uh, you want me to spot your next set?" he asked Noel.

Noel glanced at Luca, then back. "Actually, I think Luca can do it."

Luca straightened. "I can absolutely do it."

The trainer looked relieved. "Sure, yeah. Just make sure you’re ready to catch if he needs help."

"I’ve got him," Luca said firmly.

The trainer nodded and began to back away. "Cool. I’ll just... be over there if you need anything."

Once the trainer was gone, Noel lay back on the bench, looking up at Luca with amusement. "Happy now?"

"Very."

"You’re impossible."

"You love me."

"Unfortunately."

Luca positioned himself behind the bench, hands ready under the bar. "Ready?"

"Are you going to drop the weights on me out of spite?"

"Depends. Are you going to smile at any more trainers?"

"Luca."

"Kidding." He grinned. "Mostly."

Noel shook his head, but he was smiling. "Three sets. Don’t let me die."

"Never."

Noel lifted the bar. Luca’s hands stayed close, protective, watching his form with complete focus.

"Good," Luca murmured. "You’ve got it."

Noel’s arms burned, but he kept going, steady and controlled.

"Two more," Luca said, his voice low and encouraging. "Come on."

The bar went up, down, then up again. On the last rep, Noel’s arms shook slightly, and Luca’s hands came closer, ensuring the bar returned to the rack safely.

"There you go," Luca said softly. "Perfect."

Noel sat up, breathing hard, and looked at him. "Thanks."

"Anytime." 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

Their eyes held for a moment longer than necessary.

Then Noel stood up, grabbing his towel. "Your turn. Cable flys."

"You’re going to spot me on cable flys?"

"No. I’m going to stand very close and make sure no one else talks to you."

Luca laughed. "Turnabout’s fair play?"

"Exactly."

They moved back to the cables together.

This time, when Luca pulled the handles, Noel stood right there—close enough to be present, far enough to let him work.

"How’s that feel?" Noel asked.

"Good."

"Need me closer?"

Luca’s lips curved. "Always."

"Smooth."

"I try."

They finished their workout together—taking turns, spotting each other, trading water bottles and quiet encouragement.

The jealousy faded, replaced by something warmer.

By the time they left the gym, shoulders brushing as they walked to the car, Luca felt settled again.

"You know," Noel said as they got in, "you’re cute when you’re jealous."

"I wasn’t jealous."

"You absolutely were."

"Fine. Maybe a little."

"A lot."

Luca started the engine, glancing over. "Can you blame me? You looked good."

"I was sweaty and struggling with weights."

"Exactly. Very attractive."

Noel laughed, shaking his head. "You’re unbelievable."

"You love me anyway."

"I do." Noel’s hand found his on the gear shift, lacing their fingers together. "Even when you’re being ridiculous."

Noel tugged Luca’s sleeve the moment they stepped out of the gym, the morning air cool against their damp skin.

"Let’s walk," Noel said simply.

Luca blinked. "Walk?"

"Yes. With our legs," Noel added, deadpan.

Luca huffed a laugh. "I know what walking is."

"Good. Then do it."

The sidewalk was bright with late-morning sun, the city quieter than usual.

A few cyclists passed, a couple carrying coffee, someone walking a dog that looked far too awake for a Sunday.

Noel stretched his arms over his head, shirt lifting slightly, and Luca’s eyes followed the movement before he could stop himself.

Noel caught it immediately.

"Oh my God," he said, incredulous. "You’re still in that mood?"

"I’m not in any mood."

"You were ready to fight a man with a whistle ten minutes ago."

"He had gloves," Luca muttered.

Noel laughed, the sound warm. "He had responsibilities, Luca."

Luca’s jaw tightened, then he glanced sideways. "He smiled at you."

Noel stopped walking.

Luca took two more steps before realizing, then turned back, confused. "What?"

Noel’s eyes sparkled. "You can’t be serious."

"I am serious."

Noel stepped closer, lowering his voice like he was sharing a secret. "Do you know how many people smile at me in a day?"

Luca’s expression darkened. "Too many."

"That’s because I’m not unpleasant to look at."

"I noticed," Luca said flatly.

Noel’s lips twitched. "And yet somehow, only one person gets to take me home."

Luca held his gaze. "Only one person should be that close."

Noel’s smile softened. He reached out, hooking two fingers into Luca’s waistband lightly, tugging him forward until Luca had no choice but to focus.

"You," Noel said, quieter now. "It’s always you."

The tension in Luca’s shoulders eased like a knot coming undone.

He exhaled. "I know that."

"Do you?" Noel teased gently. "Because you looked one rep away from banning trainers nationwide."

Luca scoffed. "I was not."

"You were glaring so hard I thought the dumbbells would explode."

Luca looked away, embarrassed.

Noel bumped his shoulder. "You’re ridiculous."

"I’m protecting you."

"You’re jealous."

"I’m—" Luca paused, then muttered, "fine. Maybe."

Noel beamed like he’d won something.

They started walking again, closer this time. Their hands brushed, and Noel deliberately laced their fingers together.

Luca looked down at their joined hands.

Noel squeezed once. "Feel better?"

Luca’s thumb stroked over Noel’s knuckles, slow and possessive in a quieter way.

"Yeah," Luca admitted. "Much."

Noel leaned in, voice playful. "Good. Because next week I’m hiring two trainers."

Luca stopped dead. "Noel."

Noel laughed, bright and wicked, pulling him along the sidewalk.

"I’m kidding," he said. "Mostly."

"Don’t joke about that."

Noel turned his head, eyes soft. "You’re cute when you’re like this."

"I’m not cute."

"You’re adorable."

"I’m your Director."

"You’re my jealous boyfriend."

Luca’s ears went pink.

Noel smiled to himself, swinging their hands between them as they walked home under the sun, the warmth of the morning settling easy in their chest—no trainer, no office, no interruptions.

Just them.