Will scrambled into his office with his arms overloaded with junk. His work bag dangled over his shoulder, slapping into his hip. Both hands full – one with his favorite coffee (plus Reese's creamer he had to stop at the store and get himself) the other holding a metal water bottle. His lunch box swaying on his wrist. No fancy interviews meant no fancy lunches today.

Will was also talking on the phone. Phone precariously balanced between his head and shoulder. Listening to his editor ramble about a new segment for Will. A monthly column dedicated to "trends". Something to keep parents in the know about teenage and child culture. Apparently, Will would be perfect as a 20-something-year-old parent.

Why couldn't the man wait another five minutes before Will got to work to explain this in person? Will didn't know. He also didn't feel young anymore. Deep in his soul, he felt about 50 or so.

But, he couldn't say no. He couldn't say no to anything anymore without feeling his throat closing and a tingle in the back of his nose before an outpouring of blood.

Just add it to his overflowing list of projects.

So focused on staying balanced and not dropping anything, Will didn't notice his desk.

His office was rudimentary. Standard black metal desk with a faux wood finish on top and a few drawers. He livened it up with several pictures of Ari and his brother and sisters. Ari's artwork framed on the walls as well as a few articles Will was particularly proud of. Conspicuously absent was any sign of his boyfriend. At first, it wasn't intentional. As time went by, though, it was on purpose.

Sonny stifled Will with his presence at home. He wouldn't do the same here.

Will got his editor off the phone, finally. Mumbled a few strongly worded phrases under his breath at him and started unpacking. Will tossed his work bag in his desk chair but stumbled when he went to put down his drinks. There wasn't any room.

His entire desk was covered in the largest flower arrangement Will had ever seen.

It took Will a long time to even process what he was looking at. A whirlwind of flowers erupted out of a gigantic white weaved basket. A basket so large it took up nearly the entire width of the desk. The flowers themselves were beautiful even if Will didn't know their names. Different shades of blues, whites, and purples as well as green leafy things.

After finding a tiny corner of his desk uncovered, Will set down his drinks and took a closer look.

That seemed to be the cue for a large number of his coworkers to come spilling into his office. All oohing and awing and cooing in equal measure.

"Will, you're so lucky. Your boyfriend is amazing."

"Seriously, though? Is it your birthday?"

"No, no birthday," Will said. "And I doubt these are from Sonny."

He knew without a single doubt they weren't from Sonny, actually. Sonny couldn't afford something this extravagant and even if he could, he wouldn't waste it on Will. An extension pack to his newest game, maybe, but not Will.

"Oh, look, here's a card," one journalist told Will from the back of the arrangement. "Here."

Will opened a white envelope with a card inside. On one side was the name of the company, Pure Seed, and a description of the flowers. Most of which Will never even heard of before (hydrangeas, eustoma, matthiola, and wax flowers).

The other side comprised of a small note:

-Raring, just because.

Will frowned while reading it, lips mouthing the words.

"What's it say?"

"Yeah, who's it from?"

Will's fellow employees fought over the note until one of them read it out loud.

"What's that mean?"

"No clue," Will lied. "Guess I have a secret admirer."

"Yeah, or you wrote another amazing review for someone again."

"It's probably that fancy restaurant you always get to go to. That one with the amazing view none of us plebeians can ever get reservations for."

"Could be," Will said with a strained smile. "Now, shoo, I've got a lot of work to get done."

"Yeah, good luck working with that thing on your desk."

"Seriously, though, that has to be almost a thousand dollars. Who would send that to you and not even care to sign their name?"

Will could think of one person.

After getting rid of everyone, Will sat in his chair to think. He thought long and hard about why Isak Larsson would send him an expensive and impressive flower arrangement. "Just because" wasn't cutting it as an answer for Will.

Will contemplated for a few more minutes before grabbing his phone. Isak insisted on putting his name and all his contact information in Will's phone. The number for the cell he used in Sweden. The number for the phone he used in America. Email addresses, business and personal. Work lines. So many things Will didn't think he would ever have any reason to use but couldn't refuse.

Why would he? Sure, Isak might have flirted with him during their extended lunch and interview but that happened a lot in Will's line of work. Sometimes he would have to ramp up his charms to get specific answers. Most businessmen Will knew were all the same too. Big smiles, big words, and empty promises.

Not that flowers were a promise of anything even an arrangement this gigantic. Will read the quarterly earnings for Isak's company. A grand on flowers for someone like Isak was akin to Will splurging on a venti instead of a grande at Starbucks.

Nicknames and flowers and flirting didn't mean anything. Even if deep down Will wanted it to. It had been months since he felt good about anything. Months since he recognized his own reflection. Months since he felt anything when a man looked at him.

How pathetic was he? Isak Larsson was only interested in him because he knew Will once slept with a man he interviewed. Wrong as it was, Will was flattered.

Will had a boyfriend. Sonny was familiar and decent. Sure, things were strained between them and Will shied away from his touch. But that was the price Will had to pay for hurting Paul. A price Will would pay to bring his daughter some semblance of normalcy.

Ari wasn't even six and her mother had a revolving door on a jail cell. Her father came back from the dead. The only steady presence in her life was Sonny.

Will refused to let his daughter grow up the way he did. No matter the consequences to himself. Which was why he was putting his all into planning the best birthday party he could for Ari. She earned it.

But, Will had always been dumb and weak and too much like his mother for anyone's liking.

Will opened up Whatsapp and sent Isak a message.

-For the record, I like edible arrangements better


Will didn't get much work done the rest of the morning. Between the constant pings from his phone and the overwhelming smell of flowers in his office, he was distracted.

Around noon, Will gave up on working in the office. Not even the lunchroom gave him any peace of mind. He couldn't stop messaging Isak and dammit, everything he said was interesting and useful to Will's article. But, that wasn't why Will enjoyed talking to him.

After lunch, Will packed up all his things and left for the day. If he wanted, he could work from anywhere. He used to work at home back when home was a small studio in the Martin house. A small studio and a large bed and the warmest, strongest arms Will ever knew wrapped around him.

Will couldn't stomach working at his apartment, now. Not with Sonny there.

So, Will primarily worked at the office. Every now and again, when the walls closed in on him, he'd go out on a little field trip.

After a quick stop for some coffee at the Brady Pub, enduring Grandpa Roman's head ruffles and odd, knowing smile, Will headed to the park.

(hated going to the Pub now. He always had to duck and hide if he saw Brady or John. Plus, Grandpa seemed extra affectionate to Will now that he was with Sonny. Will didn't even want to know what that was about but had his suspicions)

Will found an empty picnic table under a tree. One of the few places left in Salem that didn't remind him of Paul.

Will didn't understand it. One minute he was helplessly in love and the next Paul was gone. All the words Will told Paul when they broke up felt like they came from someone else. Will didn't want to break up with Paul. It was like someone else took over his body, forced the hurtful words to come out of his mouth. Because, if given a choice, Will wouldn't break up with Paul. He certainly wouldn't choose Sonny over him either.

Will didn't remember making the choice. He only remembered having to deal with the consequences.

In the shade under a tree, head clear of Paul or anyone else, Will finally felt inspired to write.


Will worked for a few hours, long enough for his coffee to grow cold, when someone slid onto the picnic bench across from him.

"Are you stalking me?" Will asked when he caught sight of dark under eye circles and enormous eyeballs peering at him.

"No," Isak Larsson replied with a wide grin. "I ask you the best things about Salem earlier. You said, 'the park in the daytime as long as no one creepy is around'."

Will gave Isak a pointed look before focusing on his laptop again.

Isak gave a bark of laughter and mumbled something under his breath in Swedish.

"What are you writing about?" Isak asked after a few minutes of silence. Few minutes where the sound of Will's fingers clacking against the keyboard and the occasional squawk of a bird were all they heard.

Although, Will felt the intensity in Isak's green eyes as they stared at him.

"I'm trying to write about you," Will answered, eyes on the screen. "But someone's been distracting me all day."

"Whose fault is that? You sent message first. I answered."

"Shouldn't you be conducting interviews or something?" Will asked under his breath. He remembered Sonny mentioning that the night before.

"I don't do interviews, too important. I have people to do things for me. Gives lots of free time while company comes together. Lots and lots of free time."

"Enjoy spending that in Salem," Will said, ignoring whatever Isak was implying. "Why don't you take the murder tour? You can see all the places someone was killed."

"I read you are on tour," Isak responded, leaning his elbow on the picnic table and resting his chin in the palm of his hand. "I saw when I read about you."

"That's a separate tour," Will replied with a sniff. "The tour of those that came back from the dead."

"How much is same on these tours?"

"You'd be surprised."

"I find a lot of things in Salem surprising. You most of all."

"Do you say that to every guy you meet?" Will made a large production of rolling his eyes. Despite how pleasing he found the comment.

"Not all of them, no," Isak teased. "Have you lived in Salem all your life?"

"No," Will responded, cheeks flushed a healthy pink he couldn't blame on the weather. "For a while, I was in Memphis and as a teenager, I lived in Switzerland for a while."

"What part?"

"Zurich," Will said as Isak made a humming noise.

"You traveled while there?"

"Yeah, of course," Will answered. "But the closest I've come to Sweden is Ikea."

"I'm sure I could show you much, much more," Isak said with a sweet smile yet his tone implied anything but.

Will ignored him, saving his document with a savage smash of his keys.

"Isak, I-"

"Say that again," Isak interrupted, sitting up straight and towering over Will.

"Say what again?"

"My name," Isak responded, leaning over the picnic table and still managing to hover over Will. "I don't think I've heard you say it before."

"Why?" Will panicked. "Am I saying it wrong?"

"No," Isak laughed. "Most people say it like the name Isaac."

"I'm not most people."

"No, you are not, William Horton."

He put a strange emphasis between syllables when saying William, something guttural in the back of his throat.

Not an unpleasant sound by any means.

"If you say so, Isak Larsson."

Will pressed his lips together at the overwhelmingly large smile that lit up Isak's face. He looked at his watch and winced when he saw the time.

Ari should be home at any minute now. If yesterday was any indication, Sonny wouldn't be any help getting her a snack, starting dinner, or working on homework.

Will needed to go.

"What is that?" Isak demanded in the most offended tone Will had ever heard.

He grabbed Will's left wrist and pulled it across the table.

"Oh," Will scrunched his nose and made a face. He took his arm back, disregarding the tingling feeling where Isak touched him. "It's a generic version of an Apple watch."

At Isak's disgusted face, Will elaborated.

"I broke my actual wrist watch and didn't really have the money to replace it with something nice. I've been using this one. It does pretty much everything an Apple watch or a Fitbit does. But, you know, not really as glamorous and the app doesn't work all the time. But, it tells time. So, I can't really complain."

"How do you not have money for better watch? You write almost all of newspaper."

"We can't all be self-made millionaires. I've got bills to pay and…" Will trailed off, looking away. There was one big glaringly obvious expense that would put a stop to Isak's innocent flirtations. "And, you know, raising a daughter is pretty expensive."

"Daughter?" Isak said after a few moments.

"What? Didn't come across that when you were stalking me online?"

"No," Isak admitted. "I got to good part about you sleeping with someone you interviewed. I did not care about anything else. Daughter, huh? How old?"

"She'll be six this weekend. I've been driving myself crazy trying to plan a party for her," Will admitted. "She's the most important thing in my life."

Now, at least. For so long Will couldn't be with her. Then, when he didn't have his memories, he didn't feel as connected to her. Finally, after so long, he had his head on straight.

Ari was the only thing that mattered and Will would do whatever it took to keep her happy.

"I hear that's how being parent works," Isak said with a teasing smile. "I've got six nieces myself."

"You do?"

"Mmm hmm," Isak nodded. "I have five older brothers."

"Oh, right, I knew that," Will said. He did. It was in his initial research on Isak. For some reason, though, Will didn't picture him as much of a family man.

"I get in trouble for spoiling them too much," Isak admitted. "But, I have money, might as well spend it on them."

"That's sweet," Will said. "I was always close with my uncle, one of my uncles, Austin."

Isak cleared his throat and nodded toward Will's watch.

"I thought you had boyfriend. Why does he not buy you nice things?"

"I don't date guys so they'll buy me things," Will pointed out.

"That's why most people date me," Isak said, voice somewhere between amused and confused.

"Sounds like you're not dating the right people," Will said. He didn't want to answer Isak's question. It would make him seem even more pathetic than he felt.

"Still, even when I had no money, I'd buy my partner things they wanted."

Reluctant, Will revealed the truth.

"My boyfriend doesn't exactly have a job at the moment. So, I'm supporting the both of us."

Will looked away quickly so he wouldn't have to see Isak's reaction. Not that there was anything wrong or embarrassing about Sonny not having a job. It would be one thing for Sonny to work endlessly to find work. Instead, Sonny held out for the perfect job instead of taking any job to help Will out financially. All without even asking if he could move in or informing Will that he had to support Sonny and his overinflated credit card bills.

It was humiliating to explain to a millionaire Will had to drown in stories to keep up with his bills. That while he could buy himself an expensive watch, he couldn't justify it. That Will would rather use that money to buy Ari new clothes or shoes or the latest toy she didn't need but always brightened her day to get.

How could Will explain to someone like Isak Larsson every time he saved up to get himself something special, Sonny would blow it on something stupid. That every time Will questioned him it would lead to a screaming match where every single thing Will had ever done wrong in his life was thrown in his face. His nose would start bleeding and Ari would come running into the room begging them to get along and Will was always the bad guy, always.

So, yeah, spending $20 on a cheap knockoff from Groupon was the tip of the iceberg when it came to Will.

Isak, however, didn't react the way Will expected.

"That sucks," Isak replied. "Perhaps he will get job soon. Start buying you pretty things and make you happy."

"How materialistic do you think I am?"

"What?" Isak shrugged. "Pardon me for thinking you should be spoiled and have nicest, best things. The type of things I would give you all the time if you asked."

"Like ridiculous flower arrangements?"

"All the people I care about should have nice things."

"People you care about? More like the current person you want to sleep with."

Isak smiled instead of responding. Although smile was a bit of a stretch, leer was more accurate.

He didn't deny anything.

"Anyway," Will cleared his throat, closing his laptop and gathering his things. "I have to go."

"Why is that, Raring?"

Will huffed at the name. He looked it up the night before. It was the Swedish equivalent of dear.

"My daughter should be getting off the bus any minute now," Will said. "I like being there when she gets home. Besides, I've got things to do around the house. Get started on dinner and do homework and finish my other articles."

"I see," Isak said, standing up. "How old did you say daughter was?"

"Almost six, why?"

"I have niece that age," Isak responded before changing the subject. "This article about me, do I get to see it before you publish?"

"If you want, yeah. I should finish it up tomorrow."

"So soon?"

"It doesn't take that long to write up a basic interview. You aren't that interesting."

"Ouch," Isak said, putting his hand over his heart.

"You'll get over it," Will said with a teasing lilt to his voice. "I'll send a copy of my article tomorrow. Let you look it over before it goes to print."

"What if I think you've left something out?"

"Complain to my editor," Will offered with a one-shoulder shrug and an impish grin. "I'll see you around, Isak Larsson."

"I'll be seeing you soon, William Horton," Isak said in his interesting accent.


Will's evening was much the same as every night. Home to his beautiful daughter and a collection of toys all over the apartment. Boyfriend and his mess of plates, cups, bowls, and papers everywhere. Will entertained Ari for a while as Sonny prepared for his interview. He set Ari up at the counter and let her play with her collection of slime while he made dinner.

A knock sounded at the door.

"Sonny, can you get that?" Will yelled. He was in the middle of chopping an onion.

Sonny didn't respond.

Annoyed, Will wiped his hand on a paper towel and opened the door. Frustrated that now he'd have to wipe down the doorknobs before bed to get rid of the onion smell.

Will opened the door and gave a cursory hello to an Amazon delivery person.

If Sonny ordered more crap, Will was going to murder him.

Will signed his name before dragging three massive boxes inside. Boxes that were all addressed to William Horton.

Perplexed and suspicious, Will ripped open the first box.

He was going to kill Isak Larsson. He was.

All three boxes were full of LOL toys. Big surprise balls, pearl surprise, fizz balls, pets, little sisters, biggie pets, a bigger surprise ball, a dollhouse, under wraps, sheets, backpacks, stickers, anything and everything under the sun.

Will was going to kill him.

Ari noticed what was inside the boxes a few moments after Will opened them. She went crazy. Screaming and jumping and unable to decide which ball to open first.

Before Will knew it, the apartment was covered in plastic wrap, plastic accessories, and a million LOL dolls.

Will went back to dinner and tried to formulate some sort of response to the situation.

Isak was interesting and good looking. The way his accent sounded when he said Will's name was all kinds of dangerous.

But, Will had a boyfriend and he learned his lesson about cheating. He wasn't going down that road again. Not even for all the LOL dolls in the world.

"Where did all this come from?" Sonny asked when he came out of the bedroom for dinner.

Will didn't even know where to begin.

"Early birthday present," Will said, putting Ari's slime away so they could eat at the counter. "A lot of presents."

"From who?"

"It didn't say," Will shrugged.

"Probably your mom again. You know how she likes to send stuff whenever she feels like being a grandparent. Unlike my mom who actually spends time with her grandchild."

"Uh-huh," Will rolled his eyes.

That was typical, avoid one argument and almost run right into another one.

"Ari's happy with it. That's all that matters," Will said, putting a plate in front of Sonny.

To keep Ari happy, Will would do anything.


The next morning Will stumbled into his office. Hands full, work bag dangling over his shoulder, phone plastered to his ear. He shook his head at the large flower arrangement right where he left it. He barely put all his things in place when a delivery person walked into his office.

Will couldn't hold in a groan.

The delivery man unwrapped a huge bouquet and shoved it into Will's arms. A beautifully arranged collection of strawberries, pineapple, and bananas, covered in chocolate and white chocolate to look like a bouquet of flowers.

An edible arrangement like Will joked the day before.

"This too," the man said. He set a white box on the corner of Will's desk and left.

A white box with a picture of an apple and a watch.

On a card attached to the bouquet, Will read a small note that caused him to roll his eyes and reluctantly smile.

-Only the nicest, best things for the current person I want to sleep with