"Who are you looking for?" Chad asks, as Will looks down to the street from their rooftop patio. "Practically everyone we know is already here."
"Well, I'd invited Sonny, but-" Will says, not sounding too hopeful.
"Will, Will, Will," Chad interrupts, putting his arm around Will's neck and walking him back toward the action of the get-together, "Sonny boy has other things to do these days…and by 'things', I mean-"
Will shakes free of Chad's man-embrace and quickly responds, "Yes, Chad, I get it, I know…just…stop. Yeah, I didn't figure he would come. He said he and Bethany already had plans."
"He and Bethany always have plans. He went from single to married in a matter of a few months."
"He isn't married," Will says, a little too quickly…and snippy.
Chad looks at his friend, not quite placing the emotion in his voice. "Well, he might as well be. They live together. He goes home to her every night."
"Yeah, true," Will admits, and racks his brain for a way to change the subject.
"Although we live together, and I guess, technically, I come home to you every night," Chad jokes.
Will rolls his eyes, but feels an uneasiness in his stomach. However, it quickly passes, as Chad points out a "hot blonde" across the patio, a friend of a friend that would be perfect for Will.
As they make their way over, Chad sings her praises: pre-med, plays beach volleyball on the weekends…but Will hears none of it, having already tuned him out.
"Morgan, this is Will. Will this is Morgan," Chad says, motioning to each as he mentions them.
Will and Morgan politely smile and shake hands, both feeling a bit awkward in the moment.
"Well, I'll let you two get to know each other," Chad quickly says and slyly walks away.
"Hmm…this isn't awkward at all," Morgan says with a shy smile.
Will laughs, "Nope, not at all."
At the same time, they both blurt out, "Look, I'm—" then laugh again.
"Go ahead," Will says politely.
"I was just going to say that, well, I'm not really actually looking for a relationship right now."
"Oh," Will is surprised by her candidness.
"No offense, really," she says, reaching a hand out to touch his arm. "I'm sure you're a great guy."
"Thanks, I guess," Will says, thinking of all of the ways he can torture Chad for doing this to him.
"No, really, I obviously don't know you very well, but, from what Chad says when we all hang out, you're a good guy."
"Well, it's nice that he has given you that impression. I try to be. Although, I suppose if you trust Chad's judgment, then that is a bit disturbing," Will says in a serious tone, but can't keep a straight face.
They share a laugh, then Will admits, "It's funny that you say that…that you aren't really looking for a relationship right now. I'm not really either."
"Well, I just got out of a long relationship, so I just feel like I need some time for myself for a while, before I jump into anything else. What about you?"
"Uh, well, no long relationship, but, same here, need some time to myself. Figure some things out." Will's thoughts drift off for a few seconds, but he reels them back in before she has time to inquire any more. "There's actually someone that I might be interested in, but…I don't know." He is shocked by his own admission, since this is the first he is hearing about it himself.
Morgan's face and voice soften, "Not sure if she feels the same way?"
With a cynical chuckle, Will replies, "Well, that isn't exactly it, but something like that."
After a little more small talk, Will finds his way back to the drink table, where Chad practically sprints over to him. "Sooooo?" he asks, eager to get the scoop.
"Soooo…what?" Will says coyly.
Chad smacks him on the arm, "Come on! You know what! Did you two hit it off?"
"Um, first, ouch! And, second, thanks for the introductions, but…she really isn't my type."
"Not your type?...NOT YOUR TYPE? Geez, Will, did you SEE her?" Chad has clearly been drinking enough to let him be a little more vocal…or louder anyway.
"Yes, Chad, I did. And I TALKED to her too…because, you know, that matters in a relationship too," Will teases back.
"Yeah, yeah, so, what went wrong?" Chad asks, baffled.
"Nothing," Will answers nonchalantly. "You're right, she IS beautiful. And she seems really nice."
"So…you prefer ugly and mean?" Always Chad with his smart remarks.
"No, but I do prefer…I mean, I think I may prefer…" Will wants to share with Chad, his best friend, his roommate, what he is thinking…what he has been feeling.
Chad puts his arms out, begging for an answer, "What? May prefer what?"
Will's eyes dart around the patio, looking everywhere but directly at Chad. He swallows hard and answers, "brunettes."