Will's POV

After delaying and pacing around, using the bathroom and sitting in bed, Will decided to get closure and opened the text. He read it once. Then twice, trying to make sense of it. Was Brian apologizing? It was hard to say.

'Hey gorgeous, long time no C. Was caught up with work and stuff. Want to hang out this summer? Wouldn't mind another date. Baby, U were good! Please don't say no...'

Will put the cell on the nightstand thoughtfully. Apparently, he had been too sentimental. Brian liked him but he wasn't committing... yet? Maybe he should give him a chance to know him better and then, he might want something serious? Will was trying really hard to think rationally but how could you know how to act? What were the rules in the dating world? Because he still felt used. Brian hadn't hinted at casual at first. He was romantic and attentive. Maybe he really was caught up with work? But sending a text took a minute at most... He had had two weeks after all and Will had sent six texts and left three messages at the time.

Will woke with a start when the cavalry invaded the house. He had slept very badly, obsessing about the meaning of the text and didn't feel as fit today as he did the day before. Unfortunately, his siblings were oblivious to the fact and went on with their hullabaloo. Will walked slowly to the kitchen and saw Johnny pouring cereals into his sister's bowl. Syd was approaching the table with a pack of milk carefully and Allie was passing by, zooming from her room to the bay window seat.

"Come on, we've got to hurry, Sonny will be waiting for us!"

She saw Will and stopped dead in her tracks.

"Why do you wake up so late?" she asked impatiently "you haven't eaten yet and we have to go!"

Will went to the bay window and called his sister "Look, do you see any yacht on that beach...?"

"No" Allie said regretfully, "Do you think he changed his mind? Or he waited but then he went home?"

Will looked at his watch "I doubt that and, you know, he may not take the boat right away. So maybe you guys can take a swim first?"

Allie looked disappointed for a moment then her eyes sparkled again "I bet I can swim faster than Johnny!"

"No way" answered her brother, his mouth full of toast.

Will sat to eat. But breakfast here reminded him of breakfast with Brian and his anxiety returned.

Once everyone was ready, Will became implacable and steadily covered every little body with sunscreen. He asked some help for himself and took his sunglasses but put them on top of his head. They went outside and the kids ran in front of him as if the beach would disappear in the ether if they were too late. He was happy he had talked with Allie because Sonny was already there, lying on a chair, but boat-less. Will took a time to appreciate Sonny's muscled legs and fine chest under his tight top tank. God that man was hot! But way out of his league, of course, and acting completely uninterested. At least he was friendly and about his age. Will saw him greet the kids one by one, not looking in his direction at all. He should really answer Brian's text. This was the most he was going to get. No need daydreaming. And Sonny was surely straight too. He was busy remembering the text message in his mind when Sonny finally acknowledged his presence.

"And you Will?" Will didn't get the question. What had he asked the kids? "Do you like the house? How did you sleep?" His voice was a little odd. Did he have a cold?

Will answered flatly "Yes, great house. Didn't sleep a lot. All those miles, you know?"

"Oh sure."

Sonny's eyes were like two suns, burning Will's eyes. Who decided to put his sunglasses on. He felt more protected that way.

Sonny asked "Where did you guys come from?"

"Illinois. That's over a 12-hours-drive."

"Oh I know!" Sonny danced on his feet and turned to the sea. At this hour, the air was so pure you could see forever. Johnny and Allie were swimming around each other and on the sand, a very serious castle was appearing. Will felt sad all of the sudden. He walked to his little sister and sat down to help her.

He expected Sonny to go back to his chair or go swimming or something. But a shadow covered the building site and Sonny knelt and said "How about I help with this part, Sydney?"

Syd nodded with a big smile that was instantly reflected on Sonny's face. There were joined after a few minutes by the twins.

Allie stood before Sonny and said, shyly "So, Sonny, we don't have candy right now... But can we still see your yacht?"

Sonny looked taken aback and opened his mouth to answer but changed his mind. He closed his eyes for just a few seconds and Will's world was obscured by the sudden loss of their soft light, then he blinked and replied very seriously.

"Then let's change the deal. Is there something you can teach me in exchange, you and your brother? A craft you possess?"

Allie gaped and turned to Will who smiled and whispered "You could show Sonny how to make a friendship bracelet, Allie. I'm sure he doesn't know how to do that."

Sonny laughed and the whole atmosphere changed, lightening up like a helium balloon in the bright blue summer sky. "I would love to learn, Allie. I guess I'll go and fetch my yacht then, before the beach gets too crowded."

Both kids jumped with excitement and begged Will to be allowed to go with him. Will thought it over. Sonny was nice but he was a stranger. He looked at the little hopeful faces and got up. "Come on, Syd, we'll finish your castle afterward. And it will be the biggest and most beautiful of the whole beach."

Syd didn't protest and Will wondered why but he used the opportunity to be a nice brother, as he certainly didn't want to spend as much time next to Sonny as possible, of course, and they all followed Sonny.

Will had to admit it, Sonny was wonderful with kids. He made sure they were listening to his explanations and took all the time needed to let them sit comfortably. Will stood next to the other twin, with Syd in his arms but when she saw Allie screaming her joy and terror in the swift boat, she started squirming and pleading "Pleeeease, Will, I want to go in it, pleeeease..." Sonny looked over briefly, and then turned his attention immediately back to steering.

Will was about to answer sternly but something in her tone caught his attention and he noticed the tears forming at the edge of the eyelids. She looked desperate and he remembered being a little kid and taking everything at heart.

He caved and when Sonny let Allie out he walked to him and asked sheepishly "Humm, Sonny, can I ask you something? If it's not possible, it's OK, but... Sydney really wants a try and I thought, maybe if she sits on my lap... Would the three of us fit, do you think?"

Sonny looked at him deep in thought, and then he looked in the kid's direction, at Allie kindly consoling her sister. Will heard "I guess... I'd be happy to try." Will turned and caught a shy smile. Sonny was really a nice guy. Next time, he'd let the kids walk with him... or not. He was fighting it but he was really attracted to him and he figured he would just have to be careful not to cross any line and enjoy the proximity.

Sydney's face when they told her was a reward in itself. Will felt like he'd hung the moon. He looked over to Sonny and registered a brilliant smile. He held her tight and sat in the yacht just as Sonny was sitting too. Their legs rubbed and Will felt a tingling going all up to his spine. They settled and Sonny got them started. Syd was yelling at the top of her lungs but that didn't bother Will. His whole being was reduced to the few inches that touched Sonny's thigh. His skin alternatively burned and chilled and his whole leg was shaking. He did not dare look in Sonny's direction as he suspected his face was getting redder and redder. All of it didn't last long but to Will it had been a torture. Sydney jumped out of his arms, shouting "Again!"

Will didn't feel he had it in him for a second time so he answered "That's enough for now, Syd. Remember that castle?"

He began standing up but suddenly his arm was violently crushed by a strong hand. He was pulled downward and felt a rush of wind passing over his hair "Beware of the tack, Will! I'm so sorry I forgot to warn you like I did with the twins. I hope you're not hurt?" Sonny's hand was still holding him and Will couldn't speak anymore. He saw Sonny change countenance and found his voice to reassure him "I'm OK, I didn't expect this, that's all. I..." He was interrupted by Johnny who rushed to them, hopping like an excited rabbit

"Hey, Will, you know what?"...Sonny's eyes darted to Will making him nervous again."You know what?... There's... a … carnival! Can we go? Can we go?" Will nodded. Before he could really answer, Johnny had turned to Sonny and was saying

"You'll come with us there, right? I mean you're on your own and we're your friends now and that way we can have an adult who's not afraid to go on the Ferris wheel with us."

Will blushed. Thank you little brother! "I happen to think you guys are too young for it and who says it's secure enough? And..."

He crossed Sonny's eyes. It was a wonder how much they could convey and how many different emotions they had shown that morning. Now, they were dancing in his face as if he was trying not to laugh. Will gave up.

"But, if Sonny, I mean... You don't have to listen to Johnny here but we would like it if you came with us, of course. It's up to you..."

He was on the defensive, ready for Sonny to refuse politely. After all, he might want to rest so that he could go out and spend his evenings in clubs. There must be a few there. Sonny took a serious air and put his hand on Johnny's shoulder

"I think I have to come. I happen to be very good at riding on Ferris Wheels too. Maybe, I could even convince Will to accompany me?"

He winked. Will felt weak. Was it the heat or Sonny? Before he could find out, they were all startled by a loud cry

"What about my castle? You said we would build it and now people are coming and they'll walk on it and..."

Will rolled his eyes and said

"Kids..."

They went back to Syd.

The Carnival was big, and seemed well maintained. Will had promise to take the twins to the bumper cars stall and Sonny was holding Sydney's hand as she went from stand to stand to proudly show to all the stall keepers the picture of her sandcastle on Will's cell. Apparently she got a lot of nice smiles and cute comments so Will focused on the twins. Syd came back after half an hour, towing Sonny behind her and Allie and Johnny begged him for the Ferris wheel. Syd handed Will his phone back shouting.

"You got a new text, I heard it beep. Maybe it's Brian, the guy who is not your friend!"

Sonny had a question in his eyes, but didn't ask for an explanation. Will closed his eyes. Were his siblings all in it to humiliate him in front of Sonny? He took Syd to the duck fishing stall and opened the text.

'U pissed or something?'

Great. He typed back.

'Not really. Rather disappointed. Thought you were into me. Guess I was wrong. Am not in Salem now, anyway.'

He got the answer as he was buying her cotton candy.

'I am man... You're a great guy! But why B too serious? Let's have fun!'

Will looked up from his phone and met Sonny's curious look. He sighed. Allie told him in her usual serious way.

"We saw a booth where you can stay for half an hour and they teach kids how to do some creative stuff, like necklaces..."

"...or miniature water mills!" Johnny finished.

Will checked the price and saw they began at 4 years-old, so he signed up the 3. There was enough supervision inside so adults had to wait outside. Sonny turned to him and gave him the biggest and nicest smile ever.

"Can I ask you something?"

Will felt ready to say yes to anything, except to what followed.

" There's this attraction where you climb into a kind of module and it shoots up to 30 feet or something along a mast. Would you like to try it with me?"

Will was looking for a good excuse but his face must have told it all.

Sonny added "... Or you're afraid of heights, maybe? That's why you don't go on the Ferris wheel?"

Will shuffled his feet, head down.

Then he bravely said "Well, I really can't try that thing, I might throw up... But I could try the wheel... Could you talk a lot and distract me?" Sonny grinned and nodded. Will felt his heart bumping in his chest.