Chapter 10

Will stared across the bus at Kevin, the IPAD in his hands long forgotten. They had been on tour for nearly a month now. So far, the shows had been going well with most of the venues sold out or at worst seventy-five percent filled. They weren't the big stadiums that he had always dreamed about as a kid but he was happy. The audiences had been enthusiastic, and Will always left the stage with a huge smile plastered to his face. At least until he got back on the bus when his happiness was swept away and replaced with worry.

It wasn't that his time on the bus with Kevin had been bad. On the contrary, it had been amazing and exactly what they needed. The confinement of the bus had forced them to spend time together, and they had taken advantage of it. For the first couple of weeks, it seemed like they talked non-stop, reconnecting with each other and learning things about each other that they hadn't known before, things that normally would have taken them months to find out. In that regard, taking Kevin along with him on tour had been the best decision Will had ever made. Their relationship was solid and becoming more so every day.

It was Kevin's health that had Will so concerned. He had hoped that being on the bus without much to do would enable Kevin to get the rest that he needed to recuperate but that hadn't happened. Kevin was still having nightmares which meant he wasn't getting the uninterrupted sleep he desperately needed. As a result, Kevin looked worse than when they left Nashville nearly a month ago, which was why Will was staring at him now with deep concern. Kevin was sitting at the table with his head resting against the window as he watched the scenery fly by. His guitar was lying on the seat beside him and music sheets were scattered across the table. Will knew this was merely for show though as Kevin hadn't written one word or note since the shooting. Will watched as Kevin's eyelids blinked slowly up and down. Will desperately willed them to stay shut but they popped back up stubbornly despite the exhaustion that Kevin was clearly suffering from.

Will sighed heavily as he put his IPAD aside and got up from his seat. He wished Kevin would talk to him or anyone about his nightmares but he had been resolutely silent about them. As he walked across the aisle, he shared a smile with the nurse, Alicia, who glanced up from her magazine as Will walked past. She was a pretty, African-American woman in her mid-twenties, and Will had liked her from the minute he met her. She reminded him of a younger version of the nurse who had been so kind to him at the Atlanta hospital. She was quiet and unassuming but was also genuinely kind and caring with a slight mischievous streak once they had gotten to know her better. She frequently made Kevin laugh which ingratiated her to Will even more.

Will picked up Kevin's guitar and laid it on the opposite seat as he slid in beside Kevin. "Excuse me. I don't mean to intrude but I was sitting across the aisle and couldn't help noticing how incredibly handsome you are. So, I thought I'd mosey over and see what kind of shot I had."

Kevin peered over at Will, a wan smile playing on his lips as he studied Will for a moment. Finally, he said, "I'd say they're better than average."

Will made a show of acting surprised, "Really? Hmm, well in that case…" Will started as he leaned over and placed a gentle kiss against Kevin's lips lingering for a few moments before leaning back.

Kevin's smile grew as he said, "Are you always this bold with a complete stranger?"

Will smiled as he leaned closer, "Only when they're as irresistible as you."

Kevin scoffed and rolled his eyes as he turned back to the window, "Yeah right. Liar!"

Will laughed as he reached over and clasped Kevin's hand. He waited a beat before saying casually, "I was thinking I'd go lie down for a while. Maybe take a nap. Care to join me?"

Will watched as a look of uneasiness tinged with fear passed over Kevin's features as his body tensed. "Maybe later. I'm enjoying watching the scenery. It's beautiful country out here."

Although the answer was expected, Will still felt disappointed. He didn't push the issue though and instead scooted closer to Kevin on the seat. "Mind if I sit here with you."

Kevin turned and graced Will with a soft smile. He squeezed Will's hand as he said, "I'd like that."

"Let's go through Spinning Revolver one more time maybe with a little more bass this time around." Will said as he glanced around at his bandmates on the stage. They had arrived in Columbus, Ohio a couple of hours ago and were going through rehearsals for the concert later that night. Once he received a nod or grunt in acknowledgement from his bandmates, he turned around and stepped up to the mic making some final adjustments to his guitar. As he did so, he heard his name from stage right and turned to see Alicia standing there anxiously trying to get his attention.

Will immediately thought of Kevin as he turned back to the band. "Hey, on second thought, let's take a break. I need a few minutes," Will said as he swung his guitar strap over his head and placed his guitar on the stand. He hurried over to Alicia, "What is it? What's wrong?"

Alicia glanced over at the band milling around on stage and pulled Will towards the back door without speaking. Once outside and away from the others, she said, "Something happened."

Will felt panic settle in his stomach, "What happened? Is Kevin alright?"

Alicia crossed her arms over her chest, "No, I don't think so."

Will felt himself tense and he balled his hands into fists as he said again more emphatically, "What happened?"

"A truck went past the bus a little while ago. It was a pretty old and beat up one." Alicia said as Will listened attentively. "Anyway, when it went past, it backfired. It sounded exactly like…"

"A gun shot," Will finished for her.

"Yeah," Alicia confirmed nervously. "It was really loud. Scared the Hell out of me too. Kevin was in the bedroom when it happened. I called out to him to see if he was okay but he didn't answer me. I knocked on the door several times but he still wouldn't answer so I went in. He's just sitting on the bed like he's in shock. He won't look at me or talk to me. That's when I decided I should come get you."

Will reached out and placed his hands on Alicia's upper arms and squeezed trying to reassure her, "You did the right thing. I'll go talk to him." Will turned and glanced behind him, "Can you tell the band that they can go grab something to eat? I'll probably be a while."

"Sure," Alicia said with a small smile. "Afterwards, I'll be outside the bus in case you need me."

Will gave her an encouraging smile before walking past her. He could feel his apprehension growing as he neared the bus wondering what he was going to find. He took a deep breath as he climbed the few steps and walked quickly towards the bedroom in back. He paused at the closed door and decided to knock gently. He didn't want to scare Kevin any more than he already was. Will rapped three times softly, "Kev? Kevin, it's Will. Can I come in?"

Will listened but didn't hear a response so he quietly turned the doorknob and stepped into the room. Just as Alicia had described, Kevin was sitting on the side of the bed his back towards the door. As Will walked into the room he said, "Kevin? Hey, you okay?" Kevin still didn't respond as Will came around the end of the bed and gently sat down next to him. Tension radiated from Kevin's body as he sat like a rock with his hands clasped between his knees. He was staring straight ahead with his jaw clenched tightly.

Will reached out tentatively and placed his hand on Kevin's back. He half expected Kevin to flinch away from him but he remained rigid. Will moved his hand slowly up and down reassuringly as he inched closer. "Kev?" Will said softly adopting a soothing tone. "Kev, you need to talk to me." Kevin acted as if Will wasn't even there. Will continued to stroke Kevin's back soothingly as he continued, "Alicia told me what happened with the truck backfiring. That must have been real scary for you. I'm sorry I wasn't here but I'm here now." Will paused as he continued to rub Kevin's back. When Kevin still refused to speak, Will leaned forward and kissed his temple softly. Will leaned his head against Kevin's and whispered, "Please talk to me. Tell me what's going on with you."

Will was mulling over in his mind what else he could possible say to Kevin to get through to him when Kevin turned his head towards Will. Will watched Kevin's eyes dart back and forth like he wanted to say something but wasn't exactly sure what. Finally, Kevin pulled his hands out from between his knees and held them towards Will. They were shaking violently. Kevin stared at them with a mixture of confusion and fear as he whispered, "I can't make them stop."

Will was down on his knees in half a second with Kevin's hands clasped firmly between his own. As Kevin's hands trembled within his grasp, Will bent down and kissed them before glancing back up at Kevin. "It's okay Kev. I've got you." Will was relieved when Kevin relaxed slightly. Will looked down at their joined hands and took a deep breath. It was time. He couldn't allow Kevin to ignore the issue any longer. He needed to push Kevin into getting help, but he knew he needed to proceed cautiously. He looked back up at Kevin hoping that Kevin could clearly see the love Will felt for him. He spoke gently but firmly, "Kevin, you need to talk to someone, and I'm not going to let you sidestep it anymore." Kevin turned his head away and Will could feel him tense with uneasiness. "I would never do anything to hurt you. You believe that right?" Kevin nodded slightly as he stared at the far wall. "You need to do this. You're never going to get better if you don't." Will waited patiently until Kevin reluctantly nodded his head in agreement.

As usual, Luke was true to his word. As soon as Will had gotten the go ahead from Kevin, he was on the phone to Luke letting him know that Kevin had finally agreed to see a psychologist. Within an hour, Luke called back to say that a psychologist had agreed to see Kevin after normal business hours that day and was even willing to come to Kevin. For what felt like the millionth time, Will thanked God for Luke Wheeler.

At seven o'clock that evening on the dot, the psychologist arrived to find Will pacing back and forth outside the bus like an expectant father. Will clasped the man's hand heartily, "Thank you so much for agreeing to see Kevin last minute like this, especially after hours. I can't tell you how much I appreciate you coming here on such short notice. I'm Will Lexington, Kevin's boyfriend."

"It's nice to meet you Mr. Lexington. I'm Daniel Goulding," the man said as he shook Will's hand with a friendly smile. "But before you thank me too profusely, I have to admit that I have an ulterior motive." At Will's befuddled expression, he continued with a conspiratorial smile, "My wife is a huge Luke Wheeler fan. He agreed to give me VIP tickets and backstage passes the next time he's in town."

"Ah, I see," Will chuckled. "Well, regardless, I'm still grateful you're here."

"So, tell me a little bit about Kevin. Luke mentioned that he was shot a couple of months ago?" Daniel asked adopting a more serious expression.

"Yeah, we were at a protest outside a television studio in Atlanta. A crazy homophobe shot at me but hit Kevin instead. He nearly died and was in the hospital for about a month," Will said somberly as he remembered back to those dark days.

"I see, and Kevin hasn't spoken to anyone about what happened?"

"No. He's been having nightmares since getting out of the hospital but he won't talk about them. Today a truck backfired near the bus, and it really freaked him out."

"That's perfectly understandable," Daniel said nodding his head. "I assume he's expecting me?"

"Yes, he is," Will said as he turned towards the bus. "He's waiting for you in the bedroom."

"Alright," Daniel said as he turned and placed his foot on the first step into the bus. Before going any further, he turned to Will, "I need to warn you Mr. Lexington that the old adage will apply here. It will get worse before it gets better. Kevin will seem to decline as we dig up what's bothering him, but I promise you that it is the first step towards him getting better."

Will nodded solemnly, "I understand."

Will paced back and forth outside the bus and glanced at his watch for the millionth time. It was now eight-thirty. Daniel had been inside talking with Kevin for an hour and a half. Will assumed that was a good sign, but he was getting nervous. His opening band, a local band he met briefly earlier in the day, would be coming off stage now which meant he only had about ten or fifteen minutes before he absolutely had to be backstage. He had hoped to talk to the doctor before doing that but he was running out of time. He glanced at his watch again with a sigh when the door to the bus opened and Daniel stepped down. "How's Kevin?" Will asked anxiously.

"He's asleep," Daniel answered seriously. "I gave him a sedative."

"Does that mean the session didn't go well?" Will asked as he felt his hopes plummeting.

Daniel smiled slightly in reassurance, "On the contrary, it went very well." Will let out a deep sigh of relief as Daniel continued, "Kevin was reluctant at first, but once we got going he was actually quite forthcoming. I didn't expect that which is why the session ran longer than normal. I thought it best to get as much out in the open as possible."

"If the session went well, then why a sedative?" Will asked curiously.

"Kevin's exhausted both physically and emotionally. It's imperative that he get some restorative sleep. The sedative will help him do that. As a matter of fact, I've given Alicia a prescription with instructions on when and how often to give them to Kevin."

"Okay," Will said as he stuck his hands into his pockets. "So, what happens now? I mean, Kevin is going to have to continue to see someone right? This isn't a one-time deal."

"No, I'm afraid I'm not that good," Daniel chuckled. "That's another reason why I wanted to spend extra time with Kevin since this will be the only time we see each other physically. Going forward I'll be meeting with Kevin via Skype. I've gone over the details with Alicia and given her all my contact information so she'll be able to set it up. It's not optimal but it will work."

"How often will you be meeting with Kevin?"

"A few times a week to start. The sessions will be reduced as he gets better."

Will perked up, "So, he will get better?"

Daniel reached out and grasped Will's arm firmly looking him in the eyes, "Yes. He will get better. Just remember what I said earlier. Initially, Kevin may seem worse. He'll be sleeping a lot, but, when he's awake, he's apt to be irritable, aloof, and antagonistic. He may refuse to eat; a loss of appetite is quite common. Just be patient with him."

Will nodded as he took a deep breath, "I'll try."

Daniel smiled at him knowingly, "If you're as good a man as Kevin says you are, then you'll do fine."

The doctor was wrong. Things didn't get worse or at least not in the way he said it would. Kevin didn't become irritable or antagonistic. Will suspected that was due to Kevin's inherently laid back and calm disposition. On the rare occasions when he did become mildly snippy, he was always immediately contrite and apologetic. After the doctor's warning, Will had braced himself expecting that he would be dealing with a very different Kevin but the changes were subtle. Kevin was slightly quieter, slightly more depressed. To anyone besides Will and Alicia, the changes probably wouldn't have even registered.

There were only three things that changed noticeably. The first was that Kevin did lose his appetite entirely. Not that he was eating a lot to start with but now he ate next to nothing. He didn't refuse to eat like some rebellious teenager though. He did try to eat, mostly for Alicia's benefit, but he just couldn't get much down. Alicia took up the challenge valiantly and tried everything she could think of including smoothies and protein shakes thinking that it would be easier for Kevin to get something liquid down as opposed to solid. She did have some moderate success. The second change was that Kevin was now sleeping. Thanks to the sedatives, Kevin was now sleeping through the night. Additionally, he would either take one long nap or two short ones during the day. As a result, he lost the haggard appearance around his eyes if not the troubled expression. The third change was a little more of a mystery. There seemed to be an air of hopelessness inside the bus but Will couldn't tell if that was something generated by Kevin or if it had more to do with the helplessness that both he and Alicia felt in regard to Kevin. Will more so than Alicia. Will just had to trust that Dr. Goulding was getting through to Kevin and that things truly would get better.

Will climbed onto the bus after his latest concert. He was sweaty and tired but in that great way he always felt after being up on stage performing. As he got to the top of the stairs, he glanced down the aisle and saw Alicia coming out of the bedroom and closing the door behind her. She walked towards the kitchenette with a half full milkshake in her hand. When she noticed Will standing there, she graced him with a small smile and a shrug. "Still can't get him to eat much huh?" Will said.

Alicia sighed as she poured the rest of the milkshake down the sink, "Nope. I actually wish he would yell and scream at me like I'm some evil witch. I think it would be easier to deal with." Alicia sighed again as she turned around leaning against the sink with her arms folded across her chest. "I just wish there was more I could do for him."

Will smiled as he reached out and squeezed her arm. "You're doing great. We just need to be patient and let Dr. Goulding work his magic. Hang in there."

Alicia smiled in return then said mischievously, "Yes boss."

Will gave her a playful shove, "I'm going to go take a shower then head to bed. I'll see you in the morning."

Will walked down the hallway and into the back bedroom. Kevin was sitting up in bed staring at his laptop. He glanced up as Will walked in, "Hey. How was the concert?"

Will smiled as he stripped off his shirt, "Good, great crowd tonight. I'm going to go take a quick shower. I'll be right back." Kevin just nodded as he went back to his laptop. Will showered and got ready for bed. As Will walked back into the bedroom, Kevin was still absorbed with his laptop. Will slid under the covers and glanced at the screen, "Music teacher qualifications? Why are you looking at that?"

Kevin just stared at the screen as he said quietly, "What else can a washed up songwriter do for a living?"

Will turned to Kevin and said uneasily, "Excuse me?"

"What's that old adage? Those who can't do teach," Kevin muttered.

Will sat up straighter in bed, "What are you talking about?"

Kevin sighed, "I can't make a living on my looks Will."

Will's brow furrowed in confusion, "Hang on, back-up. Who said you were washed up?"

Kevin turned towards Will, "I haven't written anything in three months. Not one note, not one word, nothing."

Will gazed into Kevin's eyes and saw a turmoil of emotions reflected there, "You've been sick." Kevin rolled his eyes and turned away. Will changed tactics, "Have you spoken to Dr. Goulding about this?"

Kevin shook his head, "He wouldn't understand. He's not a musician."

Will settled back on the bed, "Okay, then talk to me. I understand." Kevin just continued to shake his head slightly. "Kev, I know exactly how you feel. I went through the same thing last year. But you know that because you were there. A lot of my fear was around coming out but there was also a huge fear that I would never perform again. It scared the Hell out of me, and I struggled to figure out what else I was going to do with myself. You were the one who made me realize that performing was the only thing I truly wanted to do. Granted that first time was a disaster in more ways than one," Will said as he glanced at Kevin. "It took me a long time to figure out that, in order to get back to doing what I loved, I needed to get right with myself. When I finally did that, I was able to get back out there on stage. The same is true with you. You're not right yet, Kev. You're still healing. You said three months like it's been forever. It's only been three months. You have to give yourself time."

"What if I can't?" Kevin said as he looked back at Will. "There's nothing there Will. I've always had bits and pieces of tunes or lyrics swirling around in my head and now…" Kevin hung his head in despair, "There's nothing there."

Will reached over and closed the laptop placing it on the bedside table. "Come here," Will said as he gathered Kevin into his arms and settled them back onto the bed. "You will write again. I'm sure of that even if you aren't. You're going to have to trust me on that one." Will kissed Kevin on his forehead and held him tightly.

The moment when Will realized that Kevin was getting better was equally as subtle. The three of them were in their usual places. Kevin was at the table staring out the window with Will and Alicia sitting across the aisle. Will was watching a movie on his IPAD while Alicia was reading. In his peripheral vision, Will saw Alicia stretch then get up and wander into the kitchenette. She opened the refrigerator and was reaching in to grab something when Kevin spoke up, "Would you mind grabbing me an apple while you're in there?"

Will saw Alicia freeze in place as the import of Kevin's words drifted over her. Kevin hadn't asked for anything food related since they had been on the bus. Alicia turned wide eyes towards Will as she responded far more calmly than she appeared, "Uhm, yeah, sure thing sweetie. Do you want that whole or do you want me to cut it up for you?"

"You don't have to go to any trouble. Whole is fine," Kevin replied.

Alicia's mouth dropped open as she continued to stare at Will. She managed to remain calm as she said, "It's no trouble at all. I think I'll join you." Alicia grabbed two apples from the fridge and walked over to the counter to start slicing them. Alicia glanced over at Will before saying, "I'm going to have some peanut butter on mine. Do you want me to put some on yours too?"

Kevin thought about it for a moment, "Yeah, okay."

Alicia set the knife down on the counter and stood there for a moment. Then she turned around and smiled softly at Kevin. "I'll just be a second," she said as she walked calmly towards the back of the bus and out of Kevin's sight. She then proceeded to burst into a frenetic but silent Snoopy dance. Will quickly put his hand over his mouth to stop himself from bursting out laughing. When she was done, she quietly strolled back to the kitchen counter and started slicing the apples. "Will, would you like to join us?"

Will couldn't stop the huge smile that lit up his face. "I'd love to."

Three days later, Will was walking back towards the bus looking forward to a nap before getting ready for the show that night. He had been up early for interviews and had just finished rehearsals. As he stifled a yawn, he noticed Alicia pacing back and forth outside the bus and felt his heart sink. Kevin had been doing so well what could possibly have happened? He sped up and yelled out to Alicia. He slowed down with a bewildered look on his face as Alicia gesticulated wildly at him to be quiet. When he finally reached her, he whispered, "What's going on?"

"Listen!" Alicia whispered excitedly.

Will listened but didn't hear anything. Just as he was about to ask Alicia what he was supposed to be listening for, he heard an acoustic guitar come to life. As a soft melody flowed out of the bus, Will turned to Alicia in astonishment, "Is that Kevin?"

"Yep," Alicia said excitedly. "He started playing a couple hours after you left and hasn't put it down since."

Will sighed in relief as he leaned back against the bus and listened to Kevin strumming the guitar strings. He closed his eyes and pictured Kevin sitting in the bus. He could see him in his mind's eye with his eyes closed, a small smile on his lips as he strummed the guitar lost in the melody. Will sorted through song titles in his mind discarding them as quickly as they appeared. Something on his face prompted Alicia to say, "Is something wrong?"

Will opened his eyes and smiled at Alicia, "No, not at all. I'm just having trouble coming up with the name of the song he's playing."

Alicia stood up straighter and jutted her chin out as she said haughtily, "I'm going to suggest Alicia."

Will just looked at her in confusion, "Excuse me?"

"Don't judge," Alicia said saucily. "I'm not the first woman to want to have her name immortalized in song, and I doubt I'll be the last."

Will's brows knitted together even more, "What are you…" Then it hit him. No wonder he didn't recognize the song. "Kevin's writing again," Will breathed.

Alicia smiled beatifically, "Pretty cool, huh?"

Will felt his smile widening across his face as relief and happiness flooded over him. He couldn't contain his excitement as he reached over and picked Alicia up spinning her around with a loud whoop of joy. When he finally put her down, he heard a voice behind him, "What the Hell is going on out here?"

Will spun around to face Kevin who was standing on the steps to the bus watching them like they were crazy. Will stared at him stupidly trying to figure out what to say when Alicia saved him, "Will thinks it's a great idea."

Kevin peered at her uncomprehendingly, "What's a great idea?"

"You naming the new song after me," Alicia said like it should have been obvious. "Isn't that right Will?"

Will turned to Alicia, "Uh, yeah, great idea." He turned back to Kevin and gave him a thumbs up.

Kevin glanced back and forth between the two of them like he didn't believe a word. When neither one of them said anything else, Kevin shook his head and stepped back into the bus. Will and Alicia quickly devolved into giggles.

Will grasped the edge of the sink as he felt the bus start moving. He had just finished showering after his latest show. They would be driving through the night to get to the next venue for tomorrow night's performance. Will braced himself against the wall as he pulled on his pajama bottoms then bent over the sink to brush his teeth. When he was finished, he opened the door and walked out into the bedroom. Immediately, he sensed that something was different. Without saying a word, Kevin arose from the end of the bed and walked towards him. Kevin was also clad in only pajama bottoms as he reached out and placed his hand on Will's chest. Will gasped slightly at the amount of heat and electricity in that simple gesture. "What are you doing?"

Kevin gazed up at him, his eyes blazing with passion as he murmured, "What do you think I'm doing?" Kevin then leaned up and kissed Will softly.

Will closed his eyes and groaned as the kiss quickly turned passionate. It seemed like forever since Will had kissed Kevin like this and he savored it opening his mouth and devouring Kevin's hungrily. Kevin kissed him back just as fiercely and before Will could even register that they were moving he was falling onto the bed on top of Kevin. Will felt Kevin wrap his leg around him as they continued to kiss deeply, hands exploring familiar terrain. It wasn't until he felt Kevin start to slide his hands under his pajama bottoms that Will pulled back, "Wait."

"No, no more waiting," Kevin said as he pulled Will down and kissed him deeply again.

Will responded with a deep groan as he kissed Kevin back until Kevin pulled at his pajama bottoms again. "Wait, stop."

Kevin looked up at him in confusion, "What's the matter?"

Will gazed down at Kevin and wondered the same thing. Kevin's face was flushed, his blue eyes sparkling, and Will couldn't believe how lucky he was to have this gorgeous man in his bed. But as he felt the bus sway, he knew it wasn't right. Instead of answering, Will reluctantly got up and walked a few steps away from the bed breathing deeply to clear his head. He was collecting his thoughts when he heard, "Don't you want me?"

Will turned around and sighed, "You have no idea how much I want you."

"Then what's the problem?" Kevin asked clearly confused by Will's actions.

"Please don't think it has anything to do with you. I want you more than you could possibly imagine," Will said. He stared at Kevin, who was sitting on the side of the bed, as he considered what he wanted to say. "Promise you won't laugh. Or think I'm crazy."

Kevin blinked a bit in surprise then nodded his head slightly as he gazed back at Will with a serious expression, "Okay."

Will took a deep breath as he said shyly, "It's just…I want our first time to be special."

Will watched as the corners of Kevin's lips turned upwards as he said, "I know it's been a while, but we have had sex before."

"Not since we got back together," Will clarified. Will huffed in exasperation as he blurted, "I don't want our first time to be on the back of a tour bus, in the middle of the highway with Alicia just on the other side of the door." Will saw Kevin lower his head as he tried to control his smile. "You think I'm crazy don't you?"

Kevin shook his head, "No, I think you're very sweet." Kevin looked up at Will lovingly, "It's one of the things I love most about you. It's like you grew up in a different era."

Will shuffled his feet as he said, "So you're not mad?"

"No, I'm not mad. Frustrated as Hell but not mad." Will snorted slightly in response. A silence descended over them momentarily before Will noticed Kevin cocking his head and narrowing his eyes at Will inquiringly. "So, what base are we talking about here?"

Will's brows furrowed in confusion, "Excuse me?"

"You know…first base, second base. I'm assuming you're referring to a home run, probably third base too?" Kevin asked.

Will wondered where Kevin was going with this. "Yeah…I guess…why?"

"Well, I was just wondering if first and second base were negotiable." Kevin said in all seriousness.

Now Will felt the corners of his lips start to turn upwards as he said, "I hadn't really thought about it."

Kevin smiled lasciviously, "Maybe you should."

Will felt a blush race up his face, "What do you have in mind?"

Kevin licked his lips as he leaned forward, "Why don't you come over here and find out?"

Will smiled as he sauntered back towards the bed.