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Chapter 12

He plops down into the couch with a sigh and a tiny smile peeking out from his lips. He reaches for the remote and starts to channel surf, mumbling to himself as he tries to find something good to watch. The position on the couch is adjusted in an effort to be comfortable. There is the temptation to kick his shoes off and plop his feet on the old fashioned drink crates that serve as a coffee table but he keeps them planted on the ground.

A slight chuckle is heard when the new McDonalds commercial comes on and the guy bears a strong resemblance to Sonny. Sonny in gladiator costume, a glistening sword held confidently in his hand, the sheen of sweat on his skin and a roar in his voice as he prepares to do battle. Someone is tapping into his fantasies and he is definitely loving it. The chuckle turns into a lingering smile as he eases back into the couch and gives in to the temptation to put his feet up, not caring that his shoes are still on.

The remote dangles lazily from his fingers, abandoning the mission to find entertainment.

"If you don't go in I might lose the bet."

Will eyes travel upwards from Sonny's throat to his brown eyes. "What bet?" Will is standing outside the apartment building, trying to say goodnight to Sonny but for the past fifteen minutes he's been doing a lousy job of it.

A smile tickles his features before he answers. "My friend Tyler seems to think I'll be the first one to cave in. He doesn't think I can resist you."

"Is that a challenge for you? Resisting me?" His date takes a step closer; hands anchored in his pockets as if there is some fear they might roam.

"Goodnight Will. Please go inside."

"Goodnight Sonny." He turns around and walks away before he is found out. The smile slits his face in two the second the door closes behind him. Legs carry him over to the bench inside the entry way just before giving in to their weakness.

"You think he is okay?" T nudges Chad in the shoulder.

"I'm definitely starting to worry." They watch their friend as he sits on the couch grinning at a documentary about the migration of ants. They never thought ants migrating would be a funny topic.

"So what do you think? Hands on or hands off?"

Chad scratches the side of his head. "I don't know man. I'm still getting use this. I don't know what his I-just-got-laid face looks like yet."

"I'm saying hands on. He is way too happy to have gone home untouched. Come on the guy is fricking smiling at ants walking across dirt."

"I'm going for hands off. This is the first guy he's shown any interest in, I bet he would be happy if they just talked all night."

"Alright man we'll see who wins."

"What's the bet?" Chad gets up from the table and walks over to the refrigerator. He pokes his head in then pulls it out two seconds later. He really needs to go grocery shopping. "Loser buys lunch."

"Deal. I hope lobster is okay with you because I have an expensive appetite today." T slaps Chad on the back before joining their dazed friend on the couch. "Now they are travelling up hill. Really exciting stuff hah?

It takes Will a few seconds that realize that T is now beside him and there are words coming out of his mouth. "What?"

"The ants dude. The show you're watching."

"Oh. Wait. What?" Will looks at the screen and actually sees it. "Oh. I didn't even realize." He focuses on changing the channel hoping T will ignore the cheeks turning red.

"I'm sure you didn't. We are going to the pub for lunch."

"Yeah, that sounds good." The television gets turned off as they head towards the door.

"Chad, make sure you have your wallet!" T calls out as they make their way through.

The pub was a little crowded when they got there but it's always good to have an in. Grandma Caroline gives Will a kiss on the cheek before showing the group to a corner booth. "I'll send Mandy over to take your orders."

"Thanks grandma." Will takes a seat beside his friends and wonders what they are up to. Will's known them long enough to recognize the sly looks shared when they think he isn't paying attention. "Okay you guys want to tell me what's up?"

"Nothing, nothing. What are you having? The blue cheese burger sounds good, with bacon and a double side of fries." Chad's face is buried in the menu. "Come to think of it. I'll have the salmon burger too. What do you think T?"

T shot daggers Chad's way before turning to his friend with curiosity. "So Will how did the date with Sonny turn out?"

Just then Mandy walks over to take their orders.

"You guys sure you can eat all that food?" Will asks with a smile. Oh yeah, something is going on with these two.

"We're good. So your date with Sonny?" Chad gets them back on track.

Will shakes his head and takes a sip of his water. He leans forward to rest his elbows n the table. "It was good." Chuckles. "Really good."

"Where did you guys go?" T's arms are stretched across the back of the booth, trying his best to convey only mild curiosity.

"I don't even know."

T's eyebrows shoot up and he gives a knowing look to Chad. He will be eating for free today.

"What do you mean you don't know?" Chad asks. Will would want to stick to the rules so there is no way anything happened last night.

Will tells them about the drive and how he had no clue where Sonny was going. He'd never been to that place before, hadn't even known it excited. He describes the restaurant, how beautiful it was being on the lake and the amazing food. "It was perfect. I probably would have just brought Sonny here, not to some hideaway restaurant with our own private dining area." When you are a college student places like that aren't usually on your radar. "It was almost too much. Like every box on the perfect date check list was ticked. How do you top that?"

"I'm sure Sonny will find a way." Chad laughs then helps Mandy get all their orders on the table.

"What did you guys do after dinner? I think it would be best if we established that before I start to enjoy my meal."

Then it clicks. What Sonny said last night; the bet with Tyler. Will wouldn't put it pass T and Chad to do the same thing. He looks at
his two best friends and decides he will drag this out for as long as he could. "I'm starving. Let's just eat."

Both T and Chad are starting to get antsy. Mandy is walking towards their table with their bills and Will is yet to tell them what happened after dinner. They look at each other and the lunch bills.

"Ready to go?" Will asks

"No!" They both shout. Chad kicks T's leg under the table but T kicks back.

"Maybe we should have some dessert." The words come through T's gritted teeth

Will tries to suppress his laughter.

"Ok. I can't have another bite of food, so, Will, did you kiss, make out, dry hump or have sex with Sonny last night?"

The words are out and there is no way to stop them when Will notices Neil. The laughter leaves his lips when he looks into Neil's surprised face.

"Oh, ahh, hi, Neil."

"Oh hey Will. I saw you and, ahh, thought I'd say hi. Sorry if I interrupted."

"No, no." Will gets out of the booth and stands in front of the unexpected guest. "You weren't interrupting. It's good to see you."

"Is it?" His eyes holding Will's. "Sorry." Then he gives a nervous smile. "So you and Sonny?"

"Yeah, kinda. I guess."

"You're not his usual type." The eye contact breaks when Will looks beyond Neil. "Sorry. I shouldn't have said that. I'm gonna go. It was good to see you."

"Yeah."

Will turns to his friends. "Why don't we get out of here." He pulls out his wallet to pay. His friends have their eyes locked on him. "Nothing happened with Sonny last night. We both kept out hands and all other body parts to ourselves."

"Dammit." T grabs Chad's bill out of his hands. He'll be eating cereal for the next week.

"Is there going to be a second date?" Chad's victory doesn't feel so sweet.

Will turns to Chad, blue eyes looking puzzled. Chad knows that look; it's the look Will gets when he is thinking about giving up on something. He watches Will slowly shake it off and breathes a sigh of relief.

"Yes. Friday night."

"Good. And please keep it PG; I need another free meal out of T." They laugh and walk out with a grumbling T following close behind.