"You will?" Paul questioned with a large grin. "You'll leave Salem with me?"
"Yeah," Will responded, subdued. Something strange bubbled in his stomach.
"Okay, this is, this is amazing," Paul revealed. "I'll arrange the flight and set everything up."
Ari, mouth full of a sandwich, clapped enthusiastically.
"Right?" Paul smiled at Ari. "This is going to be so good. We can see your grandma and Daddy can clear his head. I promise you won't regret this," Paul said looking over at Will once again.
Will, lips pressed together, nodded. He wasn't quite so certain.
Paul moved closer to Ari. He explained all the fun things they were going to do on their trip.
With Ari giggling, Will barely heard his phone ringing from inside his bag.
Will glanced at his phone, sighing.
"It's Zoe," Will told Paul. "She must have read over the article."
Paul flashed Will a supportive smile before Ari grabbed his attention.
Will took a deep, steadying breath.
"Hello?" Will asked.
"Will," Zoe said in a business-like voice. "I got your article."
An awkward, tense silence followed.
"…And?" Will pressed. He needed to know her thoughts.
Will poured his everything into that article. All he wanted was for it to be acknowledged. He didn't know what he would do if Zoe hated it.
"It wasn't what I expected," Zoe admitted.
Will's heart stuttered, throat burning.
"It's so much better," Zoe confessed. She laughed when Will sighed in relief.
"Honestly, Will," Zoe bragged. She looked over the article once again. "I have no idea what inspired you but," Zoe shook her head. "It's amazing."
"Yeah?" Will shyly wondered.
"Yes," Zoe chuckled. "And the ending? I didn't even suspect. This is going to be huge. Every baseball fan in the world is going to read this article, your article."
"Um," Will huffed out a laugh. He hadn't thought about that.
"Paul's really retiring?" Zoe questioned.
"Uh huh," Will confirmed. "I was there when he found out, actually."
"Huh," Zoe hummed. 'That's interesting.'
"I'm impressed," Zoe continued. "There's just one question."
Will knew what was coming.
"I told you I wanted the article to be special," Zoe alluded. "The article is fantastic, don't get me wrong. But where's what I'm looking for?"
Will looked at Paul out of the corner of his eyes.
"I talked to Paul about it," Will said. "It just isn't the right time for him now. Not with retiring and adjusting to a new life."
"Is that so?" Zoe replied. She sounded less than sympathetic. "I know how, mmm, close you two are."
Will pursed his lips while crossing his arms. He didn't appreciate what Zoe implied.
Paul noticed Will's discomfort. He held his hand out, gesturing for the phone.
"Zoe, it's Paul," Paul began speaking. He didn't give Zoe any time to respond. "Here's the deal. You are going to run this exclusive. You know how big of a deal this is, how much publicity and press it's going to get. And your magazine is going to get the scoop first. Then," Paul took a deep breath. "When I'm ready, Will is going to write about…you know what."
Zoe pursed her lips, musing.
"So, I get two exclusives out of you?" Zoe repeated.
"As soon as the news about my retirement dies down," Paul nodded. "You'll get a new scoop on Paul Narita."
"Okay," Zoe thought it over. "I can see the upside. But, how do I know you aren't going to go to somewhere else?"
"The only one that's getting this story is Will," Paul promised. "As long as he's on your payroll you'll be safe."
"Right," Zoe ruefully smiled. She appreciated Paul's honesty and ruthlessness.
"Just so you know, though," Paul added. "If you change anything about that article, if you add something in without my or Will's approval," Paul's voice changed into something demanding and harsh. "I will sue you and your magazine for everything you have. Got it?"
"Got it," Zoe agreed, smile pulling at her lips.
"I'll take care of everything," Paul assured Will one last time.
Will adjusted Ari in his arms. She was too cramped in the studio. She wanted to run around and play in the park. Will couldn't blame her.
The three stood in the Pub's back entrance near the alleyway.
"Yeah, that's what you said," Will quietly retorted.
Paul frowned.
"Are you sure this is what you want?" Paul questioned. "I don't want to force you into anything."
"I-I don't know what I want," Will admitted. "It might be nice to get out of Salem though. Like you said, the article is going to break soon and I won't want to deal with it all. And Ari wants to go, so," Will shrugged.
"It's whatever you want," Paul reassured Will. "I'll support you with anything."
It was moments like this, phrases like this that confused Will. He knew Paul thought of Will as more than a friend. But he was so nice and understanding throughout all this. He was there for Will, encouraging Will. He only wanted what was best. It was confusing for Will especially at a time like this.
Still, Will felt like Paul wanted more out of the situation than Will could give. Will knew he should tell Paul to back off. Remind Paul that Will couldn't give him what he wanted. A selfish part of Will didn't want to though. He reveled in Paul's praise and affection.
'Paul makes me feel good,' Will realized. 'Even though I know he shouldn't.'
"Hey," Paul gently smiled. He knew he was coming on strong. Knew he couldn't push too far. "It's okay."
Paul cupped Will's cheek. His thumb brushed across Will's cheekbone and over the shell of his ear.
"You shouldn't do that," Will whispered. He didn't move away or reject the touch though.
"I know," Paul sighed.
Paul took his hand away slowly. He reached out to touch the back of Ari's head before nodding at Will.
"Call me if you need me?" Paul requested.
Will nodded. "You know I will."
"I'll see if I can find a flight for us," Paul said one last time. "You work on you and decide what you want."
"Deal," Will confirmed.
"Play," Ari squirmed and whined.
"We're going," Will promised. "Bye, Paul."
"Bye," Paul held his hand up in a wave.
Paul watched as Will and Ari walked down the alleyway. Will walked past a man leaning against a wall, phone held in front of his face.
As the two blondes disappeared out of sight, Paul turned and went back inside.
Paul never noticed the man had been sneaking photos the entire time Paul was outside.
Will observed Ari going down the slide. She dusted off a light coating of snow and ran back up the stairs.
Will clutched his phone in his hand. He wanted to call Sonny so bad. It was so hard walking by him that morning on the couch. Will wanted to talk to his husband but he couldn't. Missing Sonny was nothing compared to the pain he felt.
It was a strange feeling really, wanting his husband so close and yet not wanting him near at all.
Instead of calling Sonny, Will phoned his mother.
"Hey," Sami greeted, tone unusually soft. "How are you feeling?"
"Terrible," Will honestly answered. He crossed his arms over his stomach. "It feels like I'm going to be like this forever."
"I know it does," Sami agreed. "It's going to take a long time for you to feel right again."
"I hate this," Will admitted.
"I do too," Sami huffed. "No parent wants to see their child hurting. I know in particular how hard this is."
"How did you do it, Mom?" Will asked. "How could you ever forgive EJ?"
Sami inhaled and exhaled loudly. She rubbed her forehead.
"Well," Sami finally got out. "I suppose because I knew he still loved me. He might have done what he did but I was still the one he loved. I'm the only one he's ever loved that way."
"Oh," Will whimpered. He didn't know that. He didn't know if Sonny loved only him or not.
"It didn't happen right away," Sami reminded Will. "Actually, I'm still pretty pissed about it even if he is dead. It gets better though, eventually. Stops hurting as much."
"How?" Will desperately wondered. "I can't see past this. I can't stop hurting. I can't feel anything else."
"Have you been angry yet?" Sami questioned. She knew that was an important step. If Will could get past the unbearable pain and focus on his anger, Will would move on faster.
"Not really," Will said. "I try. I was earlier with Paul but," Will cut himself off. "My hurt keeps creeping back up."
"With Paul?" Sami lifted her eyebrows. "You saw him again after what happened?"
"Yeah," Will confirmed. "I'm still working on the article."
"How many times have you seen him?" Sami demanded. Alarm bells were ringing in her head.
"Well, Paul's who I stayed with when I found out," Will confessed.
"Stayed with how?" Sami narrowed her eyes.
"He slept on the couch, Mom," Will shook his head. "There's nothing like that happening."
Will thought back to the moment he left; the gentle way Paul touched him.
"Are you sure?" Sami pressed. She didn't trust this Paul guy or his intentions.
"I think so," Will amended. "Paul's been supportive in this, Mom. He's really been there for me. I know that it looks bad but it isn't like that. He knows how I feel about Sonny. He just wants to help."
'Help himself, maybe,' Sami thought.
"If you trust him," Sami said instead.
"I do," Will told her. "Paul isn't going to do anything. Actually, he wants me to go visit you."
"What?" Sami wrinkled her forehead.
"He said it would be a good idea since the article is coming out soon," Will revealed. "There will be a lot of press hounding the both of us. He thought it would be a good time to clear my head, really think about everything."
"That's kind of sweet," Sami decided. "And what I was going to suggest myself."
"Really?" Will asked.
"Of course," Sami stated. "You can't begin to heal until you get your head on straight. That isn't going to happen in Salem."
"Paul wants us all to leave soon," Will offered.
"Wait," Sami requested, voice lowering. "Paul is going with you?"
"He needs to stay away from the press too," Will pointed out. "I think he wants to meet you too."
"Uh huh," Sami rolled her eyes. "Or he wants to be around you and convince you to leave Sonny for him."
"Paul isn't like that," Will argued. "He wants to help. He even told me that I should go back to Sonny when I first found out what he did."
"Really?" Sami asked disbelievingly.
"He did," Will maintained. "That's why I went back home that first night, because of Paul."
"And now he's convincing you to go to the other side of the country to get away," Sami pointed out. "That's quite the turn around."
"That was before I found out the details," Will argued. "Things changed."
"Did they change for you too?" Sami wondered.
"I don't know," Will replied. "No, yes, I don't know. All I know is I want to be with Sonny and at the same time I never want to look at him again. I-I can't be near him and I can't not be near him."
Sami closed her eyes and pressed her lips together.
"How big is this story going to be?" Sami asked. "Who the hell is this Paul guy?"
Will knew he wasn't allowed to say.
'But I doubt Paul would care,' Will realized. 'Not if he's going to my mother's house.'
'The article is coming out soon anyway, what does it matter?'
"You remember in high school when EJ bought me a baseball jersey?" Will grilled.
"Yeah," Sami made a weird face. "With that player on the back, the popular guy. What's his name again? Something with an N?"
"Narita," Will told her. "Paul Narita."
"You're interviewing the baseball guy?" Sami demanded. "The one you were obsessed with?"
"I wasn't obsessed," Will defended. "I just liked him."
"Yeah, right," Sami looked up at the ceiling. "Well, now everything makes sense."
"What makes sense?" Will queried. He waved to Ari when she moved to the swings.
"Your behavior," Sami clarified. "Your celebrity crush wants you. No wonder you can't stay away."
"That is not it at all," Will denied. "It doesn't matter to me that he's famous. He's a nice guy and a good friend."
"Friend, mmm hmm, sure," Sami replied. "Friendship is the last thing on his mind."
"Mom," Will groaned. "I am trying to deal with my husband using me as a placeholder our entire relationship. Can you not?"
"You're hurting right now and the man is trying to get you to run away with him," Sami stated.
When Will didn't reply, Sami sighed. "So, you're coming to visit?"
"I guess so," Will responded.
"You don't actually sound too excited about it," Sami realized.
"I'm not sure it's a good idea," Will sighed. "But Paul thinks the media coverage is going to get bad and he doesn't want me dealing with that on top of everything else."
"Have you talked to Sonny about this?" Sami wondered.
"No," Will admitted. "I haven't talked to Sonny at all today. I've been avoiding him, really."
"Will," Sami closed her eyes. "You can't just leave him in Salem."
"I know that," Will maintained. "I would never just up and leave without at least talking to him. I just can't, I can't talk to him, not now."
"Alright," Sami appeased. "But you need to talk to him at some point before you make a decision."
"Okay," Will whispered. "I-I'll do my best."
Adrienne pressed a cup of coffee against Sonny's hand.
"You need to find a way to tell Will that you're willing to do whatever he needs," Adrienne suggested. "Not just once, repeatedly. Over and over until he believes you. That's when you'll be able to start earning his trust back."
Sonny nodded.
"Look," Adrienne placed her hand on Sonny's shoulder. "I've also been in your shoes right now. So, I'm telling you this from both places. It takes time, effort, it's going to hurt. But you have to know with absolute certainty that this is what you want."
"It is," Sonny told her.
"Are you sure?" Adrienne pressed. "Is this a onetime thing or are you going to be tempted again?"
Sonny turned to stare at his mother incredulously, furious.
"How could you ask me that?" Sonny hissed. "I-I don't want anyone else. I only want Will. I want my husband."
"But you cheated on him," Adrienne pointed out. She didn't mean to be so harsh but it was necessary. Sonny had to see the reality of his situation. She had to push him to make sure that this was really what he wanted.
"I know that," Sonny grumbled. "Do you think I'm proud of it?"
"No," Adrienne replied. "But you need to make sure you aren't going to make that mistake again. If Will ignores you or goes away on business again," Adrienne continued. "What are you going to do?"
Sonny held his mug in his hands tightly.
"If another ex or another friend like Brent shows up," Adrienne added. "Are you going to jump into his bed? If Brian came back to town, if some attractive stranger comes up to you at the club, are you going to follow him into the bathroom? If-,"
"Stop it!" Sonny screamed. He slammed his mug down on a side table, coffee spilling over the sides. He started pacing. "I'm not going to do any of those things. What kind of person do you think I am?"
"I think you're my son," Adrienne confessed. "And that you're more like your father and I than I would like. But you need to know that those questions are going to go through Will's head."
Sonny stopped, arms crossed.
"Every time you walk past an attractive man," Adrienne told Sonny. "Will's going to step closer to you, wondering if you want him, comparing himself to him," Adrienne sighed. "Every time you're late, that's all Will's going to think about. What you're doing and who you're with."
Sonny pressed his lips together. He didn't want to think about this, the reality of what he did, the lasting consequences. But it was unavoidable.
"Will and you are never going to heal," Adrienne confided. "Unless you realize the gravity of the situation. And the amount of work and dedication this is going to take."
"I can do this," Sonny insisted. "I want to do this."
A set of keys jingled outside.
Adrienne glanced towards the opening door. Will, with Ari passed out in his arms, stepped into the apartment.
Sonny, unaware, continued opening up to his mom.
"I have to, Mom," Sonny confessed. "I'll do whatever it takes to show Will that I love him."
Will stood perfectly still. He didn't know what he just walked in on but he knew he needed to hear it.
"I can't lose him," Sonny's voice cracked. "I love him."
"I know you do," Adrienne looked over towards Will. "I know."
Sonny looked towards the door. A strangled whimper left his throat once he noticed Will.
Will and Sonny simply stared at each other. Neither said a single word.
Adrienne, noticing the situation, stood up off the couch.
"Here," Adrienne held her arms out towards Will. "I'll put Ari in bed."
"Okay," Will nodded. "Careful," Will reflexively said when Adrienne grabbed Ari.
"I've got her," Adrienne reassured Will. "It'll be okay," Adrienne whispered so Sonny wouldn't be able to hear. "Just talk to him."
Will imperceptively nodded.
Sonny wiped his hands on his thighs, nervous. He didn't make any move toward Will. His mother's words rang through his head.
'I need to show Will this is all on his terms,' Sonny decided. 'Whatever he needs, I'll give him.'
Will couldn't stay still. His arms wrapped across his stomach before moving to hold his elbows. Unconsciously, his shoulders hunched forward, stomaching moving inward.
Will didn't know what to say. He didn't know if he should mention the trip or the article. Tell Sonny about Ari almost getting across the monkey bars by herself. Or how Kayla was going to hold interviews next week for some new servers. Or how badly he missed Sonny. Missed touching Sonny, kissing him.
'God, I even missed his snoring last night,' Will realized.
Instead, Will simply said, "Hi."
Sonny hadn't heard anything so beautiful in a long time.
"Hi," Sonny licked his lips, suddenly teary-eyed.
Before Will could stop himself, he whispered, "I miss you."
"I'm right here," Sonny responded. "I'm not going anywhere."
"It feels like you're far away," Will admitted.
"I've been waiting for you," Sonny swallowed. "I'd wait for you forever."
Will closed his eyes.
"From the moment I met you," Sonny continued. He had to plead his case at least a bit while Will was willing to listen. "I waited. Waited for you to figure out yourself, waited for you to be ready for me. Waited for you to marry me."
"Because he said no," Will shook his head.
"No, Will," Sonny denied. "I, you said no and I would have waited forever. He said no and it was over."
"You left," Will argued. "And you never got over-," Will stopped, lips trembling. "You latched onto me because I was there."
"That's not it," Sonny repudiated. "I had friends. I slept with other guys. I could have tried to be with anyone else. I wanted you. It didn't matter how long it took, I would have waited forever."
"Then why?" Will bit his lip. "What did I do? Why wasn't I enough?"
"You are enough," Sonny promised. "That wasn't, that wasn't why."
"Then what?" Will pressed. "I need to know, Sonny. Because I keep thinking about it. Over and over and all I can come up with is me."
"It was never you," Sonny maintained. "It was always me. I held onto my feelings for too long. And when-," Sonny took a deep breath. "When I couldn't be around you, I was tempted by my old life. The one I had before I met you."
Will turned away from Sonny.
"I realized as soon as I came back home that I needed you," Sonny admitted. "Everything else was just, just physical. It didn't mean anything."
"But you wanted it to," Will stated in a bland voice. "You wanted it to be something. That's why you went. You loved him, you wanted to marry him. You, you spent that weekend with him because you wanted that feeling back. So, don't lie and tell me that it didn't mean anything. It had to have meant something."
"Why?" Sonny questioned. "Why does it have to mean anything?"
"B-because," Will answered. "I can't allow myself to believe you threw me away for something that didn't mean anything."
"I didn't throw you away," Sonny insisted. "I didn't."
"Were you ever going to tell me?" Will wondered, disregarding Sonny. "Have, have you seen him since? Are you still seeing him?"
"I," Sonny focused on the first question. "I don't know if I was going to tell you. I wanted to but I don't know."
Sonny sniffed, shifting uncomfortably.
"I've seen him twice," Sonny confessed. "Once to make sure he knew we were done."
"Did, where did you see him?" Will asked.
"At the club," Sonny explained. "I wanted it to be public. I told him it was over and he agreed."
"Then why did you see him again?" Will frowned. "What did you do?"
"I thought," Sonny frowned. "I thought he had seen you. I thought, I don't know what I thought. But I told him to stay away from you."
"Where would he have seen me?" Will shook his head. His skin crawled just imagining talking to the man.
"At the pub," Sonny sighed. "My mom thought she saw you together."
"Your mom knew?" Will's face crumpled.
"Not everything," Sonny said. "She knew he was in town. She wanted me to tell you he was here. But she didn't know what I did."
Will thought of Adrienne knowing about Sonny's ex. If Adrienne saw him at the pub that meant Will most likely did too.
'Which one was he?' Will wondered. He tried to go over every stranger he had seen in the pub over the past few weeks. He wanted to know what this ex looked like.
'Better than me,' Will assumed. 'Older, smarter, better.'
"Was he the only one?" Will asked quietly. "Or were there more?"
"He was the only one," Sonny promised, shamefaced.
'I did this to Will. I made him question everything. I did it all.'
"Oh," Will replied. He didn't know if he trusted that answer. Didn't know if he could trust Sonny ever again.
Adrienne walked out of Ari's room quietly. She noticed the tension in the room and didn't want to interrupt.
"I'll just get my purse and coat," Adrienne said.
"No," Will suddenly spat out, desperate. "Please, don't go."
"Um," Adrienne looked over towards Sonny for approval.
Will didn't want to be alone with Sonny. He didn't trust himself alone. He didn't know what would happen. He could do something stupid like yell at him.
'Or forgive him,' Will realized.
Will wasn't ready for either situation.
"Okay," Adrienne replied after seeing Sonny nod. "Why don't I make you boys something for dinner?"
Will followed Adrienne into their small kitchen.
"Oh," Adrienne looked over her shoulder to see Will standing there.
"Sorry," Will mumbled although he didn't move away.
Sonny, realizing his conversation with Will was over, pulled out his phone. He needed to call and check on the club.
"I'll be right back," Sonny said. He walked into the bedroom so he wouldn't disturb anyone.
Finally alone, Adrienne gave Will an once-over. "You don't look so good, sweetie."
"I don't feel that good," Will admitted. He couldn't stop from voicing his thoughts. "Is that why Sonny didn't want me?"
Adrienne put down the pan she just pulled out.
"Will, that's ridiculous," Adrienne huffed. "You're extremely handsome and Sonny is completely attracted to you."
Will shook his head and closed his eyes. He didn't know why he was confiding in Adrienne. She never liked him. Will couldn't figure out why he was opening up to a woman that would just turn around and use his vulnerability against him.
"I'm stupid and plain and Sonny wanted someone better," Will argued.
"Stop talking like that," Adrienne pleaded. "It's not true."
Will mumbled something that sounded like ugly.
"No," Adrienne put her hands on Will's shoulders, wanting to shake him. "You are not any of those things, Will. I know my son. And I have never seen him look at anyone the way he looks at you."
"Did you know?" Will finally opened his big, watery eyes. "Did you know Sonny wasn't over him?"
"What are you talking about?" Adrienne questioned, letting Will go.
"Is that why you always wanted me away from him?" Will asked. He felt realization dawning on him. "Because you knew Sonny didn't really love me."
Adrienne blinked several times. No, that wasn't it. That wasn't why she wanted her son away from Will Horton. Maybe when Sonny first moved to Salem she worried. Her son, the great adventurer, was suddenly settling down in a small town. Adrienne knew it was only because of what happened with Paul. That Sonny was so hurt he ran as far as he could away from Paul until the only place left to run was Salem.
'But I never worried about Sonny not loving Will,' Adrienne knew. 'I wanted Will away from Sonny entirely because of Will. And there's no way I can tell him that.'
Adrienne looked into Will's shattered eyes. She couldn't add to that pain.
"Yes," Adrienne lied. "That's why I tried to keep Sonny away."
"Oh," Will licked his dry lips. "Thank you, for trying to help."
Adrienne felt her own eyes sting as she turned away.
Now, she understood just how easy it was for Sonny to lie to protect Will.
Sonny poked his head into Ari's bedroom. He went inside under the guise of checking on her but that wasn't it. Not really.
Sonny couldn't handle the stifling awkwardness in the other room. Will wouldn't look at Sonny. He stayed close to Adrienne's side.
'And Mom doesn't care,' Sonny knew. 'Mom's helping Will do anything he can to not talk to me.'
Sonny wanted to be annoyed with his mother. He knew, though, that she was simply helping Will.
'All these years I've wanted them to get along,' Sonny almost laughed. 'And all that needed to happen was for me to completely destroy Will.'
Sonny stepped up to Ari's crib, gripping the bars. He watched Ari's tiny chest rise and fall with each steady breath she took. He observed the bow to Ari's pink little lips, the rounded cheeks. Every time Sonny looked at Ari he saw Will.
'I didn't just cheat on Will,' Sonny realized. 'I cheated on Ari too. I threw them both away.'
Sonny didn't know what was wrong with him, then or now. After a few tense minutes with Will and his mother, he left.
'I promised my mom I could handle it. I promised Will I would wait forever. I couldn't even go thirty minutes before needing a break.'
Ari turned in her sleep, pretty eyes blinking open.
Sonny's heart stuttered.
Ari saw Sonny and smiled, holding out her arms.
Sonny lifted Ari against his chest.
"Never again," Sonny vowed. "I'll never hurt you or Daddy. I promise."
Dinner was an uncomfortable affair. Adrienne didn't seem to know what to say. Sonny didn't know if he was allowed to help Will feed Ari. All while Will wouldn't look at anyone but Ari.
Thankfully, Arianna seemed oblivious. She smacked her hands on her highchair tray. She giggled and laughed joyfully, getting mashed potatoes everywhere.
Under Sonny and Adrienne's watchful eyes, Will laughed openly. His face brightened, eyes sparkling. Without meaning to, Will turned to Sonny, smile on his face.
Sonny gasped. He hadn't seen that look on Will's face in so long.
That was when Sonny knew there was still hope. No matter how hard he had to work, no matter the sacrifice. Sonny wasn't giving up until he had his husband back.
Will stood next to Adrienne at the door.
"Thanks for staying," Will told her. His eyes stayed on the floor. "I know it wasn't fair to you."
"It was no trouble," Adrienne insisted. She reached out and pushed Will's chin up. "Things won't always feel this way. They'll get better."
"That's what my mom said," Will responded.
"Well, for once in my life," Adrienne smiled. "I agree with Sami."
"This is the part where she would say she's always right," Will half-heartedly joked.
"Get some rest, Will," Adrienne ordered.
"Okay," Will nodded.
Will waited until he saw Adrienne walk into her car before closing the door.
Will watched as a drowsy Arianna toddled towards him.
"Are you sleepy already, princess?" Will questioned.
"No sleep," Ari pouted around a yawn.
"Sorry, baby girl," Will lifted her into his arms. "It's time for a bath and then to bed."
Will walked past Sonny, purposely ignoring him.
"No," Ari reached out her hands for Sonny. "Need."
Will swallowed painfully.
Sonny tried not to react. He needed to do everything at Will's pace.
"You heard her," Will said uncomfortably.
Sonny eagerly followed Will and Ari into the bathroom.
Will and Sonny worked in a well-rehearsed unison. Sonny turned on the tap, filling the tub with water and bubbles. While Will took off Ari's clothes and ran a comb through her tangled hair.
"What's this?" Will poked at Ari's stomach.
Ari giggled, "T'mmy!"
"That's right," Will nodded encouragingly. "That's your cute little tummy."
Before Ari knew what was happening, Will reached forward and blew a raspberry on her bare stomach.
Ari shrieked while squirming and giggling.
Sonny wanted to tickle her but didn't know how Will would react.
Will, noticing Sonny's hesitation, composed himself.
"She's your daughter too," Will stated under his breath. "Why do you keep looking at me like that?"
"I-I don't want to do anything to upset you," Sonny offered.
"You don't need permission to touch her," Will urged. "I-you know-I wouldn't take you away from her."
Sonny nodded. He grabbed Ari and helped her into the tub. He watched as Will carefully washed Ari's hair and body.
After she was all clean, Ari played with her toys.
"I love her, you know," Sonny told Will. "I'd do anything for her."
"I know," Will replied without hesitation.
"I'd do anything for you too," Sonny added. Daringly, Sonny reached out to hold Will's hand.
Will looked down at Sonny's hand over his. Sonny's skin had always been darker, tanner. Will always felt safe in theoe hands.
But he didn't now.
Will pulled his hand away. Despite what he wanted, all Will could picture was Sonny's hands on someone else.
'Were they as soft, as loving? Did they tightly grip his skin?' Will wondered, lower lip wobbling. 'Did Sonny let his ex run his hands through his hair the way I do?'
Will looked around the bathroom.
'Did they take a shower together, a bath?' Will couldn't stop the thoughts from overwhelming him now. 'A weekend is a long time. They probably did everything, over and over.'
Sonny didn't know what to do to help Will. He could see Will crumbling before him.
Sonny said the only thing he could think.
"I love you, Will," Sonny declared. "I really love you."
Will wanted to believe that. He wanted this all to be some awful, horrible mistake.
It wasn't. This was Will's new reality.
After Ari was fast asleep, Will and Sonny both awkwardly stood in the front room. Neither knew what to say.
"Are," Sonny cleared his throat and tried again. "Are you still working on your article?"
"No," Will said. He was thankful for the relative normality. "I sent the final draft to Zoe today. It should be published soon."
"I can't wait to read it," Sonny told Will with a small smile.
"You never seem to like my writing though," Will pointed out quietly.
"What are you talking about?" Sonny frowned. "I love your writing."
"You love it until someone says they don't like it," Will shook his head. "Then you change your tune and don't like it at all."
"That's not true," Sonny argued.
"Fine, you just let everyone around you trash it and me," Will shrugged.
"I-I know there's a lot of things I need to work on, that I will work on. But I can guarantee that whatever you write I'm going to love. You've been working on it for so long," Sonny said.
"I want to go to bed," Will ignored Sonny's response. He couldn't deal with that now. He didn't want to deal with it now.
"Oh, okay," Sonny sighed. He tried not to be too disappointed Will was done talking. "I'll just stay out here again."
"Right," Will mumbled.
If Will was being honest, he would say he didn't want that. He didn't want Sonny to sleep on the couch. Unfortunately, Will didn't think he could handle being in the same bed as Sonny either. Will would spend the whole time wondering if Sonny really wanted to be there with him or if he was picturing someone else.
'If I make him stay on the couch, if I ignore him, will he go out and find someone else to sleep with?' Will wondered. He didn't want to think so poorly of Sonny but he couldn't help it. Not after everything.
Will's fingers shook with his want to reach out and touch Sonny. But all Will could imagine was someone else's hands on Sonny. Sonny's hands on someone else, forgetting Will with every glance, every kiss.
"Night," Will choked out before turning away.
Inside the bedroom was almost just as bad as seeing Sonny. Sonny's presence surrounded him, his little touches everywhere. Will couldn't even lay in bed without Sonny's scent overwhelming him, pulling him in all different directions.
'After an entire weekend, I'm sure his scent was all over someone else's sheets,' Will thought with a sob.
Will needed to be somewhere that didn't remind him of Sonny. He needed somewhere to clear his head. Paul was right.
Will's decision was made. He had to get out of Salem.
Author's note:
Hope everyone is still following along.
Thanks for reading!