I scowl at Cole. “You promised to never mention that day again.”
7
Will
* * *
“William! Darling!”
I just barely manage to brace myself before I’m engulfed in a fierce hug the moment I step off the elevator on my third Monday working at CPG. I’m hit with a sweet floral scent that I recognize instantly, and when I’m finally let out of the tight embrace I’m not surprised to find Sunny on the other end of it.
She beams at me, her bright blue eyes shining with kindness and affection. “It’s good to see you, darling.”
“You too.” I smile and gesture for her to lead us back toward reception. “How was your vacation?”
“Heavenly,” she says with a breezy sigh, tipping her head back so her long gray hair can swing freely back and forth. Then she turns her attention back to me. “Have you ever been to Mexico, Will?”
I shake my head. “No, I haven’t.”
“Oh, you should really go. Such a beautiful place. It was just so relaxing. No television, no gadgets, no clothing…it felt so wonderful to get back to nature.”
Say what now? “No clothes?”
“Of course not. I was at a naturist resort. It was wonderful.” There’s an airy quality to her voice and for a moment I wonder if she might be high. It’s definitely not out of the realm of possibilities.
“Uh, okay. And you have to go to Mexico for this?” I ask.
Sunny gives a tinkling chuckle and waves my comment away. “No, of course not. There are naturist resorts all over the US. I can get you a list if you’d like?”
“Oh, no, that’s really…very okay.”
“Are you sure? I have a former lover who runs a fabulous one in California. We’re on excellent terms, I’m sure I could get you a deal?”
“No, I’m good,” I assure her. “Thank you.”
“Suit yourself.” She gives a little shrug before her expression turns almost whimsical. Running a slender finger over her chin, she muses, “I really should give Phillip a call. He was a wonderful lover, you know. He had an unusually long tongue—excellent for cunnilingus.”
I literally have no idea why I’m still standing here, listening to my best friend’s grandmother talk about oral sex. “Okay, I should really get to work,” I say awkwardly. “It was nice to see you, Sunny.”
She offers me an affectionate smile. “Of course, darling. I don’t want to keep you from your day.” I’m about to make my escape, but then she holds a hand to her chest and pins me with a worried look. “Oh, Will, I’m so sorry. I forgot to ask how your mother’s doing.”
I feel a burst of affection for Sunny. As ridiculous as she can be sometimes, and as uncomfortable as some of her preferred topics of conversation make me, she’s one of the most genuinely kind people I know. “She’s doing well, actually. She was able to move home over the weekend so she’s very happy about that.”
“Oh, that’s wonderful!” she cries, a luminous smile stretching across her face. “Please tell her I’ve been thinking of her.”
I nod my appreciation. “Thanks, I will.”
Finally tearing myself away from Sunny, I make my way through the now-familiar office space toward my desk. I set my bag beside my desk and hang up my jacket before turning my computer on.
Hmm…I wonder if I’ll get to lay eyes on my boss today…
* * *
Spencer
* * *
Cole MacCaffrey: I bumped into Shay Kelly last night. We talked about getting together for a scrimmage sometime soon. What do you guys think?
“Are you alright?” Emily asks warily from across the table at the Japanese restaurant we’re eating lunch at. And I guess her concern is fair considering I just started scowling at my phone after reading that WhatsApp message from my so-called best friend.
“It’s fine,” I tell her, waving away her concern. “I’m just going to be a little rude for a moment.”
She rolls her eyes and starts collecting some noodles with her chopsticks. “Like that’s anything new.”
Spencer Cox reply to Cole MacCaffrey: I think I can’t believe my best friend is making plans with my sworn enemy! JUDAS!
Cole MacCaffrey reply to Spencer Cox: *eye roll emoji*
Bryce Kennedy reply to Cole MacCaffrey: I think maybe we don’t want to be too quick to agree to this after they handed US our asses last year
Spencer Cox reply to Bryce Kennedy: Negativity never got anyone anywhere Bry!
Jackson Downey: [GIF]
Jackson Downey: *laugh emoji*
Spencer Cox reply to Jackson Downey: Is that Sue Sylvester GIF supposed to represent me? If so I’m flattered to be compared to such a champion
Deacon Stapleton: I’m on board for the scrimmage. It’ll be good to even the ledger after last year
Cole MacCaffrey: I should probably clarify, I don’t think it’ll be the actual team from last year. It’s mainly going to be Shay and his brothers.
Aaron Wells reply to Cole MacCaffrey: The crazy giant Irish ones?
Cole MacCaffrey reply to Aaron Wells: Those would be the ones
Skyler Mason: Are ALL the brothers gay?? I remember seeing some of them at the tournament last year
Cole MacCaffrey reply to Skyler Mason: Not all of them. Just…most of them *shrug emoji*
Sullivan Stapleton: They’re all fucking hot though. Gonna be a challenge to keep our minds on the game *drool emoji*
I roll my eyes at Sully’s comment, although it does bring up a worrying point.
Spencer Cox: If ANYONE fumbles the ball because they’re too busy staring at a Kelly brother’s ass, they’re OFF THE TEAM!
Aaron Wells: I’ll try to control myself *wink emoji*
I let out a soft chuckle upon reading that. Married for ten years to his high school girlfriend, and with two kids and another on the way, Aaron is one of the few on our team you’d consider “straight as an arrow.” Bryce and Jackson are the others. Everyone else range in degrees from “experimented in college” to “gold star gay.”
Spencer Cox: Okay Cole, you can tell Kelly we’re up for the scrimmage. Even if we can’t play the same team from last year it’ll still be fun to kick his ass
Cole MacCaffrey reply to Spencer Cox: Oh so I can talk to him now? It won’t damage your delicate sensibilities for me to interact with your “sworn enemy”?
I shake my head in wry amusement because I can just imagine Cole arching a pointed brow at his phone screen.
Spencer Cox reply to Cole MacCaffrey: *middle finger emoji* Just pass on the message
I set my phone down and return my attention to my sister. “Sorry.”
She shrugs, offering a wry smile. “Hey, it’s nothing to me. You’re the one who’s let his sashimi go all cold.”
I roll my eyes at what has to be the lamest joke in the world.
“So…Will seems to be working out okay so far,” Em says.
I nod. “Yeah, so far. Although it’s only been three weeks.” Three weeks where I’ve practically lived in my office just to reduce the odds of seeing him, because god knows every time I so much as think about him all I want to do is—