Chapter Text
The music was loud, the bass thumping against their bodies. Will could feel it resonating in his bones. It was late, and he wanted to go home.
He scanned the room, looking for Mack. His gaze landed on him in a corner. He had been talking to the same girl for almost an hour now, their bodies inching closer and closer together. She was a petite brunette, kind of cute, probably around twenty. Hard to tell. This club was not exactly strict about IDs, which was one of the reasons they’d managed to get in.
Will made his way toward Macklin, weaving through people dancing just to get into his line of sight. Mack caught his eye, and Will immediately motioned for him to come over.
Mack nodded, leaned in close to the girl’s ear, whispered something, then headed toward Will.
“S’up?” Mack asked. Even with the music blasting, Will managed to hear him.
“I'm heading out, man. It's fucking late, and I'm done,” Will said. “You coming?” he asked naturally. They had come to the club together.
Mack hesitated, glancing back at the petite brunette, who smiled at him.
“Nah. I’ll stay a bit longer. It’s cool—I’ll grab an Uber.”
Maybe Mack would even spend the night somewhere else. It wouldn't be the first time he stayed out overnight with someone. Will did it sometimes too. Nothing unusual about that.
Will just nodded as he looked at the chick in the distance one last time.
“Alright, dude. Do your thing,” Will said.
He could have added a “have fun” or some other bullshit, but he wasn't really in the mood. He wasn’t jealous—at least, not really—but something about Mack staying with that girl while he went home alone rubbed him the wrong way.
***
When Will got home, it was around 2 a.m. It wasn't that late, but the night was already well underway. He took a shower, then sat in front of the TV for a while. Nothing interesting was on, but he needed the buzzing in his ears from the bass to fade before going to bed. It was Saturday. Tomorrow was a day off. He ate some cold leftover pizza with ketchup while watching a rerun of Alien vs. Predator. He only caught the end, but it was enough to make him sleepy.
He had barely been in bed twenty minutes, sleep just starting to pull him under, when a loud noise jolted him awake. He opened his eyes and sat up slightly in bed. He heard the front door close. Voices.
Multiple voices.
Did Mack bring that girl over?
That was new.
He lay still in bed, suddenly hyper-aware of every sound. It wasn't that he particularly wanted to listen—everything just carried at night. Every noise felt amplified, and it was simply impossible not to hear them. There wasn't a damn sound to be heard anywhere, except for them. How could he not hear that... giggling?
Will made a face.
Footsteps grew louder.
He could clearly hear a girl laughing, then the unmistakable sound of kissing. Mack and her were making out.
Will rolled his eyes.
“Shh… c’mon,” Mack’s muffled voice whispered in the hallway. “My roommate’s here.”
They passed his door.
Suddently, Will found himself fucking smiling in bed. Because, honestly, Macklin Celibrini bringing a girl home to hook up was hilarious.
It was fucking funny.
Until it wasn’t.
The door to the next room closed softly, and muffled sounds followed. Then moans. Stifled sighs.
And fuck.
No.
Will grabbed his pillow and slammed it over his head.
This was a nightmare.
It felt like being back in his dorm room again.
Why did he have to go through this again?
He pressed the pillow hard against his ears. It worked—for a few minutes. Then it was completely useless.
The girl started moaning louder. So loud it felt like she was in his room. Will felt like crying.
This was officially awkward. And annoying.
Will did not want to listen to Mack getting laid with some random girl. Nope. Absolutely not.
First of all, the girl was seriously overdoing it. And Will really didn’t want to witness that.
Then the minutes dragged on. And on. And on.
And Will really started to feel... weird about it.
The way she moaned—breathless, relentless—left him almost frozen in bed. It just kept going.
What the hell could Mack even be doing to make her sound like that for so long?
Will grabbed his phone from his nightstand and checked the time. He didn't know exactly when they’d started, but whatever this was, it felt… excessive.
A horrible curiosity crept in. Will began to wonder what was really going on next door. Images he had made up began to form in his mind. He tried to chase them away, but it was stronger than him. The moans sped up, then slowed. Turned sharper, more broken. He could hear their movements in her voice. He could picture—
The girl cried out louder, and then there were dull thuds. Furniture shifting. The bed hitting something—maybe the wall.
It was hard to tell. It was moving.
It was fucking intense.
Everything suddenly stopped, and silence fell. The girl finally went quiet, and Will let out a soft, relieved breath.
There was no way he was falling back asleep now. Any trace of exhaustion had evaporated.
He dragged a hand over his face, desperate to think about anything else.
He didn't want to think about the sounds he had just heard and the image of Mack fucking that girl. He refused to think about it for another second, feeling that he was on the verge of getting turned on himself. That was not what he signed up for.
He fluffed his pillow, flipped it to the cool side, and lay back down.
And then—
Muffled noises again.
Will opened his eyes wide, staring at the ceiling in the dim light.
Slowly, the moans started back up.
Fuck.
What?
“Fuck...” he muttered.
How was this even possible? He sat up in bed, staring at the wall separating his room and Mack’s.
The girl was moaning loudly again. Rhythmic thumping followed—like hammering.
Fucking Macklin Celebrini. You little piece of shit.
Will wanted to disappear. Far. Very far away.
He considered escaping to the living room, but he was afraid of making noise—oh, the irony. He wasn't sure the noise would be any quieter there, unless he turned on the TV—which he wasn’t about to do.
He lay back down, shoved the useless pillow over his head, and squeezed his eyes shut.
And then, the night was endless.
***
The next morning, when Will stepped out of the bathroom, he heard voices in the living room. Two of them.
He walked in and froze as two pairs of eyes turned toward him.
Mack was still in his pajamas, but at least the girl had gotten dressed. They were sitting at the kitchen bar, drinking coffee.
“Hey,” Will said, feeling awkward despite himself.
He studied the girl more closely. In daylight, she looked… less cute. Or maybe it was just the fact that she’d completely ruined his night.
“Uh—hi,” Mack said. Then, turning to her, “This is my roommate, Will. Will, this is Maddie.”
Will nodded once and went straight to the fridge for a bottle of water. It was annoying. He wasn’t planning on sticking around anyway.
“So, I can drive you home, if you want,” Mack said to her.
Will hated that he could hear every word. They were literally a foot away.
“I live on campus,” she replied, smiling at Mack.
Of course she was a student.
“K’ay. Let me just get dressed real quick,” Mack said, scratching the back of his neck.
Of course Mack was going to drive her.
"I can drop you off," Will said, looking at the girl. The words were out before he even realized what he was doing.
Mack and the girl both turned to stare at him.
“Really?” Mack asked, surprised.
Will shrugged.
“Yeah. Sure.”
Because he was apparently fucking stupid.
What the hell was he doing?
Now he was offering to drive home the girl Mack had banged all night?
A shiver ran down his spine as echoes of her screams replayed in his head.
“Oh, that’s so nice of you,” Maddie said brightly, turning her smile on Will.
Will smiled back automatically. Like a robot.
“No problem. I’m heading to Pure Hockey anyway. It’s on the way.”
Which was actually true.
She nodded, grabbed her phone and purse, then turned back to Mack, giving him a long, lingering look.
“So... yeah. Thanks for last night,” she giggled.
Mack smiled, awkward.
“Yeah.”
He glanced at Will.
Will raised his eyebrows and immediately looked away.
Fuck.
That was so awkward.
Will headed for the front door. He heard a small noise—something soft—and couldn’t tell if it was a kiss or… whatever.
He honestly didn’t want to know.
He waited a few seconds, then finally spoke.
“Uh… let’s go,” he said.
He grabbed his cap from the hallway console and slipped it on backward, then opened the front door. The girl followed him out.
He had to bite back a sigh as they walked to his car.
They both got in without a word.
Inside the car, that Maddie girl broke the silence almost immediately.
“Thanks for the ride.”
Her voice was cheerful, almost sweet. Under any other circumstances, Will might’ve appreciated it.
After the carnage of last night, not so much.
“No problem,” Will replied, smiling politely.
“So…” she said casually, “you and Mack have been friends for a long time?”
Will had already started the car, easing it out of the parking spot.
“Uh, almost two years,” he said. “Pretty much since he joined the team.”
The car rolled onto the street. Will focused on the road.
“The team?” she asked, genuinely clueless.
Will glanced at her.
Mack had definitely kept that to himself.
“Yeah. I mean—we play hockey together.”
He kept it vague on purpose.
“Oh, really?” she said, clearly surprised. “I didn’t know that! I guess I should’ve figured he was… athletic.”
She giggled.
Oh God.
Will rolled his eyes before he could stop himself.
“Uh… I guess?” he said.
She laughed even more.
“I’m not talking about, like—his skills or anything,” she said between laughs. “Just his body. You can totally tell he plays a sport.”
Will blinked.
“Yeah. He likes sports.”
Smooth, Will. Real smooth.
“So… is he good at it?”
Will didn’t even hesitate.
“Yeah. The best, actually.”
“Oh, I knew he was the best,” she said, grinning.
You didn’t have to be a genius to catch the implication.
Will tightened his grip on the steering wheel, then scratched at his eyebrow with his free hand.
“Good to know,” he muttered, jaw tightening slightly.
His eyes stayed fixed on the road.
So Mack was... a stud now?
“Oh my God—was that TMI?” she asked suddenly, as if she were uncomfortable, but it was clear to Will that she wasn’t. “I mean, I’m basically telling you your friend’s a great lay. That’s gotta be super awkward for you!”
Her tone was overly apologetic—and she did not sound apologetic at all.
Will let out a sharp breath.
It was too much information.
And yet—
Part of him was… curious?
Not curious enough to ask questions.
But if she wanted to talk… he could listen.
In fact, he was really curious to know what Mack was like when it came to intimacy.
He knew Mack so well—almost by heart.
He knew what he liked to eat, what his face looked like in the morning when he was tired, he knew how frustrated he could get when a game wasn't going well.
He knew him when he was hurt. Sick. Happy. Uncomfortable.
He knew almost everything about Mack.
Almost.
The echoes of last night’s sounds crept back in.
And once again, his mind betrayed him, filling in the gaps with images he really didn’t want.
“No, it’s okay,” Will said. “I mean—you obviously had a great night. It’s normal you’re… happy now. Want to share, I guess,” he added vaguely.
Deep down, he wanted her not to shut up. He wanted her to tell him things he didn’t know about Mack.
“So,” he went on, forcing a small laugh, “good skills in bed too, huh?”
He was pushing it way too far now. He didn’t understand how she wasn’t even remotely suspicious.
And yet—she was completely clueless.
“Oh my gooosh, yeah!” she exclaimed, the question clearly giving her permission to let loose even more. “I mean, do you know how hard it is to find a guy who’s not afraid to go down on you—and who actually knows the purpose of a clit?”
Damn.
Will had wanted oversharing.
He hadn’t meant to open Pandora’s box.
And now he didn’t know whether to be impressed that 19-year-old Macklin Celibrini was that talented with his tongue... Or jealous as hell.
“I mean, no offense,” she added quickly. “You might know too,” she shrugged, as if she’d just brushed against his ego.
God no.
Will’s ego was doing just fine, thank you very much.
“No one’s ever complained,” he said.
The words felt strange coming out of his mouth.
But then again—no one had ever told him how great he was with his tongue either.
No one had ever said thank you over breakfast.
“No, of course not,” she replied, sounding painfully fake. “I’m pretty sure you’re hardy too. You know—sports guys have stamina.” She paused. “Oh wow. That actually makes total sense now.”
Will’s smile was fake AF.
He’d heard them all night.
He knew Mack’s stamina wasn’t an issue.
“Yeah. I noticed,” he said with a smirk. “Thin walls.”
She laughed, suddenly uncomfortable. Fucking finally showing some shame.
“Oh my God, sorry! You heard?” she asked, genuinely embarrassed this time—though still way too dramatic.
Will decided he might as well mess with her for the rest of this miserable drive.
“I mean, it was loud. And kind of endless,” he said with a shrug. “You’ve got a pretty high-pitched voice.”
She laughed again.
“Yeah, well—it wasn’t just once, you know,” she said. “More like… three times. Okay, two and a half,” she added, laughing at the memory. “Your friend was hungry.”
Will's jaw tightened.
That might’ve been too much. He ran a hand over the back of his neck, his fingers brushing against the metal chain resting there.
“I bet he was,” he said flatly.
“And he was so attentive too,” she went on. “You know, girls like to be pampered!”
Will kept his eyes on the traffic and didn’t reply.
Silence settled between them.
A few minutes later, she spoke again.
“So… does Mack bring girls over often?”
The falsely innocent tone was unbearable.
She was straight-up snooping.
And honestly—how could Will blame her? He’d done the exact same thing minutes earlier. She was clearly fishing for info about Mack.
“Uh, no. Not really,” Will said. “Not that often.”
For half a second, he wished he’d said the opposite—just to watch her face fall.
Too late.
“Oh. Really?” she said, visibly pleased.
Did she think she was special or what? Will didn’t think she was. She was kinda… whatever. He glanced at her quickly. She wasn’t ugly, but not that pretty either. Just… ordinary. The more he looked at her, the more mid she seemed.
And she talked so much.
One minute wide-eyed and surprised, the next ridiculously excited—switching moods like it was all an act. A fucking clown with tits.
“I mean—he doesn’t have a girlfriend or anything? Or, like… a regular?” she pressed.
Will cleared his throat and shook his head.
“No. Not that I know of.”
And he would knew. Mack’s life wasn’t exactly a mystery to him.
She let out an exaggerated sigh.
“Ugh. Damn,” she said dramatically, and Will rolled his eyes again. It was so annoying. “I should’ve given him my number…” she said regretfully.
Poor little Maddie had missed her chance.
Will had to bite the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing.
“Yeah,” he said lightly. “Too bad.”
For the first time that morning, he felt his mood lift—just a little.
“You know what?” she said suddenly. “I’ll give it to you!”
She dug through her purse and pulled out a small piece of paper and a pen.
Will pressed his lips together as they stopped at a red light.
He watched her hurry, scribbling something down.
“Can you give it to him later?” she asked, finishing up and handing it to Will with a wide smile.
Will nodded slowly.
“Yeah. Sure,” he said, staring at the paper.
After a beat that stretched a little too long, he reached for it.
It was an old restaurant receipt or something. On the back, she’d written her name, a phone number, and call me with a heart.
He glanced back at her. She smiled at him—softly, sincerely this time.
For the first time, she seemed so sincere that Will felt a twinge of guilt. She probably was a nice girl. Annoying, sure—but nice.
“It’s green!” she said suddenly.
Will slid the paper into the space under the radio and pulled back into traffic.
He didn’t say anything, lost in his thoughts.
And then—somehow—they were already on campus.
“Where should I drop you?” he asked, scanning the different paths between buildings.
“Uh—left here, then right. Right in front of that building’s fine,” she said, pointing to a big gray block.
He pulled over and turned toward her.
“Thanks again,” she said warmly. “That was really nice of you.” She hesitated. “Maybe we’ll… see each other again?” Her eyes flicked to the paper under the radio.
“Yeah,” Will said, polite smile back in place. “Sure.”
She got out of the car.
Will waited until she disappeared inside the building before starting the engine again and heading toward Pure Hockey.
***
When Will got back a few hours later, Mack had showered and changed. He was sprawled on the couch, watching TV.
Mack glanced over.
“Good haul?” he asked casually.
“Yeah. Grabbed a couple things.”
“Cool.” Mack scratched the back of his neck. “Uh… everything okay with Maddie?”
Will nodded.
“Yeah. Dropped her off at her dorm.”
“Cool,” Mack said, licking his lips. “Um—thanks. And, uh… sorry you had to deal with that.”
Will shrugged.
“It’s fine.”
Like it hadn’t been the most awkward car ride of his life.
Skills. Tongue. Fuck.
His eyes flicked back to Mack—and all of it came rushing back. So he really was that good, huh? Really? Will had never really doubted Mack, but… that good? How could he be that good, seriously? It didn’t line up. Mack was awkward. Bad at flirting. Sometimes painfully shy.
It didn’t make sense.
Or maybe Will just hadn’t wanted it to.
“Uh—so… that’s it?” Mack asked carefully.
Will studied him. Mack was fishing.
For something.
Maybe he wanted to know if the girl had kept quiet, which she hadn’t. Maybe he wanted to know if Will had told her about Mack, which he had. Maybe he wanted to know if she had left her fucking phone number so he can call her back.
Had Mack already decided he wanted round two—even if it meant ruining Will’s sleep again?
“Yeah. Nothing special,” Will said, heading for the kitchen.
He grabbed the milk from the fridge.
“Okay,” Mack said. Then, “Uh—by the way. That was actually the first time I brought someone home.”
Casual tone.
Careful eyes.
He was testing the waters.
Will tensed—but didn’t show it.
“Yeah, that’s fine,” he said. “I mean, you live here. You can bring whoever you want.”
“Yeah,” Mack said, “But you’re my roommate, so I just wanted to make sure you didn’t mind.”
Will sighed.
“What— the noise?” he said, sharper than he meant to.
Too fast.
Too honest.
Will bit his lips almost immediately.
Mack winced.
“Ah—shit. Sorry,” he said. “I fucked up your sleep, huh?”
That was putting it lightly.
Mack looked genuinely bad about it. Big sad-puppy eyes and all.
Will laughed softly, trying to kill the tension.
“Nah, don’t worry about it,” he said. “You eat yet?”
Mack hesitated, clearly tempted to apologize again—but let it go.
“Just some cookies and milk,” he said. “You?”
“Not yet. I’m starving, man,” Will said. “Wanna grab pizza?” He wasn’t in the mood for an unhealthy snack. He really wanted a big, comforting meal.
“Shit, you know exactly how to talk to me,” Mack said, already hopping up.
Will put the milk back without opening it.
As he passed the trash, he pulled a small piece of paper from his pocket and dropped it in.
“Let’s go,” he said.
***
About two weeks had passed since Mack brought that girl home. Two weeks during which nothing special had happened. Neither of them had brought it up again. Mack hadn’t mentioned the girl. Neither had Will.
And yet—Will’s brain had completely short-circuited.
It was like he’d developed an obsession. Literally an obsession. An obsession with Mack’s sexual prowess.
Because Will had seen Mack with girls before—and he hadn’t been particularly good at it. He didn’t really flirt. He didn’t charm. He didn’t seem especially interested in sex at all.
Will had spent years around guys like Leno and Gabe, who talked about nothing but sex—conquests, performances, exaggerated bullshit.
Mack? Nothing.
If Will hadn’t known that Mack occasionally slept with girls—if he hadn’t heard that girl screaming in the next room—he might’ve genuinely believed Mack was a virgin.
Saint Macklin was not a virgin.
That was a myth.
And for some reason, Will felt the need to understand it. To study it.
“We should go out tonight,” he said casually, while they were sprawled on the couch.
Neither of them was really watching the show on TV, laugh track punctuating jokes no one was listening to.
“Like… now?” Mack asked, doubtful. He clearly had chill-night-at-home energy.
“I’m fucking bored, dude,” Will said, shooting him a desperate look. And—if he was being honest—he wanted to see if Mack would get laid again. Because at this point, Will was convinced what had happened two weeks ago was a one-time thing.
A stupid one-time thing.
Not that Mack couldn’t sleep with a girl. But all the hype about how incredible he supposedly was?
Yeah. Right.
Maddie was obviously the kind of girl who exaggerated everything. Talked too much. Overdid it.
Maybe Mack had just touched her right a couple times and she’d acted like it was the night of her life.
Maybe it was all fake. Maybe she had some kind of condition— that made her squirm at the slightest thing. Will had read about it once, that it could happen to girls too.
Like premature ejaculation.
Except… female.
Yeah. Maddie was probably a premature ejaculator.
That explanation made way more sense.
“Okay,” Mack sighed, pulling Will out of his thoughts. “Why not…” He didn’t sound totally convinced—but maybe he was bored too. “But can we not go to the Nova?” he added, grimacing.
That was the place they’d gone two weeks earlier. The night they’d met Maddie.
“Why?” Will asked, feigning innocence.
“The vibes there just aren’t it,” Mack said. “I’d rather hit a chill bar than a club. Somewhere we can get in easy with our fake IDs and just have, like, one or two beers.”
“Okay,” Will said. He didn’t really care where they went. As long as there were girls there too. So he could observe Mack.
***
“Maybe you should stop drinking now,” Will said, grimacing slightly.
The night wasn’t going at all the way he’d imagined.
They were sitting at a small table in the corner of the bar—and Mack had definitely had too much to drink.
Even if there were one or two girls around, Will doubted Mack was in any state to do anything with anyone.
Will had stuck to a couple beers before switching to soda—he was the one driving.
“One last one!” Macklin said with a big smile. His eyes were sparkling—probably the alcohol, but he was having fun anyway.
“Yo, chill,” Will said lightly. “I’m grabbing you water before you completely fry your brain. You’ll thank me tomorrow.”
“Yeah—water’s good!” Mack nodded enthusiastically.
God. He was wasted.
Will raised an eyebrow and headed to the bar. He waited for a waitress, ordered a bottle of water and another Coke.
He checked his watch.
2:00 a.m.
When he looked back toward their table, his stomach dropped. Mack was talking to a girl. How the hell—?
From across the room, Will watched. Mack was smiling softly. The girl laughed, nodding eagerly.
“Your drinks,” the waitress said.
“Yeah—thanks,” Will said, handing her a twenty. “Keep the change.”
He leaned against the bar, Coke in hand, eyes locked on them.
Mack was talking, shoulders slightly hunched, arms crossed, shrugging a lot. The girl tossed her long blonde hair and reached out, resting her hand on his arm.
Mack didn’t react.
Will frowned.
He wasn’t jealous. Not really. Will pulled girls too. Maybe fewer in California—everything was harder here—but back in Boston, there wasn’t a party where someone didn’t flirt with him.
Still, Mack showed zero reaction to her touch. Maybe he was just too drunk.
Will sighed.
He probably shouldn't let Mack leave with anyone other than him tonight. Even if nothing dangerous was likely to happen, Mack was way too out of it. Bad decisions happened fast when alcohol was involved—no condoms, wrong addresses, blurry consent.
Will took another sip of his Coke, jaw tightening.
They kept talking and Will kept watching. If Mack was having a bad time, he didn't show it. If he was having a good time, it wasn't very clear either, until—
Until the girl grabbed Mack by the front of his hoodie and pulled him in.
Will’s breath caught.
Mack’s hands came up instantly, cupping her face as he kissed her back.
So he was into her.
From where Will stood, the kiss was intense—slow, messy, tongues involved. The girl tugged at Mack’s hair, and when they broke apart, Mack stayed close.
Will had never seen him like that with a girl. He’d seen Mack leave with girls before, sure. But this? This was different.
Mack looked at her like she was something else.
Fuck.
His gaze was deep, unfocused, completely locked in. Even drunk, there was something magnetic about him.
Will swallowed.
Mack looked completely dazed, drowning his gaze in hers. The way he looked at this girl was so intense that Will felt a certain jealousy rising in his chest. Even drunk, Macklin Celebrini was dangerous.
Mack licked his lower lip and smiled—soft, charming, devastating. Like she was the only thing in the room.
She really wasn’t.
For the first time, Will saw Mack differently.
This Mack wasn't his goofy friend. Not the kid who ate pasta straight out of the pot with a spatula bigger than his face. Not the idiot who cracked up every time Reavo flexed in the locker room.
This Mack was cut from something else.
When Mack was on the ice, he became someone else. He became an incredible athlete, a future Olympic champion. A force.
Apparently, that didn’t stop at hockey.
“He’s actually good at this,” Will muttered under his breath, taking a long pull from his Coke. “Fucking Celly.”
The girl put her hand on what was probably Mack’s leg, and Will snorted softly.
Yeah. It was probably time to end the night.
He got up, grabbed the water bottle, and crossed the room toward the two lovebirds. They didn’t notice him at first, so Will made sure they did.
“All good?” he said, setting the water bottle down right in front of Mack, between him and the girl.
Both of them looked up.
“Will— dude, yeah,” Mack said. “Oh, sick, thanks for the water.” He grabbed the bottle, twisted it open, and took a long gulp.
The girl looked up at Will and smiled.
“Hi,” she said simply. “Your friend?” she asked Mack.
Mack set the bottle back on the table. “Uh, yeah. Will, this is… um—” He frowned slightly, glancing at her.
“I’m Kelly,” she said quickly, smiling at Will, a soft little laugh slipping out.
Will studied her for a second. She was probably a little tipsy too—something in the sparkle in her eyes, the way she moved. Unless she was just… like Maddie. The giggly type. Maybe Mack just attracted girls like that. Girls who laughed all the time.
“Nice to meet you, Kelly,” Will said politely, then turned back to Mack. “It’s getting late, man. Maybe we should head out?” he asked.
Mack looked at Kelly, then back at Will, then nodded.
“Yeah… maybe.”
“Oh, really?” Kelly said, clearly disappointed. “You can’t stay a little longer?” She made a pout that Will thought was honestly terrible.
Mack smiled softly.
“Uh… I dunno, it’s just my buddy—” He shot Will a look, then turned back to her, apologetic. “He says I gotta go, right, Smitty?” He turned to Will, full-on puppy eyes.
Will sighed. “Yeah, man. Sorry to kill the vibe,” he said, shrugging.
Mack smiled at him. “S’okay,” he said, and then he looked at Will the exact same way he’d looked at Kelly a few minutes earlier.
Deep. Soft. Full of something that made Will’s stomach twist.
Shit.
Will stepped back and looked away, lifting his hand to his mouth like he needed to cough.
“Uh— yeah,” he said. “Nice meeting you, Kelly, but yeah, we really gotta go.” He gestured for Mack to stand.
Mack got up—and nearly fell straight into the table.
“Whoa!” Will said instinctively, reaching for him, but Mack caught himself.
Mack laughed.
“S’okay. I’m good,” he said, fucking drunk. He turned back to Kelly. “Thanks, Kelly. You’re really sweet. Be safe. And drink water,” he added seriously, lifting the bottle and holding it right in front of her face.
Will scratched his eyebrow.
“Okay, let’s go,” he said, calling Mack again.
“Bye,” Mack said, waving.
Mack reached Will and they walked across the room. Well— Will walked. Mack did his best. Gravity had clearly turned against him now that he was upright. He bumped into Will’s shoulder once, then again.
“You okay?” Will asked, grabbing him as Mack nearly tipped over.
“I— I gotta pee, man,” Mack muttered.
Will looked at him briefly. Mack seemed completely drunk. His eyes were shiny and his cheeks were red.
“Alright. Bathroom first,” Will said, gripping his arm and steering him toward the back of the bar, where it was quieter.
He left Mack standing at the open bathroom door.
“You good?” Will asked.
Mack nodded way too enthusiastically.
“Yeah, dude. I know how to pee,” he said as if the remark was totally stupid.
He walked inside the room and went to the far end until he reached a urinal.
Will hesitated to accompany him there, grimacing as he watched him walk with a completely unsteady gait.
Mack seemed to manage despite everything, and Will sighed. That was really not how he was expecting the evening to end.
Mack finished peeing, put his stuff back as neatly as he could, and came back to Will, staggering slightly.
“You sure you don't need to puke?” Will asked.
If Macklin felt like throwing up, he hoped it would be now, in the bathroom, and not in ten minutes in his expensive car. Otherwise, he would commit a murder tonight.
“Nah. I’m good,” Mack replied with a smile.
His cheeks were still a little pink, and his smile was soft and groggy from the alcohol. His eyes shone, while his eyelids fluttered slightly. His smile lifted at the corner of his mouth. His smile seemed more mischievous that way. He was so damn cute that Will wanted to pinch his cheeks right then and there.
Will stared at him and smiled softly without saying anything.
“What?” asked Mack, now showing his gummy smile. He was smiling dumbly, but happily.
“You’re such a baby,” Will said, because Mack sometimes was. Just plain cute, like right now.
Mack frowned and shook his head.
“Nah I’m not. I’m a grown-ass adult,” he protested vigorously.
Will raised an eyebrow.
“Hard to tell right now.”
“I have pubes,” Mack said, eyes going wide like he’d just made a really fucking smart point.
Will rolled his eyes.
“Sure you do.”
Mack looked offended.
“I do! Look!”
Before Will could react, Mack unbuttoned his jeans and dragged them down, boxers and all.
Will jumped back.
“What the fuck, man!?” He exclaimed, staring at Mack with wide eyes.
Jesus Christ. It was too late for that kind of vision.
Macklin was definitely way too drunk.
At least… yeah. Well-equipped. Lucky him.
“See!” Mack said proudly, pointing. “Pubes.”
Will stared at him in disbelief and rolled his eyes.
“Holy shit,” he muttered. “Put your pants up. Now. Dude, what the fuck.”
Macklin laughed loudly, the alcohol making everything seem funny, and fumbled his clothes back into place.
“See. I'm not a baby anymore,” he said, but it felt like he was truly sulking right now.
Will stared at him.
“Debatable. Come on. Party’s over. I’m taking you home.”
“Nooo,” Mack whined. “I like it here. Did you see the girl?”
“I’m not sure she wants to see your junk right now.”
Mack laughed, then paused, realization hitting late.
“Hey. That’s fucked up.”
“Bro, you’re wasted. We’re leaving.”
They headed for the exit—until Mack stopped.
“I’m not leaving,” he said, shaking his head and turning back.
“Oh my God,” Will muttered, rushing to block him.
Mack zigzagged—right, left—then smacked into the wall and went down hard.
Will’s heart dropped.
“Fuck, Mack! You okay?”
Mack rolled onto his back and burst out laughing.
Will exhaled hard and punched him lightly in the chest.
“Man, I swear... I...” Will stammered, before finally laughing too.
They both giggled stupidly for a few seconds.
“I think I fell,” said Mack.
“No shit.” Will grabbed his hand. “Come on, get up,” he said, trying to pull Mack's fat ass up.
“Ughhh,” Mack groaned as he let himself be pulled up by his arm.
“Use your fucking legs, man.” Will complained. “Push.” Will was losing patience.
Mack finally used his legs as if he had just remembered they existed. He managed to get up, with Will making sure he was steady on his feet.
Will sighed and patted Mack on the shoulder.
“Now,” Will said firmly, “can we please go home?”
Mack looked at him and smiled broadly. His gummy smile was dazzling, like pure innocence.
“Yeah. Take me home,” he said softly. His eyes were soft and adorable again.
Will smiled and took him by the arm.
Will walked slowly but steadily, holding Mack's arm firmly to make sure the boy didn't fall again. Man was on a fucking mission.
They went out onto the street through the back door. The cool night air hit Mack’s face and he stopped, staring up.
“Whoa… that feels good,” he said, practically stopping in the street.
“What is it, buddy?” Will asked, slowing his pace.
“The air. The sky. The stars...” he said softly, staring up at the starry canopy above them.
Will looked up and stared at the sky, for the first time in months, he scanned the stars in the dark night.
“Yeah... it's nice,” he murmured.
“It is,” said Mack. “Why don't we live up there?” he said suddenly. “I wanna live on a star.”
Will chuckled.
“Yeah, okay. Keep walking.” he said, steering Mack forward. “Watch your step.”
Mack looked down, immediately lost balance. Will grabbed his chin.
“Head up.”
Mack looked at him.
They stopped, Will's hands still around Mack's chin.
Mack sighed and stared intently at Will.
“Will... you got stars in your eyes,” he murmured, admiringly, contemplatively. “S’pretty.”
Something tightened in Will’s chest. The way Mack was looking at him was... perhaps a little too intense.
He swallowed slowly and pulled his hand away.
“Eyes on the ground, okay?” Will asked softly.
Mack turned his head and looked at the road. Suddenly, he frowned.
“Where are we?” He glanced around a few times as Will continued to lead them forward.
“Parking lot, dude. We've been here a few hours ago. My car’s here.”
He pointed to the vehicle and they walked over to it.
Will headed straight for the passenger side and stopped at the rear door.
“Hold the car while I open it,” said Will, terrified that Mack would fall again.
Mack literally threw himself at the rear door, and hugged the door like a starfish.
Will stared at him with wide eyes. He bit his lower lip. “Oh shit,” he said, trying not to laugh. He reached into his pants pocket and took out his phone.
“Sorry, dude,” he said softly, “but this is gold,” and he pointed at Mack and started recording.
Mack's position on the car was crazy hilarious.
He turned his head, crushing his cheek against the window, and looked at Will.
“Hey!” he exclaimed. “Are you taking pictures of me without my consent?” he said with a slurred voice that wasn't helping him maintain any consistency right now.
Will was grinning like hell, not missing a beat.
“It's a video,” he just said.
And he zoomed in on Mack’s face. Mack was sulking hard now—cheeks slightly puffed out, one of them completely squished against the window. The result was… phenomenal.
“That’s so mean,” Mack complained. “I’m telling my mom. I don’t consent, William Charles Whatever Smith.”
Will nodded and stopped recording. “Sure, dude. Go ahead.”
And Mack took that literally.
He peeled himself off the door just enough to turn around, leaned his back against it, and pulled out his phone.
“Hey— no, no!” Will said, immediately reaching for it.
“Shh,” Mack said, swatting his hand away. “Privacy.”
Will sighed.
“I really don’t think your mom—or anyone, actually—wants to hear from you right now,” he said. “Come on, Mack. You’re just gonna freak her out for no reason.”
Mack sighed.
“Why would she be worried? Look, I'm fine. You're fine.” He shrugged, the gesture so loose and careless that his arms lifted a little too high.
“Come on, Mack,” Will said, his tone more serious now.
They stared at each other for a few seconds. Then Mack sighed again and shoved his phone back into his pocket.
Will nodded and opened the passenger-side door.
“After you, princess,” he said, motioning with his hand for Mack to get in.
Mack turned his head.
“I don't like the way you drive.”
Will sighed, already done.
“Oh my God, why are you being such a pain tonight?” he groaned. “Just get in.”
“No,” Mack said, shaking his head exaggeratedly from side to side. Left. Right. Left. Right.
“Celebrini,” Will snapped. “Inside. Now.”
It reminded him uncomfortably of the way he used to scold his dog back home when it was disobedient.
Mack stared at him, offended. “Oh my God. Don’t talk to me like that. I’m getting in your stupid car.”
And he did—clumsily—his foot catching on the edge of the seat as he climbed in.
Once he was finally inside, Will shut the door and walked around the car, muttering, “Fuck me,” under his breath.
He slid into the driver’s seat and looked at Mack.
“Seatbelt.”
“Please, Mack, could you please fasten your seatbelt,” Mack repeated in a mockingly polite voice.
Will blinked hard and took a slow breath.
“Please, Mack,” he said.
Mack tried to grab the seatbelt over his shoulder, but it was like his arms were wired wrong. He couldn’t reach it.
“Where is this thing!?” he blurted out, fumbling for it, his fingers only brushing the edge of the headrest.
Will smiled to himself.
“Alright, alright. I got you. It’s okay,” he said, leaning over to grab the seatbelt and click it into place.
For a split second, their eyes met. Mack was watching him, mouth slightly open, unfocused, almost dazed.
“There,” Will said quietly. “Safe and sound.”
“Yeah…” Mack murmured. “Thanks.”
Will fastened his own seatbelt and started the engine. The car came to life, and he pulled out without wasting any time.
“You want some music?” he asked after a moment.
“No, s’okay,” Mack said softly.
He leaned his head against the window and stared outside. Night lights slid past them—neon signs, streetlamps, reflections on glass. He let out a slow breath.
“You good?” Will asked, glancing at him out of the corner of his eye.
Mack nodded.
“Mm,” he hummed.
“If you feel like you’re gonna puke, you tell me, okay?” Will said, a little tense.
At this point, it was his biggest fear. That—and the way Mack kept looking at him sometimes, all drunk warmth and puppy eyes mixed together. That part was… unsettling.
“I won’t,” Mack said. “It’s just… nice outside.”
Will smiled faintly and focused back on the road.
He drove slowly, carefully. He was stone-cold sober, but it was late, quiet, and he could feel the fatigue creeping in. The streets were almost empty, and there was something oddly peaceful about it.
When they got home twenty minutes later, Mack was completely silent. Will thought he might’ve fallen asleep.
He parked and unbuckled his seatbelt.
“Mack?” he asked softly, tapping him on the shoulder.
Mack’s face was still turned toward the window.
Mack slowly turned his head and looked at Will from under his eyelashes, his big, bright puppy-dog eyes fixed on him.
Will held his breath for a second or two.
“You good?” he whispered, because Mack’s face and eyes were so dreamy in that moment that he couldn’t help himself.
Mack hummed softly and nodded.
Will swallowed. “Okay,” he said. “I’ll open the door for you, alright?”
He got out of the car, sighed deeply, then came back around and opened Mack’s door.
Mack tried to get out, but the seatbelt was still fastened.
“Wait, you have to—” Will sighed and leaned in, gently brushing Mack’s face as he reached for the seatbelt and unbuckled it.
And then Mack kissed him on the cheek.
Will turned his head so damn fast he almost startled himself, ending up nearly nose to nose with Mack.
He stared at him, stunned, and Mack leaned in again, eyes closing.
Will backed away abruptly, sticking his head out of the car, panicking.
His heart was pounding. What was that? What the… He forced himself to breathe, to regroup, then looked back at Mack. Mack had reopened his eyes and was staring at him. He looked like a kicked puppy. Just sad. Lost.
Will suddenly felt awful.
He scratched the back of his head, uneasy.
“Hm. Let’s go home,” he said, trying to sound normal, though he was now fucking nervous.
Mack cooperated this time. He got out of the car and managed to stay upright, even if Will instinctively held an arm out to steady him.
Will closed the car door and they walked inside in silence. Once in the house, Will gently nudged Mack forward.
“Gotta go to bed, Mackie,” he said softly.
Mack nodded without a word.
Will led him through the living room until Mack stopped.
“Can I sleep in your room?” he asked. His voice was low and weak, like a kid who knew he’d done something wrong.
Will looked at him. He had the impression that Mack had sobered up a little during the car ride—or maybe he was just starting to feel exhausted. He was still unsteady on his feet, still a bit out of it, but he seemed calmer now. Sleepier. Much more subdued than he had been twenty minutes earlier in the parking lot.
“I…” Will thought. Mack had his own room. He was about to say no.
“I don’t want to feel alone,” Mack said weakly. “Please. I won’t make any noise,” he added, almost pleading.
He looked genuinely sad, and Will felt fucking awful.
How could he say no to that?
He would be a monster to refuse. The last thing he wanted right now was to deal with Mack having a bad trip and breaking down in tears in front of him.
“Yeah, of course,” he said. The words slipped out before he even realized it. They came naturally, without hesitation.
Mack smiled, and something lit up in his eyes—as if they had suddenly come back to life, no longer glassy or distant.
Will led him to his room. He turned on the overhead light, then immediately winced and switched it off, settling for the bedside lamp instead. The softer light filled the room. Mack lingered in the doorway, barely moving.
“Come on,” Will said, guiding him toward the bed.
Mack shuffled forward, dragging his feet.
Will sighed.
“You tired, yeah?” he asked softly, taking Mack by the arm.
Mack nodded without speaking, so Will went on.
“Can you… maybe take off your sweatshirt and just stay in your T-shirt and underwear?” he asked, almost whispering.
They’d seen each other in their underwear before—hell, even naked—but this felt completely different. Everything about tonight was different. Mack was in his room. He was drunk. Vulnerable. It wasn’t anything like their usual dynamic.
Mack nodded again, but didn’t move.
So Will helped him. He caught the edge of the sweatshirt and lifted it slightly. “Raise your hands. I’ll help you,” he said simply. Mack complied like a puppet. Will pulled the sweatshirt off and set it on the edge of the bed.
“Your shoes. Sit,” he added gently.
Mack sat down on the bed without protest. Will knelt in front of him, took off one sneaker, then the other, and finally looked up at him. The room was quiet, the light dim, the house completely still. Will swallowed.
“Just your pants, and then you can sleep, okay?” he said.
“Yes… just my pants,” Mack echoed, his voice heavy with sleep.
Will stood and took Mack by the elbow to help him up. Mack rose slowly, and for a brief moment, they both hesitated.
Did Will have to unbutton his jeans?
Did he really have to do it?
Before he had time to decide, Mack moved and slowly began to unbutton his pants.
Will looked away, just a little.
Mack pulled his pants down to mid-thigh, but the fabric didn't slide naturally any further.
Will glanced back, quick and involuntary.
“Okay…” he murmured, and before he could overthink it, he bent down again to finish removing the pants. “Lift your foot,” he whispered.
Mack did—but he lost his balance slightly and ended up sitting back down on the bed. Will slid the pants off completely, left the socks alone, and stood up.
“Okay. Ready to be tucked in now?” he asked softly, meeting Mack’s gaze.
“You g’na tuck me in?” Mack asked, smiling stupidly.
“I mean…” Will shrugged. “I’m obviously putting you to bed,” he said, smiling back.
Macklin grinned at him—a wide, gummy smile.
Will moved to the head of the bed, lifted the pillow, pulled the comforter all the way back, then looked at Mack again. “All set.”
Mack lay down, and Will adjusted the comforter, pulling it up over him and tucking him in snugly.
“Like a burrito,” he said, patting the comforter—probably where Mack’s shoulder was.
The words surprised him. It was something his mom used to say when he was a kid, when he was the one being tucked in.
It felt comforting. Intimate. Warm.
Will looked down at the boy in front of him. The duvet was pulled up to Mack’s mouth now, hiding his smile. His nose stuck out, his cheeks flushed, his eyes heavy-lidded, his hair a mess—soft and unruly.
“S’comfy… like it,” Mack mumbled, yawning, his voice muffled under the covers.
Will had seen Mack in bed plenty of times before. They shared hotel rooms all the time. He’d seen him half-asleep, sprawled out, exhausted. But this was different.
This was his bed.
His duvet.
His space.
“You should sleep now,” Will said quietly, his hand still resting on the comforter, patting it absentmindedly.
He couldn’t help it—he felt protective. Caring. Mack looked so soft like this that it stirred something in him.
“You sleepin' with me, yeah?” Mack asked, so quietly it was almost nothing.
“I’ll be there in a minute,” Will whispered.
The moment felt unreal. Will wondered if Mack would remember any of this tomorrow. He wondered if he would remember this feeling. Maybe it was the dim light, or the late hour, or the exhaustion—but everything felt dreamlike.
Mack didn’t answer. His eyelids fluttered, closing, opening, then finally staying shut.
Will sighed and kept staring at the messy hair spilling out onto the pillow. He let his hand drop and leaned back slightly, looking at the shape of Mack beneath the covers.
Macklin was falling asleep in his bed.
It was strange—but not unsettling. Not as much as Will would’ve thought.
Mack wasn’t moving anymore. He wasn’t talking. All Will could hear was his breathing.
He sighed, left the room, and went to the bathroom. He changed quickly. When he came back, Mack was fast asleep, breathing evenly, barely shifting.
Will slipped under the covers beside him, careful not to disturb him.
The mattress dipped slightly under his weight, and he froze for half a second, listening—waiting to see if Mack would stir. He didn’t. His breathing stayed slow and even.
Will lay on his back, stiff at first, staring up at the ceiling he could barely make out in the dark.
They weren’t touching.
Not really.
But the space between them felt… different. Smaller. Charged.
He could feel the warmth of Mack’s body through the mattress, through the layers of fabric. He was close enough to hear every breath, close enough to notice the faint smell of something familiar that was just Mack.
Will swallowed and shifted slightly, careful, measured—making sure his arm didn’t brush Mack’s, making sure he didn’t roll too close. His heart was still beating a little too fast.
This was stupid, he thought. He was just sleeping. That was all.
He closed his eyes, forcing himself to relax, to breathe slowly. After a long moment, his shoulders finally loosened.
Beside him, Mack let out a soft, unconscious sigh and turned just a little toward him.
Will didn’t move.
He stayed exactly where he was, wide awake in the dark, acutely aware of the boy sleeping inches away—until, eventually, sleep pulled him under too.
***
When Will woke up, he started by stretching his limbs, enjoying his bed as he usually did—but almost immediately, he sensed that something was off. He felt a weight beside him. It took barely a second for it to come back to him, but during that second, he had forgotten. He had forgotten yesterday. The bar. Drunk Mack. Mack in his bed.
He sat up slightly and stared at Mack lying next to him.
Light was streaming through the curtains that hadn’t been closed properly the night before. Late-morning light, the kind that meant the day was already well underway. Mack was still fast asleep. The comforter had slipped off at some point—probably hours ago—and now covered him only down to his stomach. His arms were draped over it, one resting along his body, the other bent above his head against the pillow.
Nothing Will hadn’t seen before.
Except that this time, Mack was in his bed. Not the one next to it.
Will ran a hand over his face, then through his hair, ruffling it slowly. When he checked his phone, it told him it was already eleven o’clock.
He finally got up and left the room without a sound.
When Mack eventually showed up in the living room a few hours later, they didn’t talk about last night.
And the day went by like any other Sunday.