Archive of Our Own

“So wait. Is that why Mike and Nancy are so different from you and Jonathan?” El puts her finger on her chin.

“Honestly, who knows with them.” Jonathan shrugs with a smile.

Will chuckles as he gets out of the car. He and Jonathan have always had a pretty chill relationship. They have never really fought like Mike and Nancy could. Thankfully with Nancy away at college now, there had been less chance of having a huffy Mike in the mornings at school.

Even though they didn’t always get along, Mike had confessed to Will that he sometimes missed her. But he had also been glad that she wasn’t spending the three-day weekend with her family, instead opting to stay in the dorms she was living in, claiming she had too much homework to make a trip home.

“I guess Mike is here?” Jonathan states questioningly.

Will can feel a frown settling on his face. Mike hadn’t planned on coming over, last he knew of. They had made plans to hang out on Sunday, but as far as he knew, that was it. He tried not to panic and start running through different scenarios about why Mike was at his house without him. It was probably something as simple as he wanted to get away from his parents because they were fighting again.

Mike had been complaining that they had been fighting more since Nancy went to college. He had told Will that sometimes it was easier to be anywhere but his own house most days because of all the yelling.

He hated that Mike was having to deal with this. Will tried not to think about his own childhood filled with screaming parents. He knew that was why Mike didn’t bring it up unless it got bad, he didn’t want to remind Will of anything. Even after all this time, Mike was still trying to make things easier on Will; was taking how he felt into consideration. Yes, it could be obnoxious at times, but Will knew that Mike meant well.

Most of the time.

The three of them made their way to the front door, El opening and stepping in, before coming to a stop, causing Will to run into her since he was so close behind her.

There on the couch wrapped in what must have been four blankets was Holly.

Peering around El, Will gave her a small push to get her to move forward. El stuttered forward, frowning even more once she reached the kitchen.

It didn’t take long for Will to reach the kitchen with her, and he was immediately on guard. Because Karen Wheeler was sitting in their kitchen. Past what was considered socially acceptable visiting hours. Her face was red and makeup smudged, a small pile of tissues next to her on the table.

His mom sat next to her at the kitchen table, holding her hands, obviously trying to comfort her.

Something had happened.

Something bad had happened.

Will turned back to the living room, eyes wide, looking for the only person missing that really mattered, starting to panic when he couldn’t find him.

“Mike’s in your room, Will.” his mom tells him, knowing who he was looking for.

He turns back and joins Jonathan and El again, standing in the walkway between the rooms. He needs to know more, but he’s never really known how to deal with Mike’s mom on her best days. And this looks far from a good day.

“What happened?”

Thank god for Jonathan. Sometimes being known for being slightly awkward had its advantages.

His mom sighs, frowning. “Boys--”

“I’m sorry to drop in on you all like this.” Karen interrupts. Putting on her suburban mom smile and trying to seem like nothing is amiss. Like she hadn’t been crying her eyes out at his mother’s kitchen table. She awkwardly turns to them, and opens her mouth, but nothing comes out.

Realizing that Karen wasn’t sure what to say, his mom says, “Umm…right now the Wheelers will be staying with us for a few days.”

Karen tries to interrupt, but cuts herself off when his mom glares at her.

“They’re staying with us for a few days.” She repeats with emphasis, glaring at Karen, as if daring her to refuse.

Before she can get any farther, the back door swings open and Hopper strides through, tossing a finished box of cigarettes into the trash can by the door. A strong smell of smoke wafts in with him.

He had been trying to smoke less, Will knew. But apparently whatever had happened was bad enough that he was stress smoking. If nothing else, this confirmed for Will that something serious had gone down. And he needed answers.

“Kids.” Hopper greets with a small nod.

“How about for tonight, we all just head to bed.” Hopper places his hand on his mom’s shoulder, offering comfort to her. “It’s late as it is. And we could all use some sleep at this point.”

“But--” Will gets out.

“We’ll talk tomorrow.” Hopper tells them. Working his way through each of them, making sure to make eye contact so they know that he means business.

“Right now, everybody’s tired. It’s been a long day. Let’s all just get some shuteye and head to bed.” Hopper strongly suggests. Even though it is clearly an order, Hopper makes sure he is soft enough that it comes out sounding less like one. Will appreciates that he tries to take him and Jonthan into consideration, since neither of them respond well to yelling or orders.

Reluctantly Will sags his shoulders and turns, walking down the hall to his room.

“Will!” His mom calls out. “Can you sleep in Jonathan’s room tonight?”

He sends a questioning glance at Jonathan, who simply shrugs and makes his way to his room, leaving the door open behind him.

Confused, Will quietly opens the door to his room to grab some sleep clothes.

As he steps in the room he sees the lamp next to his bed is turned on, leaving the room illuminated in a soft glow so he doesn’t have to walk around in the dark. And there turned toward the wall, fast asleep, was a head of black hair. Will’s comforter was drawn over his shoulders and he was burrowed down into them, so you could barely even see his forehead.

He could feel his heart beating faster, sure he was sporting a blush as he looked over at his bed. Mike was so cute sometimes. It just wasn’t fair. He just wanted to squeeze him into a big hug and hide him away from the world when he was looking like this. All comfortable and adorable. The way he would only act around Will if it was just the two of them, open and vulnerable.

Will realized that he had definitely been staring too long, and quietly rifled through his drawers to grab clothes to sleep in. Finding something that would work, he padded out the door, making sure to close the door quietly, before heading to Jonathan’s room.

He would be getting answers to whatever the hell was happening. Even if he had to drag it out of Mike kicking and screaming.

❃ ◇ ❃ ◇ ❃ ◇ ❃ ◇ ❃ ◇ ❃ ◇ ❃ ◇ ❃ ◇

Will was confused when he woke up. Taking in his surroundings, he realized that he was in Jonathan’s room, owner of said room still currently passed out on the other side of the bed.

Will sat up, rubbing his eyes, before remembering exactly why he had spent the night in his brother’s room instead of his own. Scrambling, Will tried to force his sleep-addled brain into working faster, leaving Jonathan’s room and opening his own.

He let out a sigh of relief. Mike was still asleep on his bed, unmoved from how he had been the previous night.

With the sense of urgency slowly disappearing, Will made sure to once again quietly close the door as he made his way to the kitchen. He could smell coffee, and right now he needed it. Adrenaline only worked so well at waking you up and actually keeping you awake. Thank god for coffee, regardless of how addicted he might become. There were worse things, he tells himself.

As he walks past the living room he notices that Holly is no longer on the couch. And neither she nor Karen are in the kitchen. Just his mom, reading the newspaper.

He grabs a cup of coffee before joining his mom at the table. He knows that Jonathan will be asleep for hours still, and will probably be the same for Mike, but is surprised that El isn’t up already.

A door creaks open and Will smiles. Speak of the devil.

El walks into the kitchen, looking much more awake than Will probably did. She pours a glass of milk before joining Will, silently asking if he knows anything. They might not be twins, but they can act like it.

Will shakes his head before taking another sip. Just as he opens his mouth to start questioning his mom about what happened, he hears a door open.

And it isn’t Jonathan walking towards them, the steps are too quiet. So that means Mike was awake. If anybody had answers, it would be him.

Will does a double take as a disheveled Mike Wheeler makes his way into the kitchen. Sleep rumbled and probably only half awake, he makes his way to the coffee machine.

His hair looks extra fluffy and curly today, Will wants to just run his hands through it. Since Mike is still half asleep, Will can get away with staring more. But his extra staring reveals something else as Mike turns to the Byers sitting all together.

A black and purple ring of bruises lays in a halo around the front of his neck. Mike’s pale skin makes the darkening colors pop even more.

Will knew that Mike was not the most coordinated person in the world. But this wasn’t the kind of bruise that looked like an accident. Both in how dark the colors where and the placement was.

This had been put there by something.

Or someone.

Will could feel his eyes hardening as he took in more of Mike. He knew what bruises looked like when they came from someone else. Lonnie tended to be more verbally abusive, but that didn’t mean that he never hit him. He had been given his own variety of bruises from punches or being grabbed too tightly. And that was what this reminded him of. As he stared harder, he began to see vague shapes that could have come from hands.

That was the last straw, the tipping point. He was going to get answers. And he was going to get answers now.

He made eye contact with Mike, who was staring wide-eyed at him, realizing what must be running through his brain.

“What the fuck happened?!”

❃ ◇ ❃ ◇ ❃ ◇ ❃ ◇ ❃ ◇ ❃ ◇ ❃ ◇ ❃ ◇

Mike was tired. Yesterday had been such a long and exhausting day. And while he had gotten a full night's sleep, his body was still sore, aches and bruises complaining as he walked to the kitchen.

Hopefully most people were still asleep. He knew someone had gotten up because he could smell the aroma of coffee. As long as it wasn’t El, or worse, Will, he should be fine. He could grab a cup and go back and hide in Will’s room for a few more hours before having to face the music.

Luck was not his side though. He walked over to the coffee machine, grabbing a cup and filling it in a daze, not realizing that he wasn’t alone. He took a sip, closing his eyes and breathing in the smell, trying to wake his body up.

Turning to make his way back to the warm comfy bed that awaited him, he finally noticed the other people in the room. And it couldn’t be worse.

He had no idea what he looked like, since getting caffeine had been priority one, but he wasn’t liking the wide eyed looks he was seeing on Will and El’s faces. He watched as Will’s eyes took him in. And while normally that might have made him embarrassed and start blushing, because catching Will staring at him was something he secretly enjoyed, at this moment in time, he could practically feel the blood leaving his face, turning white. Probably making the bruises stand out even more against his pale skin.

“What the fuck happened?!”

Mike managed to hold in his flinch, barely. It took a lot for Will to get angry. Even when they would get bullied, it was always Mike that would stand up to them. But that’s just who he was. A protector. Not that Will was weak. Will was the bravest person he had ever met. But when it came to sticking up for himself…he fell a little short. So Mike stepped up to the plate. Putting himself between Will and their bullies.

But just because Will didn’t physically fight, didn’t mean he didn’t get angry. They’d had their share of fights over the years. When Will got mad, though, he tended to get quiet. A silent anger. He would walk away and deal with his feelings somewhere else rather than fight with someone.

And Mike didn’t always know what to do when that happened. Whenever his own parents fought it was constant arguing, calling each other out on things. So the first few times Will and him had argued, and Will had walked away, Mike didn't know what to do. Now, over a decade of friendship later, and he was basically a Will expert. Could read Will better than himself.

So he knew what happened when Will got mad. Sitting in front of him, though, was not an angry Will, though.

He was pissed.

This was Will in protection mode. Ready to go to battle for his friends.

Mike knew Will cared about him, he cared about all their friends. But it was startling to see such angry emotions displayed on his face. Out for blood. And El, sitting next to him, was showing the exact same thing.

Taking another sip of his coffee, Mike forced himself to breathe. Panicking about the conversation ahead of time wouldn’t do him any good. Plus the liquid was soothing his throat. He wasn’t looking forward to talking.

“Can we--” He rasps, clearing his throat. “Can we do this in your room?”

Joyce stands up, mom mode activated. “Oh, honey. Let me get you some tea for your throat. And some cough drops.”

She pats his cheek gently, “Are you doing ok?”

Mike shrugged, not up for lying, knowing Joyce had always been able to see deeper into what he would say. He knew where Will got it from.

She frowned at his lackluster response, and made a split second decision. Mike wasn’t necessarily a tactile person, but now she wondered if that was due to his family and not his actual nature. Either way, a mother’s affection had always helped her own boys, and lord knew when the last time his own mother had shown him any was.

Joyce leaned forward, moving slowly, making sure Mike could clearly read her movements, enveloping him in a hug. For a moment she thought that would be it, but then she felt him slowly raise his arms and return the hug. Loose and hesitant, as if he wasn’t sure he was allowed.

She squeezed tighter, reassuring that this was allowed. He was allowed this.

It had been so long since anyone had hugged him. Honestly the last person might have been Will. As much as he wanted this, to last longer, though, Mike knew that he was just pitting off the inevitable. He withdrew, hopefully hiding how damp his eyes had gotten. Looking to Will, though, and seeing the sadness in his eyes. Guess he wasn’t as successful as he had hoped.

“I’ll make some tea and bring it to you.” Joyce murmured. “Make sure to grab something to eat, ok hun.”

He nodded, moving about the familiar kitchen to grab some pop tarts he had seen last time he was here. El preferred Eggos, and Will and Jonathan weren’t the biggest fan of the pastries. But Joyce would still buy them so Mike would have them if he ever stayed over.

He sighed, knowing he couldn’t put off the inevitable for any longer. He walked over and grabbed Will’s hand, pulling him up and down the hallway to his room.

Alarm bells rang as Will was pulled along by Mike. This was something Mike hadn’t done in years. When they were younger Mike had dragged Will everywhere. Holding his hand, offering comfort and support, someone for him to lean on. But when people started bullying and making fun of them for doing it, Mike had withdrawn. Curbing the behavior until he hardly touched Will in public. He had briefly brought back the behavior after Will had disappeared in the Upside Down. With the trauma of everything Mike had resorted to needed to have physical contact with Will. But eventually he had stopped that too.

They had always been close; more touchy than Lucas or Dustin. But as they got older, it had lessened. Only touching like they had before when they were alone or with friends. Even that, though, had eventually ended. Straining their relationship in unexpected ways. Sometimes it felt like Mike was pushing him away.

Will went with Mike though, trusting, hoping that he would get some answers, and find out who he needed to kill. He looked over his shoulder, seeing that El had grabbed her glass and Will’s mug and put them in the sink before turning and following Mike.

Once in Will’s room, Mike stalled, not sure how he wanted to do this. Thankfully Will was able to read his uncertain stance and made the decision for him, sitting on his bed, leaning up against the wall. He smiled and motioned with his head for Mike to sit next to him.

Relieved, Mike smiled, sitting down, El leaned against him on his other side, pushing in more into Will. Not that he was complaining.

“Mike.” Will turns, making eye contact. “What happened?”

“And don’t leave anything out.” El demanded.

Mike sighs. “So, last night…

❃ ◇ ❃ ◇ ❃ ◇ ❃ ◇ ❃ ◇ ❃ ◇ ❃ ◇ ❃ ◇

It was finally the weekend. No school for three whole days. He could relax and sleep in, hang with the Party. Maybe even hang out with Will. Have a movie night or something. Just the two of them. Mike smiled, remembering that the last time they had a movie night had ended in them staying up until 5 am because they marathoned the Star Wars movies. They had fallen asleep at some point during Return of the Jedi, Will cuddled close to Mike under the blanket on the couch.

Mind made up, Mike opened his front door, intending to call Will to see when he could come over.

He expected an empty kitchen, since his mom had to pick up Holly, but that was not what greeted him. Instead Ted Wheeler was sitting at the counter on one of the stools. He looked up as soon as Mike walked in the door.

Mike jerked to a stop, thrown off. His dad didn’t get off till five. What was he doing in the kitchen barely past four?

“Michael.”

He stared, before noticing what was sitting in front of his father.

His journal.

Panicked eyes flew up to look at his dad.

“Son, we need to have a talk.”

Shit. Shit. Shit.

How did he even find it? He had hidden it so well!

“Your mother…”

Ah. That makes more sense. He bit on his lip, pushing down his rage. He hated when his mom went snooping. Without Nancy here, she had turned to poking through Mike’s things more. And in front of him was the most damning thing she could have possibly found.

“Now, I’m sure this is just some phase, because you know better, Michael. The pastor--”

Mike focused back in on the conversation, whipping his head up from where he had been staring at the journal, trying to set it on fire or something to get it to disappear. “No.”

“Excuse me?” Ted raised his eyebrow.

“No.” Mike objected, trying to sound more confident than he felt.

“No.”

“Michael I refuse to let a fag live in my house. An abomination, it’s wrong, this way of thinking. You don’t really feel like this, son.”

“Dad, no. I like boys. I’m---” He had never actually said the words out loud. “I’m gay.”

Ted’s eyes darkened. One second he was a man who didn’t give two shits about his family. The next, an angry person who felt like he had the authority in this household.

“I like guys.” Mike said louder, gesturing with his arms.

“No. You know that’s wrong.”

“Even if it is, it doesn’t change anything!”

“You can still get help. We can fix you--”

“I don’t need fixing! I’m not some toy that needs to be fixed.”

“This is just who I am.”

“No! I refuse. No son of mine will be a fucking fag!”

“Dad--” Mike felt his chest tighten, eyes beginning to water.

Ted picked the journal up and slammed it down on the counter, anger rising. “It was that Byers boy.”

“What?”

“He’s what’s making you have these thoughts.”

“No…he doesn’t even.”

“You write about him enough.” Ted barked, eyes hard and cruel.

He had read his journal. He knew everything.

But before his panicked thoughts could spiral, Mike suddenly thought of Will. Beautiful, happy Will.

How dare he bring Will into this.

It was like a switch flipped. Mike felt like he shut down his emotions. He wasn’t feeling anything. Not even anger.

He needed to get out of here. Get away from his dad.

Mike started for the door.

“Where do you think you’re going?” Ted reached out and grabbed his arm, yanking him back.

“Let me go!”

“You think you can run, boy?”

The punch to the gut had Mike drawing in on himself, gasping in shock.

“Get up Michael.” Ted demanded, pulling Mike up straight then shoving him into the counter.

He tried to scramble away, fingers searching for something to fight back with, but Ted grabbed his hair and smashed his head hard into the countertop.

Mike was able to turn away at the last second to avoid getting his nose crushed.

Still grabbing his hair, Ted pulled.

He fell back, tripping over a stool, only for Ted to roughly grab his arm, punching him in the side, too.

Wheezing, Mike tried to fight back, lashing out with his foot, getting his dad in the knee.

Enraged, Ted grabbed Mike around the neck, squeezing.

Mike started gasping, struggling to breathe.

“You are not my son.”

Ted tightened his grip.

Mike gasped for any air. Black was seeping in around the edges, everything was blurry, but he wasn’t crying.

He couldn’t breathe.

He couldn’t breathe.

He couldn’t breathe!

He was going to die.

Next thing he knew, Ted’s hands were ripped away.

He could breathe!

He sucked in a breath, feeling hands grasping at his face.

Forcing his body to move, Mike shuffled backwards, trying to escape.

“...--eal! Micheal! --lm do--!”

He blinked, trying to clear his vision, still sucking in oxygen. Precious, precious oxygen.

He saw a hand move towards him and he threw his hands up. He was about to kick out when the person coming towards him was pulled back. Screaming.

His brain came back online. His mom. That was his mom!

Heaving, Mike stumbled to his feet just in time to see his dad shove his mom into the counter hard.

“Don’t fucking touch her!” Mike screamed.

Seeing Mike standing, Ted turned back to him.

Before he could take more than a couple steps, his mom slammed into his side, knocking him to the side and falling to his knees. “You won’t touch him!”

“Karen.” Ted seethed, grabbing her wrist in an iron grip.

He had a chance. Mike grabbed the vase that held flowers his mom had brought home yesterday.

In one sweeping motion he smashed the glass vase into Ted’s head. Knocking him clean out.

Mike and his mom stood there for a moment, breathing heavily. Then she grabbed his wrist. “Come on, Mike.” Dragging him out the door and to the car.

❃ ◇ ❃ ◇ ❃ ◇ ❃ ◇ ❃ ◇ ❃ ◇ ❃ ◇ ❃ ◇

Will sat in a numb daze once Mike finished recounting the previous evening.

On the other side of Mike, El carefully leaned over Mike’s trembling form and hugged him.

“I’m sorry….Will…” MIke tries to clean his face of the few tears that had managed to fall. “...if this changes…anything…”

Shaken out of his silent staring he turned to Mike confused, “Wh-What do you mean…change things?”

Why would he think that anything would change between them? Mike knew that his dad had hit him before, so why would Ted hitting him change how Will thought about Mike? Will tried to contain his thoughts, but he was quickly spiraling.

“Just cause your dad hit you--”

If anything, Mike only curled up tighter into himself, before interrupting Will’s rant, “That I’m gay.”

Will froze.

In all the turmoil of listening to what had happened, that part had completely slipped his mind.

Gay. Mike said he was gay.

Will realized he had been silent for too long, so he hurried to soften his gaze. Reaching forward he hesitantly put his hand on Mike’s knee. Looking up, Mike saw a gentle smile on his face.

“Mike.” Will tried to convey all the love he had for Mike at this moment. “Thank you for telling me.”

Mike slowly relaxed.

“And I don’t care if you’re gay. But I do care that someone you thought cared about you, hurt you. But you being gay, Mike? That doesn’t change anything between us.”

His best friend practically collapsed into his arms, pushing himself forward and onto Will. The tears he had managed to hold back before were now falling, soaking Will’s shirt. He hurried to pull Mike closer and into his arms, hugging him tight, breathing him in.

Mike buried his head in Will’s neck, causing a shiver to run down his spine. Tamping down his feelings, because now was not the time, Will pulled back. Just enough so that he could look Mike in the eyes.

“And for the record.” He smiled. “I’m gay, too.”

Mike’s eyes squeezed shut and he went back to hugging him, mumbling into his shoulder. It took a moment but he eventually realized that Mike was thanking him for trusting him. Will squeezed him tighter.

After a few minutes, Mike pulled back, unsuccessfully using his sleeve to try to dry his face. Instead of returning to his spot, he scooted closer to Will, leaning against his side. Looking over for El, Will noticed that she had apparently left the room at some point. Probably to give them some privacy.

“Did El know?” Will asks, needing to know, since she hadn’t seemed as surprised by the recent revelation as Will had been.

“Yeah.” Mike sighed. “It was one of the reasons we broke up, actually. I realized that I didn’t like girls the way I was supposed to. And we’re better off as friends anyway.”

Will hummed, leaning forward and handing Mike the tea his mom had brought in earlier when Mike coughed. “Drink. You’re probably dehydrated at this point.”

Mike rolled his eyes, “Yes, mom.”

“Don’t you sass me Michael Wheeler.” Will sternly reprimanded. The corners of his lips twitched, though, breaking in a smile when Mike started laughing.

They both sat there in companionable silence for a while. Leaning against each other. Just existing in the moment.

Will hated to break the silence, but he had a couple questions. “So what happens now?”

Mike sighed, leaning his head onto Will’s shoulder, slouching down so his spine was at an angle that should in no way be comfortable. “Mom said that she was done with him last night. When we first came over, after we talked with your mom. Probably scared her half to death.”

“I’m not really sure what she meant, but I think she is finally going to get a divorce.”

“And you’re ok with that?” Will wanted to make sure.

Mike shrugged. “Honestly, it’s been a long time coming. Nancy and I used to bet on how much longer they would stay together.”

“Well if he comes anywhere near you I won’t hesitate to punch him in the face.”

Mike laughed softly, smiling, “Who knew Will Byers would grow up and go around punching people in the face.”

“Shut up!” Will shoved him. “I would totally punch him.”

“Yes, yes, your big strong arms you came back with from California.” Mike grabbed his arm, giving it a shake.

Smirking, Mike turned to Will, eyes lighting up. “They pack quite a…punch.”

Groaning, Will collapsed onto his bed. “Noooo. Puns are banned in my room.”

Still grinning, Mike flopped down next to him. Will tried to convey how disappointed he was, but Mike’s smiling face was infectious and soon Will was grinning back.

Turning onto his side, Will took a moment to really take in his best friend.

Sometimes it felt like they were so busy, with school, and friends, and family. It wasn’t often that just the two of them got to hang out anymore. As just Mike and Will.

But here, Mike looked so peaceful. So happy. Beautiful. Even with the ring of darkening bruises, Mike’s radiant smile lit up the room.

He wanted to kiss him so bad.

And for the first time, Will decided to not overthink things. To just go for it. To be brave.

He put his hand on Mike’s jaw. Turning his head, Will leaned forward and put his lips on Mike’s in a careful kiss, barely a press of lips.

Shocked, it took Mike a few moments to respond. Enough time for Will to start to pull away. But Mike quickly pressed forward, pressing his lips harder against Will’s, slanting his mouth slightly to make the kiss more comfortable.

Will relaxed with a quiet sigh, leaning back into the kiss, taking his other hand and running it through Mike’s curly hair to cup the back of his head.

They kissed for several minutes. Eventually Will slowly pulled back, taking in Mike’s red kiss swollen lips.

“Mike--”

“I’m in love with you.” Mike blurted out.

Reeling, Will looked at Mike in surprise.

Waiting with bated breath, Mike stared wide eyed in anticipation.

His shocked expression morphed into a dorky smile, one of trust and love. One that lit up his face with how happy he was feeling.

“I love you too.” Will softly answered.

Mike closed his eyes, a tear of happiness falling down his cheek. And Will, who knew him better than he knew himself, put his forehead against his. Bringing them closer.

“I love you, Mike.” Will whispered.

Mike sniffed. Cupping Will’s jaw, he drew him in for a slow desperate kiss.

Mike pulled back. “I love you so much, it scares me.”

Softly smiling, Will leaned in and pecked his lips. “You make me crazy.”

“A good kind of crazy?” Mike hesitantly asked.

“Jury’s still out.” Will joked.

“Crazy together?”

“Forever.”