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Between the Lines
It had been a few weeks now. Of being more open, more honest with each other. And of being exclusively together.
Boyfriends.
The word still felt a bit unreal when Will thought about it. Like trying on a new jumper that somehow fit better than anything he already owned. Even with the new label, not too much had changed on the surface. They still took the piss out of each other, bickered about stupid things, and pretended they weren’t totally smitten underneath it all.
But there were some subtle differences. Smiles that were brighter, more genuine. Glances that lingered for a second longer than they needed to. Touches initiated without having to find lame excuses to do so. Genuine affection was blooming, threading itself through the lusty foundation of their relationship rather than competing with it. What they had now felt less like a closely guarded secret and more like something real.
It hadn’t been perfect. Neither of them was used to be truly vulnerable with another person. Letting each other in was taking careful practice. Other stumbling blocks, such as flares of insecurity or jealousy, would pop up every now and then. But they were definitely getting better at handling it all. At handling each other. At trusting each other.
It was early on a Tuesday morning. Will was halfway through buttoning his shirt when his phone rang from its place on his bedside table. Seeing the caller’s name displayed on the screen sent the usual pleasant flutter filling his chest. He scrambled to answer, tone soft and affectionate.
“Hello, Jay.”
“Mornin’, lover!” The greeting was delivered with a grin Will could hear through the phone. “What you up to?”
“Right now? The usual. Getting ready for school and what have you.”
“You got your uniform on yet?”
“Mostly. Why?”
“Has your mum left?”
“…About ten minutes ago. Where are you going with this?”
“Stop what you’re doing and change into something comfy but sexy. I’ll be there in twenty minutes.”
Will hesitated. “Um…”
“Nothing weird!” Jay clarified quickly. “Just thought we could hang out today. Just the two of us.”
“We have school.”
“So?”
“So, we have exams in a few months.”
“And? You’re, like, the smartest person in the whole school. Teachers included! If anyone can afford to miss a day, it’s you.”
“But… my attendance record?”
“Fuck your attendance record! I’ve got something dead special planned.”
“Like what?”
“A day out… type… thing.”
Will’s heart skipped. “You mean a date?”
There was a noticeable pause on the other end of the line.
“Well… yeah.” Jay finally replied, slightly sheepish. “I mean… I know we hang out all the time, but we’ve never properly gone out somewhere together. Like, together together. And since we’re, y’know… I thought it might be nice…”
Will didn’t realise how widely he was smiling until his cheeks started to ache.
“Only if you want to, though!” Jay continued hastily. “I know you hate doing stuff without planning it to death first. We can do it another time, if you-”
Will cut him off. “It’s a lovely idea, Jay. Let’s do it.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah. Fuck my attendance record. One day won’t hurt.”
“Cool.” Jay exhaled, sounding relieved. “I’ll be there in a bit then.”
“Looking forward to it.”
“Me too. Oh, and for fuck’s sake, don’t ring Gilbert pretending to be your mum again.”
“That was Simon!” Will protested.
He could hear Jay sniggering as he hung up. Will tossed his phone onto his desk, smile still firmly in place as he contemplated what on earth in his wardrobe could constitute as ‘comfy but sexy’.
To Will’s surprise, Jay pulled up outside his house bang on time. He leaned across to the passenger side to shove the door open, grinning like an idiot. Despite the smile, Will noticed the little things. The slight tension in the way Jay held his shoulders. His fingers frantically drumming on the steering wheel. The slightly questioning look in his eyes. Jay actually seemed nervous, and Will found this endearing in ways he couldn’t describe.
As soon as Will climbed into the passenger seat, he was hit with a rich spicy scent, very different to the usual citrusy notes of Jay’s body spray. The radio played softly in the background. It wasn’t the usual electronica nonsense, but a song Will actually liked. A song Jay knew he liked. The realisation made Will glance over at him pointedly. Jay stiffened, caught.
“What?” he said, too quickly.
Will mercifully chose not to comment on the music. “Are you wearing aftershave?”
Jay shrugged, aiming for nonchalance and missing by a country mile. “Just some cheap splash I got last Christmas. Thought I’d try something different.”
“Mm.” Will smiled, holding eye contact. “It’s gorgeous. Suits you.”
He watched in amusement as the words landed. Jay gaped like a goldfish for a solid five seconds before giving up on forming a reply, the side of his face practically glowing red. Eyes wide, he fixed his gaze on the road ahead and raised the clutch pedal.
The engine promptly stalled.
Will bit the inside of his cheek, suppressing a laugh as Jay swore under his breath, scrambling to restart the car.
The drive passed quickly, with Will watching the scenery blur past while trying and failing to work out where they were going. Jay had denied every one of his guesses so far, and he was quickly running out of ideas.
“Picnic?”
“Not even close.”
“Bowling alley?”
“Nope.”
“A museum?”
“Fuck no.”
Will sighed theatrically. “Colonic irrigation?”
Jay snorted. “Rest assured, your arsehole’s safe. Well, maybe not from me.”
That earned him a withering look.
“At least give me a clue!” Will said.
“No! I told you, it’s a surprise.”
“And I told you, I don’t like surprises.”
“And I told you, you’ll like this one. Promise. Just relax. Crack the window, enjoy the breeze.”
“I’m not a dog, Jay.”
Jay grinned. “Yeah? ’Cos the way you slobber over my bone, you’d think-”
“Alright!” Will interrupted, flushing as he reached for the radio and turned it up sharply.
Jay laugh’s cut through the blaring music, loud and unrestrained. Will smiled despite himself.
It wasn’t much longer before Will spotted the familiar outline of towering metal in the distance. Great looping curves and steep drops cut jagged shapes against blue-grey sky. His stomach gave a small lurch.
“Thorpe Park?” he said, incredulous.
Jay nodded, smirking proudly. “Yep. Neil’s mate who works the box office scored him some tickets for me. Told him I was taking a hottie on a date. Getting well good at this ‘not lying’ thing.”
Will answered the wink Jay shot him with a genuine smile. Still, he couldn’t ignore the feelings of apprehension bubbling in his core. They pulled into the car park and found a good space without too much trouble. Jay cut the engine and turned to Will, noticing immediately that something was off.
“What’s up?” he asked. “Thought you loved rollercoasters and that.”
“I do.” Will said quickly. “Just… here? After last time? You do remember last time, don’t you?”
“’Course I do, that’s sort of the point. I remember that you were dead excited. But then Si started being a little bitch about his car, and Neil got his clothes nicked, and-”
“-and I verbally abused a group of disabled people?” Will supplied wryly.
Jay winced. “Exactly. You had a shit time, is what I’m saying. So, I figured you deserved a redo. To make some better memories. It’s midweek, so queues’ll be short. And we’re miles away from anyone we know, so we can relax and…” He hesitated, taking a breath before finishing. “…try acting like a normal couple?”
And with that, Will felt the coil of tension in his gut start to ease. He studied Jay’s face, seeing the sincerity and hopefulness there, and understood the gesture for what it truly was.
“You know, Jay,” he said quietly. “Just when I think I’ve got you all figured out, you go and outdo yourself. You really are the sweetest person I’ve ever met.”
Jay ducked his head, his playful grin softening into something shy. “Yeah, well… Don’t tell anyone. Got my hard man image to protect, ain’t I?”
“But of course!” Will said humorously.
Jay nodded towards the park entrance. “Shall we head in, then?”
He reached for the door handle, but Will caught his sleeve before he could open it.
“Just a second…”
Jay’s breath hitched as Will leaned across the centre console and kissed him. It was soft but deliberate, lingering just long enough to leave them both a little flushed when they finally pulled apart.
“Thank you,” Will murmured.
“Thank you,” Jay blurted out.
They laughed, both slightly giddy, before finally climbing out of the car and heading towards the park entrance.
The rest of the morning passed in a blur of queues and adrenaline. The waiting time was filled with inane chatter and playful bickering. As they began settling into their own little world, it took Will a while to notice what wasn’t happening. Like how he wasn’t constantly checking over his shoulder, or mentally rehearsing explanations for why they were stood so close. The usual background hum of self-consciousness had gone quiet.
Emboldened by the anonymity of it all, Will tossed out a flirtatious remark, something he usually would have kept for behind closed doors.
The words hung between them for a second, like an unspent hand grenade.
Nothing happened.
No sharp looks. No muttered comments. No angry mobs with pitchforks. The world didn’t end. When they both realised it, they exchanged curious smiles.
After that, Jay kept finding reasons to inhabit Will’s space. His knee resting against Will’s as they sat side by side. His fingers grazing the small of Will’s back to steer him through a gap in the crowd. His hand leaving the refuge of his pocket so it could brush against Will’s as they walked. And Will was happy to indulge him.
It was new. But somehow, it was easy.
On the coasters, Will hollered and laughed until his throat ached, allowing the rush of every moment to wash over him. At the peak of one ride, right as their car stalled before the drop, he glanced sideways and caught Jay looking over at him. Grinning. Not cocky, just openly delighted, like he couldn’t quite believe they were allowed to have this.
Will grinned back, unthinking. When the drop came, Jay whooped, and Will let himself shout too. No holding back, just sharing the sheer thrill of it.
By early afternoon, the high of it all subdued. They wandered more slowly, energy ebbing. Will glanced at his watch.
“We should probably find some lunch soon,” he said.
“Fancy squeezing one more ride in first?” Jay asked.
“Sure. You pick though. I feel like I’ve been monopolising the day a bit.”
Jay’s eyes scanned his surroundings before he grinned widely. He all but scampered towards a menacing concrete structure, plastered with grime and biohazard signs.
“Aww, Neil told me about this one! It’s supposed to be well good!”
Will eyed the building warily. “What is it?”
“‘Walking Dead’ thing. Full of zombies and that. It’s a right laugh.”
Will hesitated. “Like a ghost train?”
“Think so. A decent one though, not some shit thing for kids. What d’ya reckon?”
Will bit back a wince, stomach starting to churn. Buried childhood memories of that terrible travelling fairground pushed their way to the forefront of his mind. He was suddenly five years old again, being dragged onto that dilapidated ghost train. Weirdos in ugly latex masks pouncing out at him from the darkness. Blood-curdling screams piercing his ears. Fake blood being unceremoniously hurled in his face.
Every fibre of his being was screaming at him to keep away from this ride.
But then he looked at Jay. His boyish excitement was clear, and utterly adorable. Who was Will to deny him, especially as Will had invited Jay to choose the next ride in the first place? He didn’t want to be the killjoy. The one who slowed them down, who sucked the fun out of everything. Not today.
So, he resolved to force a smile. “Yeah! Sounds…interesting!”
He straightened his shoulders and followed Jay to join the cue. This was doable. After all, it was only a five-minute ride. He could handle five minutes. For Jay.
As they queued, Jay practically buzzed with energy, pointing out every stupid hideous prop and laughing gleefully. Will could only hope that he seemed convincing as he put on a brave smile. But with every clank of the ride’s machinery, every distant groan or scream, his stomach twisted into a tighter knot.
By the time they were ushered into the gloomy interior, the shadows and artificial fog made the space feel suffocatingly small. Actors in grotesque makeup emerged, growling and lunging. Will’s chest constricted. He gripped the safety bar tightly, heart hammering so loudly that he was convinced everyone could hear it. He closed his eyes and focused on his breathing, trying to drown out as much stimuli as he could.
What was supposed to be five minutes seemed to drag on for hours. When the ride finally clattered to a halt, Will bolted out of his seat. Bursting out of the exit doors into precious daylight, he grabbed the nearest railing with clammy palms, steadying himself. His pulse thundered, face hot, body tingling with perspiration. It felt like he’d run a bloody marathon.
It barely registered when Jay appeared at his side.
“Don’t tell me that actually scared you?” he said teasingly.
This time, Will’s attempts to force a smile failed. Jay clocked it instantly and frowned.
“You okay?”
“Yeah, just a bit dizzy.”
Will felt a hand fall on his arm and stiffened. Normally, comfort would have been appreciated. But right now, it made Will feel trapped, claustrophobic.
“Dizzy?” Jay echoed, actually sounding concerned. “Should I get someone? They’ve got, like, a medical thingy-”
“No,” Will snapped. He cringed, then softened his tone. “I’m fine, really. Just give me a sec.”
“Well, at least sit down for a bit. Come on.”
Jay slipped an arm around Will’s shoulder, trying to guide him to a nearby bench. Will felt his skin tingle unpleasantly, his ribs constrict around his lungs. It was too much. He jerked away.
“Please, don’t!”
The words came out more harshly than intended. Jay froze, looking awkward and unsure of what to do with himself. He glanced around at the people flowing by them, then looked down at his shoes.
“I’ll be over there…” he mumbled. “If you need me.”
He nodded towards a cluster of food stalls before shuffling off towards it. Will closed his eyes, breathing deep and wordlessly praying for the spinning in his head to calm. As soon as he felt like his legs wouldn’t give out on him, he set off after Jay.
He didn’t have to go far. Jay was leaned against the side of an ice cream van, arms folded tightly across his chest. He flicked his gaze skyward as Will approached, though it was obvious he’d been keeping tabs on him the whole time.
“Alright now?” Jay asked flatly.
“Yeah, all good.” Will replied, trying to sound upbeat.
Silence. Will hesitated, then added;
“I swear, you can’t take me anywhere. Pretty sure it’s just hunger. Low blood sugar or something equally unglamorous.”
His attempt to lighten the mood didn’t land. Jay’s mouth twitched, but it didn’t quite make it to a smile. Will winced inwardly and gestured toward the food stalls.
“So, er… shall we?”
Jay shrugged without looking at him. “If you want.”
He pushed off from the van and started walking, hands shoved deep into his pockets. Will had to lengthen his stride to keep up, the space between them feeling far larger than it looked. He caught up to Jay’s side, trying to catch his eye.
“Is something wrong?” he asked gently.
“Nope,” came the abrupt answer. “Why would there be?”
“You’re being weird.”
Jay scoffed humourlessly. “Oh, I’m being weird?”
“Yes.”
“Dunno what you’re talking about.”
Will rolled his eyes. “Well, that’s clearly not true.”
Jay didn’t answer. Will slowed, then reached out and caught Jay gently by the sleeve.
“Jay, come here. Please.”
Jay hesitated, then let himself be steered away from the main path, tucked into a quieter corner near a row of closed kiosks. He kept his hands in his pockets, shifting uncomfortably, gaze fixed somewhere over Will’s shoulder.
“Talk to me,” Will said softly. “I thought we promised. Honesty, remember?”
For a long time, Jay was silent. It wasn’t that he was stonewalling; in fact, Will could practically hear the cogs turning in his head. Eventually, Jay let out a heavy sigh.
“It’s… stupid.”
Will shrugged. “And? You’re stupid. I’m stupid. We’re collectively stupid. That’s been established.”
That earned him an amused snort, at least. Jay went quiet again, clearly weighing something up in his head.
Then, without looking at Will, he said, “Do you not like me touching you in public?”
Will blinked. “What?”
“It’s just… after we got off that ride, it felt like you didn’t want me anywhere near you.”
Oh.
Will softened immediately at Jay’s bruised tone. “Jay, no. That wasn’t…”
He stopped himself, organising his thoughts. “Look… This is really pathetic and embarrassing, but that ride completely freaked me out. I had a bad experience on a ghost train when I was little, and with the actors and the screaming and everything… it just got to me in a way I didn’t anticipate.”
Jay finally looked at him, interested but still cautious. “Why didn’t you say? I wasn’t that bothered. We could’ve skipped it.”
“You just seemed so excited,” Will admitted. “I thought I could handle it. But I panicked. And when I panic, I don’t do well with being crowded. I just needed space to breathe, that’s all. I absolutely don’t mind you touching me. In public or otherwise. Just maybe not when I’m five seconds away from vomiting or bursting into tears.”
Jay grinned faintly, shoulders relaxing. “Yeah, fair. You alright now then, for defo?”
“I’m fine, residual heart palpitations aside.”
Jay grimaced. “I can’t believe I didn’t clock it. How bad you were feeling, I mean. I just wanted to help.”
“I know,” Will said. “That’s on me. I should’ve said something instead of trying to tough it out in silence. I didn’t mean to push you away.”
Jay accepted that quietly, but there was clearly still something behind the look in his eyes. Something he was slowly working up the nerve to say. Will waited patiently.
“You know I’m not great at… saying stuff,” Jay began eventually. “Like, using words to express things the way you do. So, touching you, holding your hand… Kissing you. That’s kind of how I show things. And doing it in public feels important. It makes it all feel real. Normal. ‘Cos there’s still this little voice in my head sometimes, and it sounds a lot like my dad…”
Jay trailed off as they shared a knowing look.
“So, when you pulled away, my brain just went straight to, ‘Right, that’s it. He’s ashamed. He doesn’t want people to see.’ And I know that’s not fair, but… that’s where it went.”
Will allowed Jay’s words to sink in. He then moved in slowly, giving Jay time to pull back if he wanted to. He didn’t. So, Will kissed him. Gently, firmly, with confidence. Jay startled slightly, then melted into it. The bustle and noise around them suddenly seemed quieter, inconsequential.
“You didn’t have to do that.” Jay murmured when they pulled apart.
“I wanted to.” Will said. “And just so we’re clear, I’m not ashamed of you. Or us. Not even a little bit.”
Jay smiled, properly this time. Will returned it.
“Come on,” he said, nodding toward the food stalls. “What are you in the mood for?”
Jay’s grin turned wicked as he eyed his boyfriend lasciviously. “Well, now that you mention it…”
“I meant food,” Will said dryly.
“Killjoy!”
After browsing the food stalls for a while, Jay decided on a giant hotdog smothered in ketchup, whereas Will opted for a portion of takoyaki. After finding out what it was, Jay gleefully cracked joke after joke about Will having octopus balls in his mouth. Will promptly got his revenge, fixing Jay with intense suggestive eye contact as he tried to eat his hotdog with some degree of dignity.
Their crude banter and persistent giggling earned them some filthy looks from fellow diners, but they couldn’t have cared less.
When they moved off, Will wordlessly offered Jay his hand. Jay didn’t even hesitate. Just laced their fingers together like it was the most natural thing in the world. A few people glanced their way, curious or surprised, but most didn’t seem to notice at all.
They ended up in the arcade, deciding it was safer than risking another ride too soon after eating. Jay dominated anything that involved throwing or keeping rhythm, while Will turned out to be alarmingly precise at the shooting games.
“Fucking hell! Steady on, John Wayne!” Jay quipped, after being thoroughly crushed at DOOM 1v1.
Will flushed slightly at the veiled praise. “Well, I was on my private school’s archery team.”
Jay rolled his eyes fondly. “’Course you were, you posh wanker.”
Before leaving, they decided to finish on a claw machine challenge; they’d play until one of them won a prize, and drinks were on the loser. After several increasingly aggressive attempts from both of them, it was Will who finally – albeit barely - managed to snag something.
As Jay cursed his defeat, Will fished his winnings out of the prize slot; a mystery box. He popped it open and stared at the contents in mild horror.
It was a little plush toy. Green-skinned. Bug-eyed. Blood-spattered.
A zombie.
Of course.
Sighing, Will couldn’t help but smile. The irony was just too perfect. Jay, catching his expression, burst out laughing. Will turned the toy over once in his hand, as if confirming it was real, then held it out to Jay. This cut Jay’s laughter short. He glanced between Will and the zombie questioningly. Will shrugged.
“Either you take it or I’m tying it to the nearest tracks and watching it perish.”
Jay grinned, accepting the toy and stuffing it into his hoodie pocket. “Alright. But only ’cos you’re too scared to keep it for yourself.”
By mid-afternoon, the worst of the crowds had thinned, and they’d claimed a patch of grass near the edge of the park where the noise softened into a distant hum. Jay lay back on his elbows, legs stretched out in front of him, while Will sat cross-legged at his side. Between them, carefully balanced on the grass, was a pint of beer and a glass of wine procured from a nearby bar.
For a while, neither of them spoke. They didn’t need to. Just being here, in each other’s orbit, felt like enough.
Eventually, Jay broke the silence. “Better than last time, then?”
“Infinitely.” Will raised his wine glass. “To a successful first date.”
Jay clinked his pint against it. “First of many, I hope.”
They exchanged warm smiles and sipped at their drinks, the hum of the park fading further into the background as they held each other’s gaze.
“So…” Will said gently. “How’s that little father-shaped voice sounding now?”
Jay snorted. “Ain’t heard from him since the zombie ride, to be fair.” He glanced around, then back at Will. “You know, I thought the whole PDA thing would be way more awkward, but it’s been alright. No one else seems bothered either.”
“It’s not exactly the 1950s anymore,” Will quipped.
Jay briefly studied Will’s face. “How’ve you found it?”
Will considered this. “Yeah. Pretty easy, actually. But then, everything feels easier with you.”
Jay replied only with a bashful smile, which Will quietly enjoyed. Another comfortable moment of peace passed by before Jay spoke up again.
“I’ve been thinking.”
Will raised an eyebrow. “Dangerous.”
“Knob.” Jay shot back with a grin, before sobering. “I was trying to work out why you didn’t just say you didn’t wanna do that ride. Usually, if I suggest something you don’t like, you tell me to fuck off.”
Will chuckled softly. “I suppose I do.”
“But you didn’t this time,” Jay went on. “You just… went along with it. ‘Cos you thought it was what I wanted.” He hesitated. “You used to do that with Charlotte. Like at the fashion show. Poncing about on stage in skinny jeans wasn’t you. That was all about what she wanted.”
Will opened his mouth, ready to protest, but Jay pressed on.
“I think I get it, though,” he said. “You do it when you like someone. You’re showing you care. By sort of… giving a bit of yourself away.”
That stopped Will short. He stared down at the grass, rolling the stem of his wine glass between his fingers. He’d never thought about it like that before. The realisation was uncomfortable, but not unpleasantly so.
“But you don’t have to do that with me,” Jay added. “I don’t want you doing stuff you hate just to keep me sweet.” He broke into a smirk. “Especially when half the reason I fancy you so much is ‘cos of how you put me in my place.”
Will snorted at that. “My persistent nagging turns you on, does it?”
“Don’t kink-shame me, Briefcase!” Jay nudged him playfully, then softened again. “Seriously, just say no when you mean no. ‘Cos saying yes isn’t what’s true for you, is it? Honesty and all that, yeah?”
“Yeah… you make a good point.” Will smiled despite himself. “That was all remarkably insightful of you.”
“I have my moments.”
“For what it’s worth though,” Will added softly, “I wouldn’t have braved that horrific ride for anyone else.”
Jay gazed at him wordlessly.
“What?” Will asked.
“Nothing,” Jay said, voice uncharacteristically soft. “Just really wanna kiss you right now.”
Will smiled, almost shyly. “I’m not stopping you.”
That was all the invitation Jay needed. Will received the kiss eagerly, his hand clutching the fabric of Jay’s hoodie without even thinking about it. It started gentle, slow, then deepened the longer it lingered, mouths moving in easy synchrony. It wasn’t obscene; they were in public, after all. Just enough to set their pulses jumping.
The world seemed to narrow pleasantly around them. The smell of the grass, the warmth of the afternoon sun, the buzz of conversation of other park-goers... it all just blurred into nothingness. They could have happily spent the rest of the day right here, doing just this.
“Excuse me!”
The sudden voice cut clean through the moment. They jolted apart, hearts pounding. A middle-aged woman in a Thorpe Park uniform stood a few feet away, clipboard clutched to her chest, lips pursed in disapproval.
“You can’t do that here,” she said sternly. “Look around you, for goodness’s sake!”
She gestured to a nearby fence that surrounded a children’s play area. Will clocked how Jay stiffened beside him, the tension in his shoulders, the unnerved look on his sweet face…
Something hot and furious ignited within Will’s chest. There was no chance on earth he was going to let some judgmental busybody spoil their day. No fucking way.
He was on his feet before even registering the decision to stand.
“Right; absolutely not! You do not get to speak to us like that. We are two consenting adults who happen to like each other, and there is nothing wrong with that. How dare you suggest that us showing affection for each other is corrupting your precious children!”
“Sir-”
Will barrelled on. “You know, if people like you spent half as much time explaining diversity to kids as you do policing harmless behaviour, perhaps the world wouldn’t be such a hostile place for queer teenagers!”
“Excuse me, sir-”
“No! You’ll let me finish, you bigoted old boiler! Teen suicide rates don’t come from nowhere, you know? They come from this! This constant implication that we’re somehow wrong or dangerous or-”
“Sir!” the woman cut in sharply. “If you’d let me finish, I was referring to your drinks!”
Will froze.
She pointed at their glasses. “Alcohol isn’t allowed outside of designated areas. There are signs everywhere. Look!”
She gestured once again to the children’s play area.
Ah…
Will could see it now…
A sign - quite a large one, actually - bolted to the surrounding fence.
‘Drinking alcohol in this area in prohibited’, it said. In massive bold lettering.
Will felt the colour drain from his face. In his periphery, he noticed Jay dashing back to the bar, drinks in hand.
“Oh… right,” Will muttered sheepishly, dignity in tatters. “I, er… suppose that’s a fair enough rule. We didn’t notice. My sincere apologies.”
The woman nodded curtly and stalked off. Mortified, Will nearly stumbled over his own feet on his way back to the bar, silently begging the ground to swallow him whole. He turned to apologise to Jay; for the scene he’d made, for ruining their day. For existing, quite frankly.
But Jay was nowhere to be seen.
Will felt a flicker of panic rise in his chest until he heard a familiar wheezing sound coming from under one of the tables. He stooped down to investigate.
There Jay was, on his knees, arms wrapped around his middle, subdued by a fit of helpless full-bodied laughter. Sighing, Will knelt by his side, the sound of Jay’s hysterics somewhat soothing his humiliation.
“Are you quite finished?” Will said flatly.
“Oh my god, I feel light-headed!” Jay wheezed, wiping tears from his eyes. “That was hilarious! You solid-gold legend!”
“It’s not funny!”
“It is!” Jay squeaked. “You went fucking retro on her! ‘Bigoted old boiler’? Thought you said the 1950s were over!”
“Oh, god!” Will groaned. “I essentially recited a sociological dissertation! I was seconds from quoting statistics at her! I shouldn’t be allowed out in civilised society!”
Jay finally managed to pull himself together, still grinning as he shifted closer, kneeling directly in front of Will. His eyes sparkled as he leaned in.
“Nah. You’re fuckin’ amazing, babe.”
“‘Babe’?”
Before Will could process this, Jay closed the distance and kissed him again, affectionately and unapologetically. There they stayed until it was time to go home; seated on the filthy floor of an overpriced theme park restaurant, snogging like nobody was watching.
And they couldn’t have been happier.