In the morning, the harsh, persistent buzz of the alarm on Willy's phone cut through the quiet room. He could barely force his heavy eyelids open, his head throbbing with a dull, agonizing hangover. He immediately fumbled across the nightstand for the device and silenced it, terrified the sharp noise would disturb Tim. When he glanced down, Tim was still sleeping peacefully beside him, completely undisturbed, his soft, rhythmic breathing steady as if he hadn't heard a single thing.
Willy carefully, meticulously slipped out from under the heavy covers, stepped quietly across the hardwood floor, and left the apartment before his resolve could crumble.
Every Saturday, his family gathered at his parents' house, a non-negotiable, long-standing tradition. It was the only day of the week they could all realistically align their chaotic schedules, so being late was simply not an option. Fortunately, his taxi arrived quickly. As soon as Willy settled into the back seat and rubbed his aching temples, he pulled his phone from his pocket and drafted a message to Tim:
Willy:I'm sorry I left without saying goodbye. You were sleeping so peacefully that I didn't want to wake you. I'll meet you at the airport tomorrow. Don't forget we have an early morning flight.
When he finally arrived at his family home, the grand house was surprisingly silent. Only his older brother, Miles, was sitting in the high-ceilinged living room.
"Hey," Willy said, stepping through the entryway and looking around the empty hallway. "Where is everyone?"
Miles looked up from his glowing laptop screen, offering a dry smile. "They called thirty minutes ago. Mom and Dad got summoned to the corporate headquarters for an emergency executive board meeting they couldn't postpone. And the second the twins heard that, they bolted out the door to meet their friends."
Willy groaned, tossing his car keys onto the marble counter with a heavy sigh. "If I'd known, I wouldn't have dragged my hungover self all the way over here either."
"Good thing I didn't tell you then," Theo smirked, snapping his laptop shut. "I actually wanted to talk to you anyway."
Willy raised an eyebrow, a sudden wave of sharp suspicion hitting him. "Oh, let me guess. Logan already told you everything, didn't he?"
Miles chuckled, leaning back against the leather sofa. "You know Logan doesn't hide anything from me. My little brother is finally falling in love. Honestly, I can't believe you're all grown up."
"I don't want to talk about it," Willy muttered, shifting uncomfortably on his feet as his chest tightened. "I don't even understand what's happening myself yet."
"If you want, I can help you figure it out," Miles offered, his tone softening into genuine warmth. "Give you some proper older brother advice."
Willy turned abruptly back toward the front door. "I'm leaving. I am definitely not having this conversation with you today."
"I'm your brother, Willy! Why are you so utterly embarrassed?" Miles called out behind him, laughing heartily.
"I'm not embarrassed!" Willy fired back over his shoulder.
"Don't lie to me! Your ears are turning bright red right now!" Miles teased.
Unable to handle the ruthless teasing a second longer, Willy practically ran out of the house, his face burning hot.
Truthfully, his relationship with Miles had been somewhat distant lately. They barely saw each other anymore. Willy, Miles, Seb, and Al used to be completely inseparable as kids, but ever since Miles took on massive corporate responsibilities within the family business, he had been constantly buried under work. Willy always tried to reconnect during their rare family dinners, but it never seemed to fully bridge the gap. He understood that Miles had heavy adult responsibilities and a serious relationship with Logan, but he still missed his brother terribly. If they were as close as before, Miles would have been the very first person he'd turn to for advice about Tim.
Willy took a cab back toward the downtown lounge to retrieve his car, which he had abandoned there the previous night. He could barely remember where he had parked it in his hazy state. But as he approached the vehicle, he noticed a slender figure leaning casually against the driver's side door. A sudden, violent spark of genuine happiness hit Willy's chest when he recognized who it was.
"Hey," Willy said, his pace quickening despite himself. "What are you doing here?"
Tim looked up, a bright, effortless smile breaking across his pale face, erasing the shadows beneath his eyes. "I knew you'd come back to your car early. Want to go somewhere?"
Willy hesitated for a split second. He had a million logistics to organize before their flight tomorrow, but deep down, he desperately wanted to spend more time with Tim. He wanted to understand the boy hiding behind the complex mysteries.
"Okay," Willy agreed softly. "But where to?"
"Anywhere you want," Tim replied, stepping away from the car door. "Today, I'll do whatever you say."
Willy raised an eyebrow, a playful challenge entering his eyes. "Are you serious? Even if it's something you completely hate?"
Tim loved challenges; he was the exact type of person who never backed down from a dare. "Are you trying to challenge me, Captain? Like I said, I'll do anything... but on one condition. Whatever I have to do, you have to do it right beside me."
He held out his slender hand. Willy firmly shook it, but instead of letting go, Tim used the grip to pull Willy a sudden step closer, cutting the space between them.
"Just so you know, I've never lost a game in my life," Tim murmured, his dark eyes locking fiercely onto Willy's. "And I don't intend to lose to you, no matter how much I like you."
Willy's heart did a sudden, violent flip against his ribs, but he forced his icy composure to hold. "Don't forget that I'm the number one shooter in the country, Tim. I don't lose easily either."
Tim leaned in even closer, his warm breath brushing against Willy's sensitive neck as he whispered into his ear: "I'll take that first-place spot from you soon. But don't worry... you'll always be number one in my heart."
Willy felt his face burn instantly, the heat spreading down his collar. No matter how much he tried to deny it to his friends or his brother, he liked Tim. The more time they spent together, the clearer and more undeniable it became.
Willy quickly stepped back, trying to mask his flustered state behind a cough. "We'll see about that. Let's start with the karting track down the highway."
Tim blinked, a bit surprised by the choice. "Karting? Alright, let's do it."
"Why? Scared?" Willy taunted.
"I'm not afraid of anything," Tim shot back, his competitive streak flaring up brilliantly. "Let's go."
Willy unlocked the car, but Tim bypassed the passenger side entirely and opened the driver's door instead.
Willy frowned. "Where's your car?"
"Why drive separately and waste fuel?" Tim reasoned smoothly, waving his hand. "I came here by taxi. Today, you're my personal driver."
Willy couldn't argue with that logic, especially since Tim had spent the previous night taking care of him while he was completely out of it. He slid into the driver's seat, and Tim buckled up right next to him.
As they merged onto the busy main road, Tim turned down the low hum of the radio. "Let's play a game so you don't get bored behind the wheel."
"What kind of game?" Willy asked, keeping his eyes fixed on the highway traffic.
"Yesterday, I promised you that you could ask me anything and I'd answer honestly. Let's do a question-and-answer exchange."
"Okay," Willy agreed, instantly seizing the opportunity. "First question: Why did you really join our university's shooting club?"
"You already know the answer to that," Tim said effortlessly, leaning his head back against the leather seat. "To take your place. I'm here to win."
"Then I'm asking another question," Willy countered.
"Hey, that's cheating!" Tim laughed softly.
"It doesn't count because I already knew that answer. It wasn't a real question."
Tim rolled his eyes, a fond smile gracing his face. "Fine, fine. Ask something else."
Willy smiled, savoring the small victory. "Why are you always so alone, Tim?"
The playful atmosphere in the car shifted slightly, turning quieter and heavier. Tim stared out the side window at the passing autumn trees. "I don't have a good relationship with my parents. My father was always buried in his business, and my mother was constantly sick. I spent most of my childhood completely left to my own devices. I got used to being alone... but lately, I'm realizing I don't want to be anymore."
Tim caught the sudden look of profound sympathy on Willy's face and quickly waved his hand dismissively. "Hey, don't look at me like that. I really am used to it. Anyway, my turn: Where were you running off so early this morning?"
"My parents' place," Willy answered smoothly. "We try to meet up every week. But today was a bust; only my brother Miles was home."
"It's a good thing that you still have a family that shows up, even if they miss a day," Tim said softly, genuine envy in his tone. "Your turn."
"Why is winning this specific national competition so important to you?" Willy asked.
"To fulfill a promise I made a very long time ago," Tim said, his tone turning distant and solemn for a split second before he shook it off. "Do you have any other siblings besides Miles?"
"Yeah, the twins," Willy sighed, though there was undeniable warmth in his voice. "They are absolute, unadulterated chaos."
Tim laughed, the heavy mood breaking. "I can only imagine how loud your house must get."
"Even now, when we all manage to get together under one roof, it's completely unbearable," Willy noted with a chuckle. "What about you? Any siblings?"
Tim paused, his dark gaze dropping to his hands folded in his lap. "No. That's probably why I'm so spoiled."
"Well, that definitely explains your dramatic personality," Willy joked, trying to keep the mood light.
"Hey! I'm actually Grandma's absolute favorite," Tim said proudly, puffing out his chest. "She's the one who supported me and helped me achieve everything. I'll take you to meet her someday. I know she'll adore you."
Willy felt a strange, deep warmth spread through his chest. "Maybe I'll end up becoming her favorite instead of you."
Tim gasped dramatically. "Are you already trying to win over my family?"
"No," Willy smirked. "And hey, that counts as your question."
"You're cheating again!" Tim pouted, crossing his arms like a child.
"Okay, last question then," Willy said, his tone turning a bit more serious as he kept his eyes on the road. "Who sent you the drink yesterday?"
Tim paused, a small, knowing smile breaking across his lips as he turned to look at Willy. "Are you jealous?"
"I'm not jealous," Willy countered quickly, trying to sound indifferent. "Don't tell me if you don't want to."
Tim fell silent for a few moments, his gaze drifting back out the window as he collected his thoughts.
"He was an old colleague of mine," Tim explained softly. "We used to work together. He's liked me for years, but he knows nothing will ever happen between us, so I haven't kept in touch with him for a long time. We just happened to cross paths yesterday by complete chance."
Willy absorbed the answer, the subtle tension in his shoulders finally easing. "Okay. I understand."
A comfortable silence settled between them in the car for a while. Tim stayed quiet, but his restless nature meant the silence didn't last for more than a minute. "Willy? Why didn't you ask me about my nightmares? Or about my health waiver?"
Willy slowed the car down as they approached the grand entrance of the outdoor karting venue. "Because that's your story to tell, Tim. You'll tell me when you're ready, and I'm not going to force it out of you."
Tim stared at him, his dark eyes suddenly shimmering with an unshed, profound layer of emotion. "Thank you," he whispered, his voice barely audible over the engine.
Willy parked the car and turned off the ignition, looking over at him. "Are you about to cry on me?"
"No," Tim shot back immediately, sniffing and rubbing his nose.
"Right. I'll totally believe you," Willy smiled gently. It was clearly the first time in Tim's life that someone hadn't aggressively pushed him for confidential answers, and the sheer relief on his face was palpable.
They stepped out of the car and headed to the pit lane, the deafening roar of small engines filling the air. After securing their helmets, they lined up at the starting grid.
"How many laps are we doing?" Tim shouted over the thundering engine noise.
"Ten laps!" Willy yelled back, snapping his tinted visor down. "If it's a tie, we do one sudden-death lap!"
The race was brutal, fast, and electric. Neither of them refused to give an inch, drifting corners dangerously close and overtaking each other constantly. By the end of the tenth lap, they crossed the checkered flag practically neck-and-neck, tire to tire.
After they parked the karts and pulled off their heavy helmets, Tim wiped a sweat-dampened strand of dark hair from his forehead, breathing heavily. "So... where's my prize?"
Willy looked at him, confused, holding his helmet under his arm. "We didn't set a prize. And besides, it was a literal tie."
Tim stepped closer, cornering Willy directly against the stacked tire barrier. He reached out, his long fingers lightly brushing against Willy's jacket sleeve as he pulled him in close. "I think we should continue exactly where we left off last night in my kitchen."
Willy's breath hitched, understanding the heavy implication immediately.
"Willy, I want…"
Tim didn't get to finish the sentence. Willy leaned down and pressed his lips firmly against Tim's.
Tim froze instantly, his eyes widening in pure, paralyzed shock as Willy's lips locked onto his. It was sweet, firm, and filled with all the unsaid feelings, desires, and protection of the past few weeks. This was his very first kiss, and as the roar of the engines faded into complete white noise around them, Tim knew one thing for certain: he wanted this exact moment to last forever.
Willy slowly pulled back, his dark eyes searching Tim's stunned face anxiously. "Are you okay?"
Tim stood entirely still, his hand flying up to cover his mouth, his eyes wide.
"Tim?" Willy asked, a sudden wave of sharp panic hitting him. "Say something. Did I cross a line?"
"Sorry," Tim breathed, his voice trembling slightly against his hand. "I... I just didn't expect you to actually do it."
Willy looked down, rubbing the back of his neck, suddenly agonizingly self-conscious. "Oh. I thought... I thought you wanted a kiss."
"No," Tim confessed, a breathless, utterly radiant smile suddenly breaking across his face. "I actually wanted to tease you and ask you to read me a fairy tale again... but this was the best reward I could have ever imagined in my life."
Willy's face turned scarlet, completely embarrassed by his own forwardness. Seeing his genuine reaction, Tim threw his arms around Willy's neck, hugging him with all his strength.
"I am the happiest person alive right now," Tim whispered fiercely into his shoulder.
"Can we... please do not talk about this out loud in front of others?" Willy mumbled into Tim's soft hair, trying to hide his burning blush.
"No way! I'm going to talk about it forever," Tim laughed happily, hugging him even tighter. "You literally stole my first kiss. You're completely responsible for me now."
Willy let out a long sigh, though he couldn't stop the massive, genuine smile from breaking onto his face. He knew Tim would never, ever let him live this down.
After a quiet, long moment in the embrace, Tim pulled back just enough to look Willy dead in the eyes, his posture softening. "Can I ask you one last question? A real one."
"Go ahead," Willy nodded softly.
Tim's expression turned utterly vulnerable, the playful, arrogant edge completely vanishing. "What am I to you, Willy?"
Willy stared at him, his gaze tracing Tim's pale face, his messy dark hair, and those expressive, deep eyes. He reached out, his large hand gently resting against Tim's waist. "I don't know the exact label yet, Tim. But I know for an absolute certainty that I like you. More than I've liked anyone in my entire life."
Tim's eyes crinkled with emotion as he buried his face back into Willy's neck, squeezing him tight. "Am I dreaming right now?"
"No," Willy whispered, wrapping his strong arms securely around him under the afternoon sun. "This is completely real."
Tim's heart raced with a pure, unadulterated joy. For the very first time in his complicated, dark life, he truly believed that love had found him right when he least expected it.