27Challenge: Michael comes back, begging for Will forgiveness. Will, predictably, gives him a second chance. What will Jack have to say about this? Can he stop Will before he makes the biggest mistake of his life?
Disclaimer: If I owned, Will and Jack would be married by now. But they're not, so I guess I don't.
Chapter One
"Whatever it is you want, you'll have to buy it for yourself," Will said when he answered the phone. "I'm already paying for your dinner tonight, so don't think you can guilt me out of any more money for at least a week."
"Um… Hi, Will." The voice was familiar, but not the one he'd expected. In fact, he'd probably have been less surprised if George W had dropped by his office and invited him and his boyfriend round for drinks.
"Michael?" Will asked.
"Of course. Who did you think it was?"
"I assumed it must be Jack. Who else would I tell off for being such a drain on my finances?"
Michael laughed. "I guess you're right," he said. "Hey, I was just wondering – are you free for dinner this evening? I know it seems kind of sudden but there's something important that I need to… Wait, of course you're not free tonight, you just said… Sorry. I'm kind of mixed up right now."
"Well…" Will paused. It would be good to see Michael again – after all, it had been almost five years since they last spoke. And he and Jack saw each other every day anyway, even if it was just a brief conversation in the hallway that separated their two apartments. "… If it's really that important I'm sure Jack won't mind."
"Great! Meet me at the Olive Garden at seven, okay?"
Will grimaced. He hated the Olive Garden. But after seven years apart Michael had probably forgotten that. "Sounds fine," he replied. "Hey – do I at least get a hint about what this important thing you need to tell me is?"
"Ah… I'd rather tell you in person," Michael answered. "Remember – Olive Garden at seven."
"Olive Garden at seven," Will confirmed. "Got it. See you then."
"'Kay. Bye, Will."
"Goodbye." He placed the phone back in its cradle and almost went back to work when he remembered Jack. Sighing, he picked up the phone again and dialled Jack's office number from memory.
"J.P. McFarland, Head of Program Quality Assurance at Out TV."
"Oh, you have quality programs now?"
"Oh," Jack said, less enthusiastically. "It's you."
"Well observed," Will replied sarcastically.
"So what do you want? I'm a busy man."
"Yeah, I'm sure it's difficult to dry your nails and braid your hair at the same time."
"Shut up, Will."
"I thought you wanted to know why I called."
"Fine – shut up about everything except why you called," Jack amended. "Smart-ass," he added.
"At least the word 'smart' can be applied to me," Will retorted. "Unlike some people I could mention."
"Will, are you going to keep insulting me or are you going to finally tell me why you called?"
Good question. "Okay," Will said after a moment's consideration, "I called to tell you that I can't make it to dinner tonight."
There was silence on the other end of the line for a few seconds. Then Jack spoke. "Oh. Okay."
That's it? We haven't even said more than a dozen words to each other in the past week and when I bail on our first girls' night in over two months all I get is an oh, okay? Is this what it's come to?
"Sorry," Will said, "Something came up."
"Oh," Jack said again. "What?"
Will decided not to let Jack know just yet. If he found out he would probably be full of questions – namely, if Michael was looking for someone with whom to spend an unforgettable no-strings-attached weekend. After almost eighteen years, Will knew how his friend worked.
"Work-related," Will said, "You wouldn't understand even if I told you."
"Yeah," Jack said, sounding hurt, "'Cause that's not a lie."
"It's not," Will said. I was at work when Michael called. That's work related – sort of.
"Fine," Jack responded, "A half-truth at best. Maybe just a quarter-truth. Most likely an eighth-truth."
"Would you quit that?" Will asked irritably.
Jack quit it.
Neither said anything for a few moments. Will gave in first. "Sorry I can't make it," he said. "We'll go out at the weekend, okay?"
"I can't make this weekend," Jack responded, "Karen and I have a thing. How 'bout next Wednesday?"
"Wednesday's no good for me," Will said. "It's the anniversary of Grace and Leo's first kiss. I need to sit at home with her and help her cut his face out of photographs."
"Never mind," Jack replied. "We'll work something out nearer the time, okay?"
Okay? This is not okay! When did we become the least important people in each other's lives? We've been best friends for nearly twenty years and suddenly you can't even manage two consecutive hours a month with me without 'a thing with Karen' coming up?
"Okay."
They hung up.
TBC...