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Will stepped into Scoops Ahoy, balancing the warm pizza boxes. The lunchtime crowd made the shop feel bright and loud, and the air smelled sweet with waffle cones and melting chocolate. He had never delivered here before, and he didn’t know the people working behind the counter.
Behind the counter, a boy with messy brown hair was carefully scooping ice cream into a cone, while a red-haired girl laughed served a customer. They moved together easily, clearly familiar and comfortable.
Will set the boxes down carefully. “Hi… pizza delivery for Mike,” he said.
Mike looked up immediately, recognition flashing in his eyes. “Oh, that’s mine! Thanks.” He gave a small smile and started opening the boxes, clearly focused on getting his lunch without dropping anything.
The girl standing beside him smirked. “Lunch delivery special, huh? Lucky you.” She nudged him lightly, teasing, and Mike rolled his eyes but didn’t argue.
Will watched quietly, noticing the small details—Mike’s careful movements, the way his co-worker leaned in and teased him effortlessly. The two of them clearly had a close friendship. Will didn’t know either of them, but seeing this little interaction made his chest tighten a little.
“Enjoy your lunch,” Will said softly, picking up his empty tray and stepping back toward the door.
Mike glanced up briefly. “Thanks.”
Will left, heart beating a little faster than normal. It was just a simple delivery, but he found himself thinking about the boy behind the counter and the easy dynamic between him and his friend.
The rest of the day passed slowly at Surfer Boy Pizza. Will wiped down the counter and restocked the boxes, but his mind kept wandering back to Scoops Ahoy. He couldn’t stop thinking about the boy behind the counter—the way he focused so carefully on the ice cream, the faint curve of his smile when the redhead teased him.
He distracted himself by checking the day's orders, but each pizza he packed reminded him of Mike. When he closed the oven door, he imagined setting the boxes down at the counter and hearing Mike say, “Thanks.” That simple acknowledgment, brief as it was, had stuck with him.
· · ─ ·🍕🍨· ─ · ·
By lunchtime the next day, Will was ready with another delivery. The mall was busier now, shoppers weaving between stores, the smell of popcorn from a nearby kiosk drifting past him. He balanced the boxes and tried to steady his nerves. Scoops Ahoy was just ahead.
Stepping inside, the smell of chocolate and waffle cones hit him again. Mike and the girl he recognized from his last delivery were already behind the counter, moving quickly but comfortably together. The redhead was laughing at something a customer said, nudging Mike lightly as he carefully balanced a scoop on a cone.
Will set the boxes down. “Pizza for Mike,” he said.
Mike looked up and smiled. “Lunch break. Perfect timing.” He began opening the boxes, keeping everything neat.
The redhead glanced at the pizza and smirked. “Wow, you really know how to live, Wheeler. All this pizza is coming to you.”
Mike rolled his eyes but gave her a small grin. “It’s just lunch. Don’t make it a big deal.”
Will lingered near the counter, studying them. The way Mike’s eyes followed the boxes, the way he moved with careful precision, the subtle gestures the redhead made to tease him—all of it fascinated Will. He realized he was noticing small details he wouldn’t have expected: the way Mike’s hands shook slightly when balancing multiple items, the little way his friend leaned on the counter as if she owned the place.
“Enjoy,” Will said quietly, picking up his empty tray.
Mike’s eyes flicked up for a second. There was a flash of curiosity there, a momentary pause as if he wanted to ask something, but then he returned to his lunch. Will stepped back, heart beating a little faster. He knew this was only the beginning.
Walking back toward Surfer Boy Pizza, Will thought about the rest of his afternoon. He imagined the conversations he could have if Mike ever recognized him, if they had even a fraction of the easy rapport Mike had with his friend. He felt a little giddy just thinking about it, even if he was nowhere near that point yet.
· · ─ ·🍕🍨· ─ · ·
Over the next few days, this routine continued. Will timed his deliveries carefully, so they always lined up with Mike’s lunch break. Each time, he noticed something new: the way Mike’s hair fell into his eyes, the small laugh he let out when his friend teased him, the way he carefully moved the pizza boxes as if they were delicate treasures.
Sometimes, Will caught Mike looking up at him, just for a brief moment. Those moments made him freeze, feeling simultaneously nervous and excited. Mike didn’t know who he was, and he had no reason to, but each delivery left Will wanting more. He started remembering the little patterns of their interactions, memorizing the small details that made Mike so… compelling.
The girl—who he now knew as Max—continued her friendly teasing, nudging Mike lightly whenever she got the chance. She didn’t notice Will much, but Will noticed everything. He started to imagine what it would be like to be part of that easy camaraderie, to be close enough for small jokes and shared smiles.
And even though Will had never met them before this, and Mike had no idea who he was, something had begun. Small glances, subtle attention, and brief moments of recognition would stretch out over days, each one building quietly toward something neither of them expected.
It was Thursday afternoon, and Will was just finishing up his deliveries at Surfer Boy Pizza when Mike’s voice called after him.
“Hey! Will, right?”
Will turned, a little surprised. “Yeah… that’s me.”
Mike hesitated for a second, scratching the back of his neck. “Uh… we’re heading to the beach tomorrow. Me, Max, Lucas, and Dustin. You should come.”
Will blinked. “Oh… really? That sounds… fun.”
Mike grinned. “Cool. Bring someone if you want. Friend, sibling… whoever.”
Will’s stomach tightened slightly. He hesitated, then nodded. “Yeah… okay. I’ll bring my sister.”
Mike raised an eyebrow. “Cool. What’s her name?”
“Jane,” Will said softly.
· · ─ ·🍕🍨· ─ · ·
The next morning, Will woke up early, nerves buzzing in his chest. He had never hung out at the beach with Mike before, and now he had to ask Jane to come along.
“Jane,” he said, tugging her gently by the sleeve. “My friend Mike invited us to the beach today. I… I thought maybe you could come with me?”
Jane’s eyes lit up instantly, a teasing grin spreading across her face. “For you? I thought you’d never ask. Is this just friends… or are we talking something more?”
Will’s cheeks flushed. “Just friends. I think. I don’t know. Just… come with me, okay?”
Jane looped her arm with his as they walked out. “Of course I’m coming. But I expect you to actually have fun—and maybe notice someone,” she teased, winking at him.
· · ─ ·🍕🍨· ─ · ·
When they arrived at the beach, the first thing Will noticed was the group waiting for them. Mike was already there, sitting on a towel with Max beside him. A boy with messy curly hair was crouched in the sand, grinning as he dug a hole, and another dark-skinned boy with tighter curls stood a few feet away, tossing a frisbee casually between his hands.
Mike waved as soon as he saw them. “Hey! Over here!”
Will set the pizza boxes down and introduced Jane. “This is my sister, Jane.”
Jane grinned and waved at the group. “Hi! I’m Jane,” she said brightly, giving Will a small wink that made him flush.
Mike nodded at her. “Cool. Glad you could make it.”
Mike stepped aside to introduce the others. “This is Dustin, and that’s Lucas. They’re friends from school. We hang out sometimes.”
Dustin looked up from his sand digging, eyes wide and enthusiastic. “Pizza? For all of us? This is awesome!”
Lucas tossed the frisbee lightly in his hands. “Hey, welcome. I’m Lucas. Nice to meet you.”
Will nodded, a little shy. “I’m Will. Nice to meet you.”
Max smirked at him from her towel. “Looks like your introduction’s going well. Don’t get lost now.”
Will felt a little tension in his chest, but it was a good kind of nervous. Mike was right there, smiling faintly at him, and Jane nudged him lightly. “Go on, say hi properly. Don’t just stand there staring.”
Will gave a small laugh and carefully set up the pizza on the blanket. “I brought enough for everyone. I hope you like it.”
Mike gave him a grateful smile. “Seriously, thanks. Perfect timing.”
Dustin clapped him on the shoulder, almost knocking him slightly off balance. “You’re a hero, man. Pizza and the beach? Best combo ever.”
Lucas chuckled. “Yeah, thanks. This is great.”
Will’s chest warmed a little. Even though he didn’t know any of them beyond Mike, the group felt welcoming. Max teased freely, Dustin bounced around with excitement, Lucas kept it casual, and Mike—Mike—was right there, giving him small smiles that made Will’s heart thump.
Jane whispered beside him, smirking. “See? You’re doing fine. Don’t forget why you’re here.” She gave him a gentle nudge, and Will felt the nervous excitement settle in his chest.
As the group settled onto the blanket, Will arranged the pizza so everyone could reach it easily. The sun glinted off the water, warm on his skin, and the sound of the waves mingled with laughter and the occasional call from a passing seagull.
Dustin immediately dug into a slice, crumbs already on his fingers. “Man, this is amazing. Seriously, you’re the best,” he said, looking up at Will with wide, grateful eyes.
Lucas grabbed a slice next, grinning. “Yeah, thanks. You didn’t have to do this, but I’m glad you did.”
Will smiled shyly, feeling a little out of place but also quietly pleased. Then he glanced at Mike. Mike was sitting cross-legged on the towel, a slice of pizza in hand, and he caught Will’s gaze. He gave a small, easy smile, the kind that made Will’s chest skip a beat.
Max leaned back on her elbows, watching the interaction with her usual smirk. “Hey, don’t stare too hard. You’re going to freak him out,” she teased lightly.
Will’s ears burned, but he shook his head, looking down at the pizza boxes again. Jane laughed softly beside him. “Relax. He likes you noticing him. Just… don’t make it obvious, okay?”
Will swallowed and nodded, keeping his focus on distributing the slices fairly. But he couldn’t help sneaking small glances at Mike. Every time Mike smiled or laughed at something Max said, it felt like the world got a little warmer.
Mike leaned back slightly, stretching his legs and brushing sand off his towel. “So… you deliver pizza often?” he asked casually, as if trying to make conversation.
Will paused, momentarily caught off guard. “Yeah… a few times a week. I work at Surfer Boy Pizza,” he said. “Mostly just for extra money, but… it’s fun.” He gave a small shrug.
Mike nodded, taking another bite of his slice. “Cool. I didn’t know pizza delivery could be… fun.” His tone was light, but there was a subtle interest in his eyes.
Dustin bounced in his seat, pointing at the waves. “Hey! Who wants to go in the water after we eat? It’s perfect today!”
Lucas laughed. “I’m in, as long as someone doesn’t steal my frisbee.”
Max rolled her eyes, clearly amused. “I’m not getting wet. But I’ll watch and make fun of you all.”
Will smiled faintly, feeling the sun's warmth and the group's ease. Mike’s attention flitted back to him occasionally, subtle but unmistakable, and each glance made Will’s heart pound. He hadn’t expected to feel this nervous just delivering pizza, but sitting here, sharing this moment with Mike and his friends, it felt… different.
Jane nudged him lightly again. “See? You’re fitting in. Just relax a little.”
Will let out a small laugh, trying to calm the fluttering in his chest. He caught Mike’s eye one more time, and Mike gave him a small, shy smile in return. For a moment, everything else—Dustin yelling about frisbee rules, Lucas joking with Max, the waves crashing in the distance—faded away.
Will realized he could stay like this forever, just noticing Mike, just existing in this quiet, warm tension that seemed to stretch across the blanket. And for the first time, he thought that maybe these deliveries were more than just work—they were a way to see someone he didn’t even know, but already wanted to notice him back.
Dustin wiped his hands on his shorts and stood up, stretching like he had just completed a massive meal instead of two slices of pizza. “Okay,” he announced dramatically, pointing toward the ocean, “I’m going in the water before Lucas finishes the rest of the pizza.”
Lucas rolled his eyes but grabbed another slice anyway. “Relax. I’m not stealing it. Yet.”
“You literally ate two slices already,” Dustin said.
“That was strategy.”
Dustin scoffed and turned toward the water. “Whatever. Last one in is a rotten egg!”
He started sprinting across the sand before anyone could respond.
Lucas watched him go, shaking his head. “He says that every time like we’re five years old.” But after a second he set his slice down and jogged after him anyway, frisbee still tucked under his arm.
Will watched them run toward the shoreline. The sand kicked up under their feet and Dustin nearly tripped twice before finally reaching the edge of the water. The waves rolled in gently, sparkling under the sun.
Behind him, Max leaned back on her elbows on the towel and squinted toward the ocean.
“Ten bucks says Dustin falls over within the next thirty seconds,” she said.
Jane laughed softly beside her. “I’d take that bet.”
Mike brushed crumbs from his hands and stood up, glancing toward the water where Dustin was now splashing Lucas aggressively.
“You guys coming?” he asked.
The question was casual, but when his eyes landed on Will it made Will’s stomach twist with nervous energy.
“Uh,” Will said, standing slowly. “Sure.”
Jane gave him a little nudge with her elbow as he got up. “Go,” she whispered. “Before you chicken out.”
Will shot her a look, but she just smirked like she knew exactly what she was doing.
Mike had already started walking toward the water, and Will followed a few steps behind him. The sand was warm under his feet and the air smelled like salt and sunscreen.
Ahead of them, Dustin was already ankle deep in the water, shouting something about how cold it was while Lucas tried to shove him farther in.
Mike stepped into the water first. He immediately sucked in a breath.
“Wow,” he said. “That’s colder than it looks.”
Will stepped in beside him. The water rushed over his feet and around his ankles as a wave rolled in, cool and foamy.
“Yeah,” Will said quietly. “It is.”
For a moment they just stood there, watching Dustin and Lucas wrestle over the frisbee a few feet away.
Dustin finally noticed them and pointed dramatically.
“Hey! You two are just standing there!”
Lucas followed his gaze and grinned. “Suspicious behavior.”
Mike frowned slightly. “What’s suspicious about standing in the water?”
Before he could finish the sentence, Dustin scooped both hands into the water and flung a huge splash toward them.
Cold water hit Will’s shirt and he jumped back, laughing in surprise.
“Dustin!” Mike shouted.
Lucas immediately took the opportunity to splash Mike from the other side.
“Oh, that’s it,” Mike said, pushing his wet hair back.
The next few seconds dissolved into complete chaos.
Water flew everywhere.
Dustin slipped in the sand and nearly wiped out, Lucas tried to grab his arm, and Mike shoved a wave of water straight toward them that ended up hitting Will instead.
Will wiped his eyes, laughing breathlessly.
“Sorry!” Mike said quickly.
“It’s okay,” Will said, still smiling.
The others drifted a little farther down the shore, still arguing loudly about who started the splash war.
That left Will and Mike standing a few feet apart in the shallow water.
The sunlight reflected off the ocean in bright flashes. The breeze lifted Mike’s hair slightly, and Will noticed the way the water clung to the hem of his shorts.
Mike rubbed the back of his neck.
“I didn’t mean to splash you that hard,” he said.
Will shrugged. “It’s the ocean. I think I’ll survive.”
Mike laughed softly.
It was quieter than Dustin’s loud excitement or Max’s teasing sarcasm. Something about it felt warmer, easier.
For a moment they just stood there with the water swirling around their legs.
Mike glanced back toward the beach.
Max had pushed herself upright and was watching them with a very entertained expression.
Jane sat beside her, shielding her eyes from the sun.
Max cupped her hands around her mouth.
“You guys look ridiculous from over here!”
Mike groaned. “Great. We have an audience.”
Will glanced back and waved awkwardly. Jane waved back immediately.
When he turned around again, Mike was looking at him with a small, thoughtful smile.
“So,” Mike said after a second. “You work at Surfer Boy, right?”
Will nodded. “Yeah.”
“Is that why you always end up delivering my pizza?”
Will felt heat creep up his neck. “Mostly just luck with the delivery schedule.”
Mike smiled like he didn’t fully believe that answer but didn’t push it either.
“Well,” he said, kicking lightly at the water, “I’m glad it works out that way.”
Will wasn’t sure how to respond to that, so he just nodded, hoping his face wasn’t turning red.
Farther down the shore, Dustin suddenly shouted, “FRISBEE TIME!”
Lucas held the frisbee up like a trophy.
“Teams!”
Mike groaned quietly. “Oh no.”
Dustin pointed immediately. “New guy’s on my team!”
Lucas crossed his arms. “Absolutely not.”
“Why not?”
“Because you’ll make him do all the running.”
“That is not true.”
Mike leaned closer to Will slightly and muttered, “It’s completely true.”
Will laughed.
The sound surprised him a little. It had been a while since he felt this relaxed around people he barely knew.
“Okay,” Lucas said, clapping his hands together. “Teams. Me and Mike.”
Dustin pointed at Will triumphantly. “And me and Will!”
Mike sighed dramatically. “This is going to be a disaster.”
“Have some faith in me,” Dustin said.
“I don’t.”
They moved farther up the beach where the sand was flatter. Max and Jane stayed on the blanket, clearly planning to watch instead of play.
Max stretched out comfortably.
“Oh this is going to be good,” she said.
The game started quickly.
Lucas threw the frisbee high into the air and Dustin immediately ran for it like it was the most important athletic event of his life.
Will chased after him, the sand shifting under his feet.
The frisbee dipped suddenly and Dustin missed it completely.
Lucas caught it easily.
“Wow,” he said. “Great teamwork.”
“Shut up,” Dustin said, already turning to chase him.
Mike jogged across the sand, trying to block Dustin while Lucas looked for someone to throw to.
Will ended up right in front of Mike without meaning to.
For a second they both hesitated.
“Uh,” Mike said, raising his hands like he was defending a goal. “You’re supposed to block me.”
“Oh. Right.”
Will tried to focus on the game, but it was difficult when Mike was standing so close.
Lucas finally threw the frisbee.
It arced across the air toward Mike.
Mike jumped to catch it at the same moment Will reached for it.
Their hands collided.
The frisbee slipped out of both of their grips and landed in the sand behind them.
For a second neither of them moved.
Then Mike laughed.
“Wow,” he said. “That was impressive.”
Will rubbed the back of his neck, smiling awkwardly. “Sorry.”
“No, that was my fault.”
Behind them Dustin groaned loudly.
“YOU GUYS WERE SUPPOSED TO CATCH THAT!”
Max’s voice carried across the beach.
“Maybe try flirting less and playing more!”
Will froze.
Mike turned bright red immediately.
“Max!” he shouted.
Max just laughed harder.
Will looked down at the sand, trying to hide his smile.
And even though the game continued, and Dustin kept yelling instructions, and Lucas kept making sarcastic comments, Will couldn’t stop noticing the way Mike kept glancing at him after that.
Like he was starting to notice him too.
· · ─ ·🍕🍨· ─ · ·
The game slowed down gradually rather than stopping all at once. Running through sand had worn everyone out more than they expected, and after a while Dustin finally flopped dramatically onto the ground, arms spread out like he had just finished some intense athletic event.
“I think I’m dying,” he groaned, staring up at the sky.
Lucas stood nearby with the frisbee still in his hand and rolled his eyes. “You’re not dying. You ran for ten minutes.”
“Ten very intense minutes,” Dustin corrected, still refusing to sit up.
Mike bent forward slightly with his hands on his knees, catching his breath. “Okay,” he said after a moment, pushing his hair back from his face. “I think that’s enough frisbee for one day.”
Will couldn’t help laughing quietly at the scene. Dustin still hadn’t moved from the sand, Lucas was trying to pull him up by the arm while complaining that he was getting sand everywhere, and Mike looked like he was just relieved to sit down.
They all slowly made their way back to the blanket where Max and Jane were waiting.
Max glanced up as they approached, raising an eyebrow. “Wow. You guys look exhausted.”
“That’s because Dustin doesn’t understand the concept of pacing,” Lucas said as he dropped down onto the sand again.
Dustin immediately reached for another slice of pizza like he hadn’t just declared himself dead five minutes earlier.
Jane shifted a little on the blanket so Will could sit down beside her. He brushed sand from his hands and settled onto the edge of the blanket while Mike sat across from him, stretching his legs out in the sand.
For a while the group just relaxed. The sun hung lower in the sky now, and the breeze coming off the ocean felt cooler against Will’s skin.
Dustin started talking about a movie he had seen recently, launching into a long explanation of the plot while Lucas interrupted every few sentences to point out something that didn’t make sense.
Max tossed in sarcastic comments whenever Dustin got too dramatic with his storytelling.
Will listened quietly, occasionally laughing along. He felt more comfortable than he expected sitting there with all of them, like the group had simply absorbed him into their conversation without much effort.
Every once in a while he caught Mike glancing in his direction.
Not in a way that felt awkward or uncomfortable. More like he was still figuring something out.
Eventually Dustin and Lucas wandered farther down the beach again after spotting a stretch of smooth rocks near the shoreline.
“I bet I can skip one farther than you,” Dustin said, already crouching down to pick one up.
Lucas laughed. “You can barely throw straight.”
“I absolutely can!”
They kept arguing as they walked away, their voices fading slightly with the sound of the waves.
Max stretched her arms over her head and stood up from the blanket.
“I’m going to walk for a bit,” she said, brushing sand off her shorts. Then she looked down at Jane. “You coming?”
Jane glanced at Will briefly before standing up.
“Sure,” she said easily.
As they started walking down the beach together, Jane gave Will a quick look over her shoulder that made it very obvious she knew exactly what she was doing.
Within a minute the two of them were far enough away that their conversation blended into the background noise of the beach.
That left Will and Mike sitting alone on the blanket.
For a moment neither of them spoke.
The waves rolled in steadily, the water shining in the late afternoon light. A few seagulls circled overhead, and somewhere farther down the beach Dustin shouted something about finding the “perfect rock.”
Mike leaned forward slightly, picking up a small shell from the sand and turning it over between his fingers.
“That game got out of hand faster than I expected,” he said after a moment, glancing toward the water.
Will smiled a little. “Dustin seems like that kind of person.”
Mike laughed quietly. “Yeah. He’s been like that for as long as I’ve known him.”
He tossed the shell back into the sand and brushed his hands together.
Another small stretch of quiet settled between them, but it didn’t feel uncomfortable.
Mike eventually looked back at Will.
“You’ve been delivering pizza to the mall for a while now,” he said thoughtfully. “At least… that’s what it feels like.”
Will nodded. “Yeah. I’ve been working there a few months.”
“And somehow you always end up with my orders,” Mike continued.
Will hesitated slightly.
“Yeah,” he admitted.
Mike tilted his head a little, studying him with a curious expression.
“Is that just coincidence?”
Will felt his chest tighten.
For a second he considered brushing it off again like he had before. It would be easy enough to say the deliveries just worked out that way.
But something about the quiet beach and the way Mike was looking at him made it feel harder to pretend.
Will rubbed the back of his neck nervously.
“Not exactly,” he said quietly.
Mike’s eyebrows lifted slightly. “What do you mean?”
Will stared down at the sand for a moment before answering.
“I started timing my deliveries,” he admitted. “Just a little. So I’d be the one bringing the orders to Scoops Ahoy.”
Mike looked genuinely surprised.
“You did?”
Will nodded slowly, feeling heat creep into his face.
“I know it probably sounds kind of weird,” he said quickly. “I just… noticed you the first time I delivered pizza there. And after that I kept hoping I’d get to see you again.”
The words hung in the air between them.
For a moment the only sound was the ocean.
Will finally glanced up, half expecting Mike to look confused or uncomfortable.
But Mike was just watching him quietly.
“You noticed me,” Mike said after a second.
Will nodded.
“Yeah.”
Mike looked out toward the water for a moment, then back at Will again.
“That’s actually kind of funny,” he said.
Will blinked. “Funny?”
Mike smiled slightly, almost shy.
“Because I started noticing you too.”
Will felt his stomach flip.
“You did?”
Mike nodded.
“At first it was just because you kept showing up with my lunch,” he explained. “Every time you walked in with the pizza I’d think… oh, it’s the same guy again.”
He brushed a little sand off his hands as he spoke.
“And then after a while I started wondering if you were doing it on purpose.”
Will laughed softly under his breath. “So you figured it out.”
“Not completely,” Mike admitted. “But I had a feeling.”
The tension between them shifted into something warmer.
Mike looked down at the sand for a moment before speaking again.
“So you came to the beach today because of that?” he asked quietly.
Will nodded.
“Yeah. I wanted to spend more time with you. Without it just being a delivery.”
Mike let out a quiet breath, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
“I’m really glad you did.”
Will felt his chest tighten again.
“Yeah?”
Mike nodded.
“Yeah. I think… I kind of hoped you would.”
The wind moved lightly through Mike’s hair as he said it.
For a few seconds neither of them spoke.
They were just looking at each other.
Then Mike shifted a little closer on the blanket.
“I’ve been trying to figure something out all day,” he said slowly.
“What?”
Mike rubbed the back of his neck, looking slightly nervous now.
“I think I like you,” he said.
The words came out quietly but clearly.
Will felt his breath catch.
“You do?”
Mike nodded.
“I mean… I didn’t know you before all the pizza deliveries,” he said with a small, embarrassed laugh. “But every time you showed up I kind of hoped you’d stay a little longer.”
Will couldn’t stop himself from smiling.
“I hoped you’d notice me,” he admitted.
Mike smiled back at him.
“Oh, I definitely noticed you.”
The moment stretched quietly between them.
Then Mike shifted even closer.
“Can I try something?” he asked softly.
Will’s heart was beating so fast it almost felt unreal.
“Okay,” he said.
Mike leaned in slowly.
The ocean moved steadily behind them, the air warm and quiet as the sun dipped lower in the sky.
When Mike kissed him it was gentle and a little uncertain, like he was still figuring out if it was okay.
Will leaned in too without thinking, kissing him back.
It only lasted a few seconds.
But when they pulled apart they were both smiling.
Mike laughed softly under his breath.
“Well,” he said, brushing sand from his hands again. “I guess I’m really glad you kept delivering pizza.”
Will laughed too.
“Me too.”
Farther down the beach Dustin suddenly shouted something about breaking his “personal rock skipping record,” followed by Lucas arguing that it absolutely didn’t count.
Will glanced toward them before looking back at Mike.
Mike was still smiling at him.
And this time the smile felt different.
Like something had finally started.