I sipped the last of the champagne as I watched the roaring fire and let The Beatles wind down with Good Night. Once the song was done, I switched off the turntable and re-sleeved the album. I grabbed out glasses and another bottle of champagne before going upstairs to Billy's room.

"I was beginning to think you fled the state again," Billy said from the bed.

"Are you naked?" I asked as I assessed his state.

"I wanted to make sure you had full access." He gave a devilish grin that fully displayed his dimples. "Of my back, of course," he finished. "Why? Are you having some impulse control issues?"

"No," I shot back quickly. "I'm surprised at your confidence, but not impulse problems here."

"Mmhmm." His mumble came more like a sing-song tease. "Could you pour me another glass? I don't think you want me to get up," he teased again.

"Of course, dear," I groaned as I refilled our glasses and downed mine in one sip before pouring another. The action elicited laughter from Billy. I just handed him his glass, hoping it would shut him up.

"Do you have any moisturizer?" I asked as I assessed the situation unfolding before me.

"Yeah, it's on the sink counter," Billy spoke absently as he attempted to sip without rolling over onto his back.

"Okay," I announced with the moisturizer in hand. "Ready?"

"Sure am," Billy eagerly announced.

"Great," I said, as I slapped his ass through the sheet and climbed onto the bed to straddle him.

"Hey now," Billy said in surprise.

"Problem?" I asked. "You aren't having any impulse control issues, are you?"

"No, of course not, but this feels dangerously close to cheating," he challenged.

"Really? You're naked in bed and accusing me of cheating?"

"Fair," he agreed with a laugh.

I squirted moisturizer in my hands and rubbed them together to warm the cream. "So, what have you been doing to care for yourself aside from popping pills from a suspiciously willy-nilly doctor?"

"Not as much as I should," he admitted, knowing lying to me would be futile. "I've been rowing to build up the muscles traditionally and not in how me spasming on stage does."

"Well, that's a start. I love rowing. I do twenty minutes most days."

"Really?" Billy curiously said as I began to rub his shoulders and neck.

"Mmhmm, twenty minutes on the rower, twenty-minute incline walk, and twenty minutes on the floor focusing on my abs," I explained.

"It works for you, Lil. You haven't aged since I met you. Although..." his words tapered off.

"Although what?" I pressed.

"Have you been eating enough? I know how you get when you're stressed." His voice was cautious.

"I hadn't been, but Mary has been fixing that. I'm back up two pounds already," I noted.

"Good, take care of yourself," he noted.

"Mmhmm, sounds like wise advice. Where did you hear that before?" I teased.

"Oh, this chick I used to bang," he teased.

"Billy Collins, when did you get so vulgar?" I slapped his back as I spoke.

"It's all the champagne you've been plying me with!"

"Mmhmm," I murmured as I began to work down his back. My hands were met with a series of knots like I had never felt before. "Billy, you must be in so much pain," I noted.

"Yeah, it hasn't been great. I got a hot tub to help, but I don't use it much. It's weird to sit alone in what is essentially an outside bathtub."

"It is not weird. I would be in it every night," I noted.

"Well, you have the gate code," he noted. "I also have a gym in the basement if you feel like using it."

"Why don't you just go to a masseuse?" I asked.

"I had one I liked, but she disappeared for ten years," I offered, causing me to blush.

I worked on the knots silently for a while, only getting a few winces from Billy. After an hour, Billy stopped me.

"Lil, your fingers are going to fall off," he soothed.

"I'm fine, just a couple more," I noted.

"No." Billy reached around, knocking me off his back to the bed, and rolled over. "You have more than lived up to your offer."

"How does it feel?"

Billy shifted around a bit, checking out how he felt. "Amazing. Thank you."

"My pleasure. Let me know when you want another appointment. I'm just glad nothing popped up," I teased as I pulled myself from the bed and tossed him his pants.

"I have very strong impulse control," Billy shot as he pulled his pants on beneath the covers.

"I guess some things do change," I teased.

"Really, I recall you getting pretty heated at me trying to be a gentleman all those years ago," he added.

"Mmhmm, and I remember you being unable to control yourself because of a pair of leather leggings."

"Oh," Billy fell back on the bed. "Those pants are the thing that wet dreams are made of," he agreed. "Any chance you still have those?"

"I actually do. How long do you think this challenge is going to last?" I giggled.

"Probably until you break out those pants," Billy agreed.

"I should get home, but..." I had consumed four glasses of champagne.

"Car service," Billy offered, as though he could read my mind.

"It's so late," I challenged.

"When do you think car services make all their money?" Billy laughed.

"When people are going to the airport," I weakly offered, realizing the error of my way.

"You're so cute when you're wrong," Billy teased as he pulled himself up and grabbed his phone. "I have a service at the ready all the time. They'll be here in fifteen minutes."

"Oh, how fancy," I joked.

"Yes, responsible driving is fancy, Lil," he added as he tugged on his t-shirt.

We ended up on the couch waiting for the car to arrive. I allowed myself to slump into his side. I wondered if he would kiss me. Then I wondered if wanting him to kiss me was too soon.

"Billy," I said without moving my gaze from the fire.

"Mmhmm," he murmured as his arm pulled me tighter into him.

"Are you okay?" I asked again.

"No, but I'm working on it," I offered.

"Forever," I reminded.

"I hear you and want to believe you, Lil."

"Are you still angry?" I asked.

"Very," he admitted.

"Can I help with it?"

"Only if you stick around. I won't survive falling for you and losing you again, Lil. You have to really mean forever this time, or you might as well stick a knife in my heart right now."

"I mean it, Billy."

Our eyes met as our faces hovered inches from each other.

"The cars here," Billy whispered.

"How do you know?"

"Phone; I get a text when the gate opens."

"Billy..."

"Lil..."

"Tonight was hard, and nice, and hard again," I offered.

"It was, and that doesn't even mention the impulse control." His breath soared over me.

"Agreed, I almost lost," I admitted.

Billy let out a laugh.

"What?"

"You won, Lil," he announced.

"No, neither of us won yet," I offered.

"I cheated," he admitted.

"What? How?"

"They cars out front," he deflected.

Billy pulled himself from the couch and reached back to pull me up to him.

"How did you cheat?"

Billy held my coat out as I tucked my arms into the sleeves.

"You aren't going to tell me," I complained while putting my shoes on.

"Do you really want to know?" Billy skeptically asked.

"Yes," I exclaimed as I hovered by the front door.

"The shower, Lil. I took matters into my own hands in the shower," he admitted.

"You cheater!"

"And still, when you mentioned those damn pants, I almost lost it," he laughed.

"Thank you, Billy," I offered as I kissed him on the cheek.

"For cheating?" He asked.

"For telling me. It's nice to know," I acknowledged before slipping out the door.