wow this is so SO nice, thank you so much for taking the time to send it! i only ever really write fic to share the silly workings of my own brain and to hopefully find that it resonates with other people. so anything like this makes me smile so much! and you got so much of what i was (am) going for!! my fave version of mack is someone who takes what he wants and doesn’t ever question if he deserves something, i.e. the total opposite to will here, who has an awareness of what he likes physically, but is so far removed from allowing himself to have what he needs emotionally. or to even admit to what that might be. like to deep it, a part of him can accept being gay if it’s just a physical thing, but to admit that he might want romance or affection from another man is much harder to come to terms with (much more gay lmao).
also sooo glad you liked that gym scene cos i questioned it a lot!!! i feel v aware of narrative tension and if it’s getting away from me while i write and that particular scene took a lot of work not to feel meandering or pointless.