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Buck loves being friends with Taylor Kelly. She’s awesome and they always seem to have fun together.
After Eddie started dating Ana, Buck realized that maybe he needed some other friends to balance things out. Of course, he’s got TK Strand in Austin who he likes to text about work during his downtime at the station. TK is always down to hear about Buck’s latest research obsession and he likes to send pictures of their house dog Buttercup whenever Buck is feeling down.
But it’s not the same as having someone around, someone to hang out with and just be in each other’s lives. That’s where Taylor came in.
After the fight, they’d had after the disastrous double date and the subsequent making up over the vaccines, Buck and Taylor had reached a sort of standstill. They talked occasionally over the phone but never for very long and Buck was sure that would be the extent of their friendship.
Until Albert nearly died and Maddie and Chim had baby Jee-Yun in the same night. Buck had mentioned it to her briefly and the next thing he knew, Taylor was showing up at his apartment with a bottle of wine and two baskets: one for Maddie and Chim and the other for Albert.
They’d driven over to Maddie and Chim’s apartment and left them both outside the door with a note on each, Buck had texted Maddie to let her know before he and Taylor went back to his place and proceeded to get drunk.
Buck told her everything that night. About Eddie dating Ana and how Buck is pretty sure he’s in love with his best friend. He told her about not being able to meet his niece yet because of the stupid pandemic and how much he missed his sister since she couldn’t leave Jee-Yun. They talked about how Buck hadn’t lived alone in over a year since everyone had rotated through during the pandemic and how even though he complained about Albert crashing on his couch he honestly missed having him around.
Taylor had in turn told him about how much she hated that all of her stories lately had been heartbreaking and that doing her job in the middle of a pandemic was really weighing on her. She talked about not having many friends because she always prioritized her career over everything but now she’s struggling and has no one to reach out to.
They talk for hours until it’s well past midnight and it’s nice . Buck hadn’t realized how much he’d needed it and it seemed that Taylor had too. Slightly to Buck’s surprise, given their past, they don’t end up in bed together that night. Instead, he gives her the bed and he crashes on the couch and when they wake up the next morning he makes pancakes and coffee.
They’ve been friends ever since.
It’s been a few months since that night. Buck is able to see his niece now, which he does whenever possible, which means he’s also able to see Maddie. Albert is still recovering and needs round-the-clock care so he’s moved into the Lee’s house for the time being but Buck stops by for dinner sometimes. Eddie is still dating Ana, which sucks, but Buck is trying to move on, trying really hard not to be in love with his best friend.
It’s not working very well, but he’s trying .
Since they both have busy schedules at work on top of Buck’s standing game night with Eddie and Chris and his weekly dinners with Maddie and Chim, it’s hard for him and Taylor to always find time to hang out. They usually manage to see each other once a week outside of work, which is always something Buck looks forward to.
Sometimes they go out and find something to do but a lot of times they just hang out in his apartment, getting drunk, watching movies, and catching up.
It’s relaxing for them both and honestly besides Eddie and Christopher, Buck pretty much considers Taylor his best friend.
He doesn’t necessarily mean to keep their friendship a secret, he’s just grown accustomed to considering their hangouts his time and he doesn’t really want to share it. Still, he’d assumed he’d told Eddie that he hung out with Taylor, which is why he’s not expecting Eddie’s reaction when he brings it up at work to be Eddie dropping the bowl he’d been cleaning.
“Taylor Kelly ?” he asks, surprise clear in his voice as he picks up the bowl and starts rinsing it all over again.
Buck gives him a confused look, taking the bowl and putting it into the dishwasher. It’s Eddie’s turn to do dishes after dinner that night but Buck usually helps. “Uh, yeah? What’s up with you, man?”
Eddie rolls his eyes. “I didn’t know you were dating her.” Is all he says and seriously Buck had to have mentioned her at some point in the last few months, right?
“I’m not,” he laughs, “Taylor is just a friend. We get drunk at my apartment and talk about life.”
Eddie looks at Buck for a moment, like he’s not sure he believes that. “You haven’t mentioned her since that ridiculous double date so I thought you guys were done.” He turns back to the dishes but his shoulders are tense and he looks a little pissed. Why though, Buck has no clue.
“It’s not like I was keeping it a secret or anything, we’ve been friends for a while.” Buck shifts his weight nervously. “Seriously, I thought I’d mentioned it, sorry.”
“You didn’t,” Eddie says, a little harshly and Buck actually leans away from him for a split second.
“What’s your problem? I can’t have friends?” Seriously, Buck had been nothing but polite to Ana when he’d met her, why is Eddie being a dick about Buck having a friend?
Eddie lets out a frustrated sigh. “Of course you can have friends, Buck, don’t be ridiculous. I just don’t think she’s good for you.”
“Based on what, exactly?” Buck is a little pissed now too. “You’ve only seen me and Taylor interact a handful of times and definitely not recently. If this is about the story she did on the 118 while we were drugged then get over it. That was over two years ago and she’s since acknowledged that it was wrong to want to include that shit. She’s a great person and we have fun together, is that not allowed?”
Eddie sighs again, although this one sounds more tired than anything else. “I don’t know, Buck, I just don’t like her.”
“Maybe wait to get to know someone before judging them, Eddie.” Buck doesn’t wait for a response, walking towards the locker room.
What right does Eddie have to tell him who he can and can’t be friends with? Buck didn’t tell Eddie not to date Ana even though he thinks she’s not a great presence around Christopher. It’s none of his business, just like his friendship with Taylor is none of Eddie’s business. He texts Taylor to complain about exactly that but all he gets is a laughing emoji in response.
There’s a weird tension between them for the rest of the shift which simultaneously makes Buck want to punch and make out with Eddie. It’s a weird gray area.
He texts Taylor asking if she wants to hang out tonight on his way home before promptly falling into bed and passing out.
Buck wakes up around one. Still feeling a little pissed and kind of hurt, he goes for a long run before making himself a late lunch and settling in to watch some TV.
His phone pings with a text from Maddie, asking how he’s doing along with half a dozen pictures of baby Jee-Yun.
He grins at the pictures, saving them and then texting Maddie that he’s doing good and loves her.
Taylor responded to his text while he was asleep, telling him that she’ll be over around six after work. He sends back a smiley face and decides to spend the next several hours killing time on social media.
By the time Taylor shows up, Buck is dealing with his confused thoughts by reading a book on Greek Mythology that he thinks Chris will like. The knock at the door snaps him out of his own head and he jumps up to answer it.
Taylor is dressed in a knee-length red dress with her makeup done and hair curled. “You look like shit,” she says, stepping through the doorway.
Buck rolls his eyes. “I got off a twenty-four-hour shift this morning, I’m allowed to look like shit.” He looks at her outfit again and furrows his brows. “Did we plan a date I forgot about?”
Taylor laughs, flicking his shoulder. “No, but you didn’t have a super fun shift because your best friend was being dumb and I had a long day at work so we’re going out, I want free cake.”
That gets Buck to laugh. “We haven’t done that in like two months, Taylor.”
“Exactly, so I think it’s about time we did. We’re a hot fake couple and if it gets us complimentary champagne then it’s so worth it. Now please, go change, I got us reservations for seven-thirty.”
Buck rolls his eyes at her but he can’t help the grin that overtakes his features. “Yes, Ma’am.”
He and Taylor started doing this a few weeks into their friendship when they’d gone to a restaurant that Taylor wanted to try but hadn’t made reservations and they were booked. Taylor, doing the world's fastest thinking, switched her emerald ring from her right hand to the left and then draped herself over Buck’s side, her left hand placed on his chest where the hostess could prominently see the ring.
“You’re sure there isn’t anything you can do? My boyfriend—sorry—fiancé just proposed and he wasn’t sure I’d say yes so he didn’t make any reservations.” Taylor had bat her eyelashes sweetly at the poor hostess and Buck, in his shock, managed to put on an embarrassed smile. The hostess had melted at the two of them together and quickly fixed them up with a table as well as complimentary dessert and champagne.
They don’t always do it when they go out, happy to just hang out and get a nice dinner. But occasionally, when one of them has a bad day, they’ll get reservations to a nice restaurant, spend the car ride over concocting an elaborate relationship backstory and stage an over-the-top public proposal. It doesn’t always get them free food but it is always fun.
“Hurry up, Buckley! I’m gunning for a table with an ocean view this time!” Taylor yells up at him. Buck rolls his eyes, earlier hurt at Eddie’s behavior completely forgotten as he tugs a black blazer over his button-up shirt. He digs around for his dress shoes, pulling them on as he goes to the bathroom to fix up his hair and put on cologne.
If nothing else, he gets to play dress-up with a beautiful girl for an evening which is always fun.
“Charming,” Taylor comments, winking at him. Buck laughs and tugs on a red curl in retaliation.
“We ready to go, darling? ” Buck asks, extending his arm to Taylor and smirking.
She grins back and shoves him. “Save it for the audience, babe. ”
The backstories they make up are always different, always elaborate, and always ridiculous. They mostly do it for fun between the two of them. Even with the public proposals, they don’t tend to get too many questions.
The place Taylor has gotten reservations for us an upscale seafood restaurant right on the beach with the lights of the Santa Monica pier setting a beautiful backdrop against the ocean.
Taylor hands her fancy emerald ring over to Buck as he gets out of the car. He pockets it carefully before running around to the passenger side and opening the door for her.
“Such a gentleman,” she teases, taking his hand. Buck winks dramatically at her and she barks out a laugh. “You’re ridiculous.”
Buck grins, offering his arm. “Come on, we’ve got to go get engaged.”
Taylor rolls her eyes fondly as she links her arm with his. “Let’s go.”
The host finds their reservation easily and leads them over to a table with a view of the pier, which is beautiful. They lucked out.
They talk about their weeks over dinner, Taylor going first, laughing as she tells him about a ridiculous story she’s covering. Buck grins, feeling completely relaxed for the first time since before his shift yesterday. He honestly can’t believe Eddie doesn’t want this for him.
Taylor brings it up, about halfway through the meal. “So tell me what Eddie really said. Not just Eddie’s being weird about you, ” she says in a terrible impression of Buck.
He sighs. “I don’t know, it was ridiculous and I don’t want to offend you.”
Taylor scoffs. “Please, give me some credit, Buckley. I have a thick skin.”
“I don’t know, it was weird. He thought we were dating and I told him we weren’t but then he just kept being weird. He said that he doesn’t think you’re good for me.” Buck pauses, taking a sip of his wine. “He said he doesn’t like you.”
To his surprise, Taylor laughs. “Really?”
Buck frowns. “Yeah, and I told him that that’s ridiculous because he barely knows you.”
Taylor hums, sipped her wine as well before resting her chin in her hands and staring at Buck contemplatively. “Maybe he’s jealous.”
Buck rolls his eyes and lets out a humorless laugh. “Of what? He’s my best friend, he knows that. It’s not like I’m replacing him. Not—“ Buck cuts himself off, he’s not going to finish that thought.
Taylor does it for him. “Not like he replaced you?”
Buck immediately goes to defend Eddie, even though he'd almost said the same thing. “He didn’t replace me, he and I were never like that.”
Taylor gives him an indulgent smile. “I know that, Buck. That’s not what I meant. I meant in Christopher’s life. Official or not, you two were basically co-parenting for a bit there and now you’re back to being the best friend because Eddie’s trying to integrate Ana into that role.”
Buck hangs his head, taking a deep breath. “It’s so stupid. I knew this was going to happen eventually.”
“It’s not stupid,” Taylor says, her voice simultaneously forceful and reassuring. “You can’t help how you feel about him. And he’s just as much to blame for letting you take that role in Christopher’s life as you are.”
Buck sighs. “You’re right.” He gives her a small smile. “You always are.”
Taylor smiles back, casually tossing her hair over her shoulder. “I know. Now, back to Eddie being jealous.”
Buck groans. “You’re ridiculous.”
Their waitress comes over then, interrupting the conversation to grab their plates and ask if they’d like dessert.
Buck puts on his practiced nervous-and-in-love smile. “We’d love some. Babe?”
Taylor smiles lovingly at him, taking his hand on the table. “I’ll take your strawberry cheesecake.”
“Chocolate cheesecake for me,” Buck says, smiling at Taylor.
They get their dessert but before eating, Taylor says, “Showtime.” And Buck has to smother a laugh.
“Taylor Kelly, my love,” he starts and Taylor schools her face into a look of love and mild confusion. “I know that it was not an easy road to get here. You hated my guts when we first met. But I knew, right from that first moment, that you are the only girl for me.”
Buck carefully stands up and kneels next to her seat, pulling the ring from his pocket. Taylor is looking both hopeful and surprised but just underneath, Buck can see the humor waiting. “Oh, Evan,” she whispers, and Buck almost breaks into a fit of laughter.
“I never want to spend another day without you by my side. Taylor, darling , will you marry me?”
Buck is ready for her over the top screech and the shower of yesyesyes that follows, but he still has to concentrate on not laughing too much as he sweeps her up in his arms to the sound of clapping behind them.
As hoped for, the restaurant manager comes over to congratulate them on the engagement. She offers them their dessert for free and a nice bottle of champagne on the house.
They share one glass of champagne, careful to keep the facade up as they toast their genius.
Taylor burst into laughter the second they’re out of the restaurant, grinning ear to ear. “That is never going to stop being entertaining,” she says, still clutching the extremely expensive bottle of champagne as she climbs into the passenger side of the Jeep.
Buck can’t help his own laughter. “Yeah, well, I have to do all the work. You just have to sit there and say yes.”
Taylor glares at him. “Hey, I will have you know it takes a lot of effort not to roll my eyes at you as you confess your undying love.”
Buck snorts. “I hate you.”
Taylor grins cheekily back at him as they head back to his apartment to finish the champagne.
Taylor sighs in relief, kicking off her heels at the door and wandering into Buck’s kitchen to find the champagne glasses she’d gifted him for this very occasion.
Buck’s computer is still open on the coffee table and there’s a video chat invite blinking on the screen.
Buck settles into the couch answering the call. Maddie’s face pops up and he grins. “Hey, Mads, how are you doing? It’s nine-thirty, I assumed you’d be asleep.”
Her responding grin is exhausted. “Jee-Yun finally went down and I wanted to say hi.”
“Did your brother tell you we’re engaged?” Taylor asks, sitting next to Buck on the couch and handing him his glass.
Maddie laughs and rolls her eyes. “I cannot believe you guys do that.”
Buck smiles, holding up his champagne. “It’s so worth it.”
Maddie snorts. “You’re both ridiculous.”
“Hey, I get free champagne and I get to shit on Buck’s life,” Taylor says. “It’s a win-win. Oh my god speaking of, did he tell you about Eddie yesterday?”
Maddie leans forward, immediately intrigued, and Buck groans. “Could you two stop gossiping about my life when I’m right here?”
“We do it when you’re not here too,” Maddie responds, unhelpfully.
Buck glares at her through the computer screen. “I hate you both. I’m gonna go read a book and get drunk.”
Maddie and Taylor both laugh and Buck sighs, wondering what possessed him to think it was a good idea to introduce them.
Eddie’s outward dislike of Taylor does not go away over the next shift. He and Buck are mostly back to normal until Chim calls out for Buck to come see the TV. “Taylor’s covering that standoff that Athena’s at downtown,” He explains as Eddie and Buck walk over. Eddie immediately scowls and Buck rolls his eyes, turning his attention to the TV.
It’s a slow night so they settle in for a bit to watch her coverage. Eddie scoffs quietly occasionally when Taylor says something and honestly, what is his problem.
Buck doesn’t say anything, not looking for another argument, but after the fifth time Eddie does it, Chim speaks up. “Dude, what’s up with you?”
Eddie sighs, looking at Buck for a second before turning to Chim. “I’m fine,” he grumbles and Buck laughs sharply.
“Eddie doesn’t like Taylor,” he explains, rolling his eyes.
“Why not?” Chim asks, genuinely confused. Chim has met Taylor a handful of times over the last few months since she’s Buck’s friend and is forming a sort of trash-talking-Buck-based friendship with Maddie.
Hen sets down her med school book, turning to face them. “Is this about the story a few years ago? Because Bobby is over that and Buck said that she’s grown.”
Bobby nods, tearing his attention away from watching the scene his wife is at. “She apologized to me for prying. I’ve got nothing against her personally. Buck says she’s been a great friend.”
Eddie shifts uncomfortably. “I don’t know, I just don’t really like her.”
It’s clear to Buck that Eddie doesn’t want to talk about this but Taylor’s comments from dinner are ringing in the back of his head. “You don’t know her Eddie. You can’t make that call without knowing her. I didn’t like you before I got to know you, remember?”
“That’s not the same thing,” Eddie snaps. Chim is still looking confused, but Hen looks thoughtful, like she’s putting the pieces to a puzzle none of them can see together in her head.
“How is that different, Eddie? You might like her, if you got to know her,” Buck shoots back.
“I don’t want to get to know her.”
“Buck has a point, Eddie. You shouldn’t judge someone you haven’t made an effort to get to know,” Bobby says.
Buck rolls his eyes. What the hell is going on? “She’s my friend, Eddie.”
“She’s been great, dropping off groceries and food for us since we’re so busy with the baby. And Maddie really likes her,” Chim adds.
Eddie looks at Buck, shocked. “She’s met Maddie?”
Buck sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose. “She’s my friend,” he repeats. “She’s at my apartment sometimes when Maddie calls. They’ve gotten to know each other.”
Eddie shifts again, looking like he wants to say something but can’t. Or won’t.
“Hen,” Chim pipes up, “you’re being uncharacteristically quiet.”
Hen hums. She has that look on her face that she gets when she’s figured out something that no one else has yet. “I don’t know Taylor very well, so I don’t have an opinion on her.” She looks at Eddie carefully. “Obviously, she’s been a big help to Chim and Maddie, which gives her points in my book. But ultimately she’s Buck’s friend. If he likes having her around and she’s a good friend like he says she is, then I don’t see why we shouldn’t be supportive of that.”
Eddie looks around at all of them. Finally, he sighs. “Fine, you’re right. I don’t know her so I can’t say I don’t like her.”
It’s an evasive answer but it seems to just confirm whatever Hen is thinking because she nods slightly, narrowing her eyes and turning deliberately back to her book.
Chim is still looking bewildered at Eddie’s reaction to the whole thing and Buck can’t shake the feeling that he’s missing something.
The alarm goes off before Buck can say anything and his thought process is forgotten as he slips into work mode.
The night after they get off shift in the morning is Buck’s weekly movie night with Eddie and Chris and he shows up at four with supplies to make them dinner.
Eddie smiles at him like normal when Buck walks into the kitchen and Buck’s worry about things still being weird melts away.
“Buck!” Chris says, pulling Buck into a tight hug.
“Hey, Superman! How was your day?” Buck asks, squeezing Chris tight and ruffling his hair when he stands back up.
“Good! We’re learning about President Lincoln in history!”
Buck and Eddie let Chris ramble on about school for a while as Buck gets to work. Eddie doesn’t do much, he hands Buck ingredients when asked but mostly just hangs out. It’s nice, companionable, and Buck can’t help thinking how much longer these movie nights are going to be just the three of them.
“That sounds really cool, buddy,” Buck says once Chris finishes his story.
“I already knew more than the other kids though,” Chris says proudly, “since you gave me the book about presidents.”
Buck grins at him. “You’re the smartest kid in the world.”
Chris giggles. “Not in the world .”
Eddie is smiling fondly at the two of them when Buck glances over at him. Something squeezes itself around his heart and he has to look away.
“How are Maddie and the baby?” Eddie asks.
Buck grins. “Good, Maddie is exhausted but she’s so happy. Jee-Yun is so cute. I can’t wait for you guys to meet her. Taylor is bringing Maddie and Chim dinner tonight so they don’t have to cook and I’m sure she’s going to send me a thousand texts about how adorable Jee-Yun is.”
Buck immediately regrets his words. Eddie’s entire demeanor shifts. His muscles tense and the warmth slips right off his face. “Oh, I didn’t realize—she’s close, huh?”
Buck manages to restrain his eye roll but it’s a close call. “I keep telling you, Taylor is a really good person. I told her how exhausted Maddie and Chim were, it was her idea to do things like get groceries for them and bring them dinner sometimes. She’s a good friend.”
Eddie’s jaw is set and he doesn’t seem to have a response.
“Who’s Taylor?” Chris pipes up, looking between Buck and Eddie with interest.
“She’s my friend, bud,” Buck says carefully, nervously glancing at Eddie.
“Like a girlfriend?” Chris asks, looking like he doesn’t like that at all.
“No, no,” Buck rushes to say, “Just a friend, like I’m your friend, except different because you’re my best friend , right?”
Chris nods, looking more relaxed. “Best friends,” he agrees.
“Hey, Chris,” Eddie says, a forced smile on his face. “Why don’t you go wash your hands. Buck is almost done with dinner.”
Chris nods and starts making his way down the hallway.
Buck watches him disappear around the corner before turning back to Eddie. “Look, whatever you’re gonna say about Taylor, don’t. She’s my friend and I care about her and I really don’t want to have to defend her presence in my life every time she comes up.”
Eddie looks at Buck in shock, opening and closing his mouth before nodding. “I wasn’t going to say anything just… I’m glad you have someone.”
Buck nods back, turning back to the pasta and dividing it onto three plates. “I’m glad I have her too.”
Movie night is normal, for the most part. They go through dinner talking and laughing like normal and Eddie does the dishes while Buck and Chris pick out the movie. They watch Iron Man 2 , which Chris loves. Chris asks Buck to read to him that night so Eddie leans up against the doorframe and watches them, a smile on his face, before kissing Chris on the forehead and saying goodnight, following Buck out of the room.
Despite the overwhelming normalness of the night, Buck isn’t totally sure if Eddie is going to ask him to stay.
He does though, offering Buck a beer like always and they settle in at the kitchen table. Eddie asks more questions about Maddie and the baby before the conversation lulls.
And Buck, because he likes to torture himself apparently, asks how Ana is doing. Eddie hadn’t mentioned her at all throughout dinner and Buck is curious , ok?
Eddie smiles but it doesn’t quite meet his eyes. “She’s doing good, school got out last week so she’s had a lot of free time on her hands. She has some administrative stuff she does over the summer but overall it’s less work than during the school year.”
Buck nods and plasters on a smile. “Must be nice.”
Eddie chuckles. “I know, right? I wish the dumbasses in this city would give us a summer break.”
Buck rolls his eyes. “If the idiots in this city stopped being idiots, we’d be out of a job.”
“Yeah, that’s the truth.”
“How is Chris getting along with you and Ana?”
Eddie shrugs. “Good, I think? He’s fine when she’s over but seems a little more subdued. And he never asks about her or when she’ll be over. He just kind of agrees when I ask if it’s ok.”
Buck hums, noncommittal. “He’s probably just still adjusting to it.”
Eddie nods. “Must be it.”
Things settle back into their regular pattern after that. Eddie stops acting like a dick whenever Taylor comes up in conversation or they see her on TV, although he still tenses whenever he asks Buck about his day off and Buck says, “Good, Taylor and I hung out.”
Movie nights stay the same as usual, although Eddie is definitely talking about Ana less, which is odd. Buck doesn’t press the issue.
Buck and Taylor haven’t had a bad-day excuse to do their fake engagement skit again, so they mostly hang out around Buck’s apartment. Though she and Maddie do seem to be becoming better friends.
It’s not until about a month later at the end of June when Taylor knocks harshly on Buck’s door that they decide to do it again. She’s dressed in a nice dress and is holding her heels in her hand. She looks great, but furious.
“What happened?” Buck asks as she stomps around the kitchen.
“Jumper,” she says. “Didn’t end well.”
Buck nods, understanding. “What do you need?”
Taylor stops pacing and takes a deep breath. “I need a fancy dinner with a lot of cake and alcohol.”
“Regular dinner or fake engagement?”
Taylor levels him with a glare. “Engagement, obviously .”
Buck holds his hands up in defense. “Give me five minutes and we can head out.”
Buck takes them to a small restaurant near the station. It’s not as fancy as they usually do for this, but it has Taylor’s favorite chocolate lava cake in the city. Buck tells jokes throughout dinner and watches as relaxation seeps back into Taylor’s demeanor. She’s smiling by the time he gets down on one knee and laughs brightly when he spins her around after she says yes.
They don’t get free champagne this time, but the restaurant gives Taylor an extra slice of the lava cake as they leave and it was worth it to cheer her up.
It’s a busy street so they’d had to park a ways away from the restaurant. Taylor links her arm with Buck’s as they walk and they’re both smiling contentedly. Taylor is teasing him about messing up his lines back at the restaurant and Buck is protesting that it made it more believable when someone says his name.
“Buck?” Eddie and Ana are standing a few feet away and Buck’s heart drops. Taylor tightens her hold on his arm, which he appreciates.
“Eddie, Ana, hey!” His voice is too cheerful, too light.
Ana is smiling politely at them while Eddie’s eyes zero in on their joined arms.
Ana glances at Eddie briefly when he doesn’t respond, confused. She turns back to Buck and Taylor and smiles again, although there’s a tension there now. “Hi, I’m Ana.” She reaches out her hand for Taylor to take.
“Taylor. You must be Eddie’s girlfriend,” she says brightly.
Ana nods. “What are you guys up to tonight?”
“Just out grabbing dinner,” Buck says, still watching Eddie, who is looking both pissed and uncomfortable.
“Us too,” Ana says, looking quizzically at Eddie again.
“Where is Chris?” Buck asks Eddie, hoping to snap him out of whatever this is.
It works. “Oh, uh, he’s at a sleepover with Denny.”
Buck smiles. “I bet he’s having fun.”
Eddie nods. Ana looks between them, her brow furrowed. “Buck, Edmundo didn’t mention you were seeing anybody.”
Before Buck can respond to tell her that he and Taylor are just friends , Taylor jumps in. “It’s new, but we get along well, we’ve been friends for a while.”
Eddie stares wide-eyed between Buck and Taylor and Buck honestly wishes the world would swallow him up whole.
Ana smiles warmly at them, her previous concern apparently gone. “The four of us should go on a double date some time!”
Taylor smiles back. “That sounds great! Well, Buck and I should get going, but I’m sure we’ll see each other again.”
Buck says goodbye to Eddie and Ana on autopilot and since Taylor still has her arms locked with his, he has no choice but to walk to his car.
“What was that for?” he hisses as they get into the Jeep.
Taylor sighs. “I had a theory, I tested it. I was right.”
“Care to share with the class?” Buck asks, pulling out into the LA traffic.
“Eddie couldn’t stop staring at us together and Ana noticed. She thinks something is up. But all her tension went away as soon as I said you and I were together. And Eddie looked angry, like, really angry, Buck.” Taylor smiles proudly. “You can tell Eddie that I was kidding if you want, but I would give it a few days.”
“A few days for what?” Buck asks weakly. He has no idea what she’s getting at.
Taylor shrugs. “You’ll see.”
Somehow, Taylor was right. Buck was curious, so he’d decided to wait until their next shift two days later to talk to Eddie about what Taylor said.
He doesn’t get a chance, though, because Eddie barges into the locker room that morning and says, “Ana broke up with me.”
Buck gapes at him, not sure what to say. The only other person in the locker room is Hen, but she stands up as soon after a second and leaves, a small smile on her face.
“Shit, Eddie, I’m sorry,” Buck finally manages to say after his initial shock and excitement wear off.
Eddie smiles ruefully. “I’m not, not really. can you come over tomorrow after the shift?”
Buck nods, turning back to his locker, confused.
He doesn’t remember to tell Eddie that he and Taylor aren’t dating until lunch.
“Hey, uh, Eddie,” Buck says as they stand alone in the kitchen doing dishes. “You know I’m not dating Taylor, right? She was just joking.”
Eddie all but grins at that. “I was hoping you would have told me if you suddenly had a new girlfriend but I wasn’t sure.”
Buck nods, still confused but starting to feel a little hopeful. “Yeah, uh, no new girlfriend.”
Eddie is a mix of cheerfulness and nervous energy for the rest of the shift and Buck honestly cannot believe this is a guy who just got dumped.
Buck follows Eddie back to his house in his Jeep the next morning. He’s sort of freaking out.
The house is quiet when they walk in, which is weird. “Where’s Chris?” Buck asks.
Eddie smiles. “At my abuela’s.”
Buck nods, shifting back and forth on his feet. They’re just sort of watching each other and it’s weird . “So, uh, why did you want me to come over?”
Eddie's smile turns nervous. “Oh, uh.” He pauses and Buck waits. “Do you know why Ana broke up with me?”
Buck stares at Eddie. That is not what he expected. “Why?” he manages to ask.
Eddie takes a step closer to Buck. “She thinks I’m in love with you.”
“Oh.” Buck is looking at the ground now, unable to meet Eddie’s eyes. What the hell is happening? Is Eddie? No—
“She’s right,” Eddie says quietly. Buck snaps his head up, staring right at Eddie.
“She is?” he whispers, unable to believe that this is happening. This is a scene right out of one of his dreams, it can’t be real.
Eddie nods, looking unbelievably nervous and Buck can’t help the grin that spreads over his face. It barely takes him a second to decide what to do next, because even if this is just a hyper-realistic dream, he’s taking his shot. Buck takes a step towards Eddie so that they’re right in each other’s space and crashes his lips against Eddie’s.
In the scheme of kisses, it’s nowhere near perfect. Eddie is surprised, so it takes him a moment to respond, and when he does they’re both smiling too much for it to really be a good kiss. But to Buck, it feels like coming home, like all the floating puzzle pieces of his life are slotting into place and he grins against Eddie’s lips, deliriously happy.
He breaks the kiss after a moment, resting his forehead against Eddie’s, letting out a breathless laugh. “I love you,” he says, still not totally believing that this is real.
Eddie pulls back slightly, his eyes searching Bucks. “Yeah?”
Buck laughs again, loud and bright. “So fucking much, Eddie. I’m so in love with you.”
Eddie grins. “I love you too, Buck.”
And then they’re kissing again and Buck doesn’t think he’s ever been this happy in his entire life.
Eventually, they end up laying on the couch, wrapped in each other’s arms. Buck props his chin on Eddie’s chest and stares up at him fondly.
After a moment, Eddie huffs out a laugh and says, “What?”
Buck shakes his head. This is unbelievable. “I thought you were straight.”
Eddie smiles softly. “Yeah, me too. You really threw a wrench in that one, Buck.”
Buck laughs brightly. “Seriously?”
Eddie nods, carding his fingers gently through Buck’s hair. “I’d never been interested in a guy like that, not until you.”
Honestly, Buck is a little proud, even though he didn’t actually do anything. “What did it?” he asks.
“I don’t think there was really one moment,” Eddie says thoughtfully. “You were always there for me, for Chris. You stepped up when I needed it and never asked for anything in return. I wasn’t really aware of my feelings though, not for a long time. I started dating Ana and she was nice, really she was. But something didn’t feel right and then suddenly you were spending all this time with Taylor and I was jealous. I was so fucking jealous and I couldn’t figure out why and it pissed me off. After we ran into you guys the other night I spent the entire meal talking about you guys and how I didn’t think she was right for you and finally Ana snapped. Which was fair. She asked me if I was in love with you and I hesitated because I honestly didn’t know . She told me to figure it out and then said not to call her, which again, fair. I called Hen and had a minor breakdown over it.”
Buck laughs at that. “I knew something was up with her.”
Eddie blushes. “Yeah, well, she spent a good few hours talking me through it that night so I should buy her a bottle of wine or something.”
Buck nods. “Probably, yeah. We should get one for Taylor too.”
Eddie immediately frowns. “Why?”
“Because if it wasn’t for her you would have gotten all jealous and might not have figured everything out,” Buck laughs.
“I would have figured it out eventually,” Eddie grumbles.
“Plus, she’s been putting up with my constant pining over you for months.”
Eddie smiles. “Yeah, ok, we’ll get her something too.”
Eddie is still running his fingers absentmindedly through Buck’s hair and he’s exhausted. Twenty-four-hour shifts and love confessions with do that to a person.
“Can we go to bed?” Buck asks through a yawn.
Eddie smirks at him. “On the first date? Wow, Buck, am I being introduced to Buck 1.0?”
Buck shoves his chest and rolls his eyes. “Not like that . I’m about to pass out here and I assume your bed is more comfortable than the couch.”
Eddie nods. “Yeah, it is. Ok, come on.”
He grabs Buck’s hand and drags him into the bedroom. Eddie tosses a pair of sweatpants at Buck before pulling on his own pair. Buck takes a moment to appreciate Eddie’s shirtless chest and does his best not to let his gaze drift downward as he pulls on the sweats and discards his shirt.
As he climbs into the bed he pulls out his phone and sends Taylor a quick text.
You’re a genius .
She replies immediately.
I know.
What happened?
Buck grins and settles in against Eddie’s chest. “Smile,” he says. Eddie grins as Buck snaps a picture.
“Who’s that for?” Eddie asks, tugging Buck even closer and tangling their legs together under the covers.
“Taylor, she was planning for this all along.” Eddie laughs as Buck texts her the picture.
Fucking finally
Happy for you tho<3
And then a minute later:
Does this mean we can’t get engaged anymore? I’m gonna miss that
Buck barks out a laugh as Eddie balks at the phone.
“What the fuck does she mean engaged ?”
Buck smiles, snuggling back into Eddie’s chest and linking their fingers together. “It’s a long story, I’ll tell you later. Get some sleep, babe.”
Eddie hums. “Fine. I love you.”
“I love you too,” Buck says, smiling as he closes his eyes. He feels Eddie press a kiss against his shoulder blade before he finally drifts off.