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“Oi, Buckley! There’s a delivery here for you.” Chimney called out to Buck. He had been the closest so the delivery person went up to him to ask where one Evan Buckley could be found.
Buck looked up from his book and over at Chim with confusion. He’d never gotten a delivery to the station before, other than that one time he’d ordered pizza for the team when Bobby didn’t feel like cooking.
Eddie was sitting across from him at the table, the both of them reading their own books, and they shared a puzzled look.
“What’s that about?” Eddie asked curiously.
“I don’t know, I’m not expecting anything,” Buck replied. He got up from the table and jogged down the stairs to where Chimney was still standing with the delivery person.
“What’s this?” Buck asked, approaching the man standing there with a giant fruit basket in his hands.
“A fruit basket,” The guy deadpanned. Chimney hid his snort of amusement and clapped Buck on the back, going back to what he had been doing before the guy approached him.
“I can see that, thanks,” Buck muttered, taking the fruit basket from the guy when he handed it to him. “Who is it from?”
“Oh yeah, there’s a note,” The guy said, reaching into his back pocket and pulling out a little card. “Here you go.”
“Thanks,” Buck said, distracted by the giant basket in his hands. Who did he know that would send him a fruit basket on a random weekday? Buck juggled the basket and the little card trying not to drop either of them and brought the basket back up the stairs to the loft, placing it on the table.
By now Bobby, Eddie, Hen, Chimney, and Ravi were standing around, watching him with unabashed curiosity.
“So, you got a fruit basket,” Hen said, stating the obvious.
Buck gave her a look. “Yes, yes I did.”
“Who’s it from?” Ravi asked, trying to get a closer look to what kinds of fruits were in it. “Also is this like a you present or is this for the whole team or…?”
“Yes, I’ll share it with you, Ravi,” Buck rolled his eyes fondly. “Just give me a second to see who it’s from.”
Buck opened the envelope and flipped open the card. The last thing he was expecting to see was a little Polaroid of Natalia and Lucy, who were clearly on a date, with Lucy pressing a kiss to Natalia’s cheek while Natalia laughed. Buck could practically feel the joy radiating off the picture and he found himself smiling. Good, at least some people were finding love. He, however, was stuck pining away for his best friend.
Holding the picture in one hand, Buck read the note that was written on the card.
Buckley!
You have fantastic taste in women— at least this time.
Xoxo, Lucy
was written in Lucy’s neat printing and Buck chuckled under his breath at her reference to Taylor. Underneath it was a note from Natalia in her pretty cursive.
Buck,
I know this is probably a surprise, but Lucy and I ran into each other a little while ago and, well, things happened. The fruit basket was Lucy’s idea, I hope you and your team enjoy it.
—Natalia
P.S. You should really go for it with Eddie. I know you’ll find it a little hard to believe but we really do think that he has feelings for you too. Go for it, Buck. Take a chance. I did and it was the best decision I’ve made in a while. We’re rooting for you two.
Buck swallowed roughly as he read the end of the note and his eyes flashed up to Eddie. He was still looking at him with curiosity and Buck felt his cheeks burn bright.
“So,” Eddie dragged the word out. “Who’s it from?”
“Uh, Lucy and Natalia.”
“Why are they sending you a fruit basket?” Eddie asked, the hint of jealousy in his voice obvious to everyone but Buck. “I didn’t know that they knew each other.”
“Apparently they ran into each other at a bar and…I think they’re together now,” Buck explained, looking surprised.
“Well, that’s a turn of events I never saw coming,” Chimney mused. “But, hey, free fruit. Can we dig in?”
“Yeah, yeah, go ahead,” Buck muttered, still distracted by the words of the card. Tell Eddie how he felt? Could he really do that? He didn’t really see why Natalia would lie to him but maybe she was mistaken. He couldn’t take the chance that Natalia and Lucy were mistaken. He’d hid his feelings for this long— even from himself— that the thought of taking a chance and telling Eddie how he felt was absolutely terrifying. If Eddie felt the same way then he’d get everything he ever wanted but if he didn’t then Buck would lose everything. Well, not everything. He knows that Eddie would be nice about it and would forget about it eventually, but Buck wouldn’t ever get over it. Eddie Diaz wasn’t just someone you got over.
“Hey, you okay?” Eddie asked, coming up beside him. “What did the note say? You look like you’re thinking awfully hard.”
“Oh, uh, nothing,” Buck hastily shoved the note in his pocket. “Just Lucy being Lucy. Said I have good taste in women.”
Eddie made a face. “She remembers Taylor, right? What about Abby?”
“Hey, I also dated Ali and Natalia, so I think it evens things out a little.”
“If you say so,” Eddie chuckled, dodging the elbow that Buck sent his way. “So, what’s got you thinking so hard?”
“I— can we talk about it later?” Buck asked softly, glancing at the rest of the team warily.
“Yeah, sure,” Eddie said, his curiosity now at an all time high. What could be in the note that Buck wouldn’t want to share with the team?
oOoOoOo
Buck was shoving his uniform into his duffle bag at the end of his shift when Eddie came up to him, clearly frazzled.
“Buck, I need you.”
Buck felt his breath catch. How many times had he fantasized about Eddie saying those exact words to him? He only wished that he could pretend that Eddie meant them in the way he wanted him to mean them. Nevertheless, Buck knew there was an actual explanation for his words.
“What’s up?”
“Apparently Christopher has offered up our house for this week’s sleepover. Any chance you’d be willing to help me entertain a handful of twelve-year-olds instead of doing something fun on a Friday night?” Eddie asked, pleading with his eyes for Buck to say yes. If only he knew that Buck would do anything Eddie asked of him.
“Yeah, of course,” Buck said, closing his locker and hiking his duffle over his shoulder. “I’m assuming we need to go to the store to get snacks? Do you want to go together or I can go and meet you at home?” Buck couldn’t help the slip up, referring to the Diaz house as home, because that’s what it was in his mind.
“We can go together, Christopher’s friend Aiden’s mom is going to drop everyone off at our place at four. I figure that gives us enough time to get to the grocery store, pick up everything we need, and get home and set up.” Eddie mused, rubbing at his jaw as he spoke.
He took no notice of the way Buck was currently gaping at him in shock at the ease in which he said ‘our place’ and ‘home’. Did Eddie even realize just how difficult he made it for Buck to ignore his feelings when Eddie included him so easily in his life?
Eddie looked at him when Buck didn’t say anything. “Shit, I’m sorry. I’m completely ruining your night. You don’t have to do this.”
“No— hey, I want to do this. Come on, Eds, you know there’s no where else I want to be than with you and Chris.” Buck said nonchalantly, like he wasn’t admitting the raw truth. Sometimes it felt like he found a way to confess to Eddie every day, he only wished that Eddie could hear the meaning behind his words.
“Are you sure?” Eddie asked as they walked out of the station together.
“Yeah, Eds. I’m sure,” Buck replied. He wanted to take Eddie by the shoulders and just shake him, tell him that of course there was nothing Buck would rather do than help Eddie with Chris and a bunch of his friends. They had done it before and it had been a lot of fun. Plus, Buck knew that when he helped Eddie with these things he stressed less. “Do we want to just take my car and I’ll drive you to work tomorrow?”
“Sounds good,” Eddie grinned, never one to pass up the opportunity not to drive.
They settled into Buck’s Jeep and drove over to the grocery store. They were in the candy aisle arguing— we’re discussing it, Buck!— about how much candy was too much candy for a 12 year old’s sleepover party when someone tapped Buck on the shoulder.
“Lucy? Natalia?” Buck said in shock, not having expected to run into them— especially on the same day he’d received a fruit basket from them. He looked down at where they were holding hands and grinned.
“Hey, Buck, fancy seeing you here,” Lucy said, smiling when Buck gave her a big hug. “Hey, Eddie,” Lucy gave him a nod while Buck hugged Natalia.
“Hi, Lucy,” Eddie smiled. He didn’t go for a hug and Lucy didn’t expect him to, they were never that close.
“Eddie,” Natalia nodded, stepping back from Buck once they had finished hugging and recapturing Lucy’s hand. “I see you two took our advice. That’s great, we’re so happy for you!”
Buck flushed brightly while Eddie looked confused.
“What advice?” Eddie asked, looking at Buck for an explanation.
“Oh, shit,” Natalia mumbled, looking at Lucy in a panic.
“Uh, great to see you two! We really gotta get going,” Lucy said, tugging gently on Natalia’s hand. “C’mon, babe. I think these two need to talk. Good to see you! Buck, text me. I have some words for you.”
With that, Natalia and Lucy rushed off, heading down the aisle as quickly as they could without it looking like they were running.
“Okay, what was that? What did Natalia mean about their ‘advice’?” Eddie asked, turning to Buck for answers.
“Uh, can we talk about this at home?” Buck pleaded. This was absolutely not the place he wanted to have this conversation.
“You know as well as I do the second we get home we won’t have a second to talk until the boys decide they’re ready to pretend to go to sleep,” Eddie replied, crossing his arms. “What did she mean?”
“Eddie, please,” Buck mumbled miserably, his cheeks hot with embarrassment. “I’ll tell you everything, I promise, just. Not here.”
Eddie studied Buck for a moment, debating whether or not to just let it go. After all, he didn’t want to have another fight in a grocery store— one was enough, thank you very much. But, the more he considered it, the more he realized he couldn’t let this one go. He and Buck had had so many almosts, so many not-quites, that he couldn’t find it in himself to let this one slip away too. Not when there was so much hope curling in his belly.
“Buck,” Eddie said softly, stepping closer. “I can’t force you to tell me but I am asking you, please, tell me what’s going on. Because I think I might know what they meant and I’m really hoping I’m right. I know we can talk later but I just— as soon as we get home we’re going to get distracted and I need to know—”
Eddie was cut off from saying anything further by Buck’s lips on his. Eddie reached up to cup Buck’s jaw and Buck made a soft sound, pressing closer. Eddie lost himself in the feeling of Buck’s kiss, of having the other man so close. Finally.
After a minute Buck pulled back, his lips tingling and his whole body feeling like it was on fire. “We shouldn’t do this here. I can’t get kicked out of another grocery store for making out in the aisle.”
Eddie raised a brow. “Oh, so you’ve done this before? I’m not special?” He teased, nudging Buck with his elbow before reaching over to grab the candy Buck had been negotiating for before all this and dropping it in the basket at their feet.
Buck knew that Eddie was just kidding but he felt the need to clarify. “Hey,” He said, reaching over to catch Eddie’s hand in his and tangle their fingers together. “You are special. You know that, right?”
And Eddie looked at Buck, really looked at him. At his earnest blue eyes and his kiss-swollen lips and the nervous way he held himself, like he really wasn’t sure about whether or not he made Eddie feel special. Eddie couldn’t resist, tugging Buck back into another kiss. “Yeah,” He mumbled against his lips. “We’re special.”
“Shut up,” Buck mumbled even though he was melting. “C’mon, let’s finish this shopping so we can get back home.”
“And then you’ll finally tell me what Lucy and Natalia were talking about?” Eddie smirked, picking up the basket in one hand and grasping Buck’s hand with the other.
“Yeah, yeah,” Buck blushed, holding Eddie’s hand harder and letting it ground him. “It’s nothing, really. They were just encouraging me to tell you how I feel,” Buck admitted softly, his eyes darting around so he didn’t have to look Eddie in the eye. You’d think that after they had kissed that Buck wouldn’t feel so shy— they were still holding hands for godsakes— but Buck still felt nervous about admitting his feelings. He also wasn’t sure how Eddie was going to take Lucy and Natalia’s interference.
“Huh, well I guess we owe them one, then,” Eddie replied, tugging Buck down the aisle so they could get a move on with their shopping. “We should get them something.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah. I was thinking a fruit basket.”