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Eddie planned a reservation for a date with Marisol a few weeks ago. He felt bad for making her watch Christopher while he was hanging out with Tommy and his busy work schedule. So, here they were walking down Sunset where the best shops and restaurants including the pizza joint him and Buck go to all the time. Speaking of Buck there he was with Tommy. Eddie stopped staring into the window. Marisol stumbled grabbing his arm so as not to fall but Eddie didn’t care as he couldn’t pull his eyes away from Buck.
Buck, who was laughing at something Tommy was saying. Buck who was slowly gliding a hand to the edge of the table. Tommy closed the distance to lightly tap Buck’s fingers. A discomfort rosed in Eddie’s chest and he did not like it. He thought Buck didn’t like Tommy.
“Eddie, are we eating here,” Marisol asked as Eddie was basically running into the restaurant.
“Buck,” Eddie said a little louder than he meant but he was still shocked to see Buck here with Tommy. “This is so cool you two are hanging out after the whole basketball thing.”
Eddie pulled up a chair flashing a smile to Tommy and then to Buck. He smiled as he saw Buck’s expression. He had the same look when he thought he lost Chris in the store. There was fear written on Buck’s face.
“Yeah, Tommy and I are bros,” Buck stumbled through each word. Eddie caught his eye but Buck looked away.
Something was going on and Eddie didn’t like that he didn’t know. He also knew that what Buck needed was time and would come to him.
“Hi, I’m Marisol.”
“Tommy, I’m friends with Eddie and on a date with Buck.”
“Oh, Eddie let's go, we shouldn’t intrude.”
Date! Buck and Tommy were on a date. Since when did Buck like guys and since when did he like Tommy like that? Then there was that feeling again. The same feeling Eddie felt towards anyone Buck dated.
“Buck, why didn't you say anything,” Eddie asked.
Buck shrugged, grabbing his glass of beer to take a sip. Subconsciously Eddie's eyes landed on Buck’s soft-looking lips. The scruff only makes them look pinker. Eddie bet Buck tasted like pizza with a hit of mint from his toothpaste.
“I don't know. This is all weird and we are both your friends.” Buck leaned closer so him and Eddie were only inches apart.
“Me liking guys is new too. I don't know how to feel and Tommy kissed me and then asked me on a date. It's complicated.” Bucked up at Eddie through his eyelashes. He was pleading for Eddie to understand and he did. This was new for all of them but it hurt a little that Buck didn't talk to him first.
Eddie raised his hand placing it on Buck's shoulder. Eddie tilted his head to hold Buck’s eye contact. “Buck, I understand. Why don't we head home and talk? Chris is there and we can play some video games.”
Buck nodded, giving him a slight smile. Just as they both started to stand there was a loud noise from the left of them. They both looked up to see Tommy looking slightly pissed. His arms crossed and one eyebrow cocked.
Right, Eddie thought, Buck was still on a date with Tommy.
“Actually, Evan and I have somewhere to be.” Tommy reaches down, grabbing Buck’s hand, and walking him out the door. Buck turned with a solemn but slight smile. Like he just figured something out. Eddie wondered what that was.
“Eddie, I think we need to talk.”
Shit, Eddie had forgotten she was there. “Yeah, I think so too.”
Marisol pulled up a chair and grabbed Eddie's hand. She lightly patted it. “You're in love with Buck.”
Eddie was taken but the straightforward decoration was that he was in love with his best friend. He thought he kept those thoughts pretty well hidden from the world outside of his mind. Eddie knew he always loved Buck. That was why he was in his will not only for Christopher’s sake but for Eddie's. Then Buck would be in his life forever. It wasn't until now did he ever thought he had a chance to be loved back by his best friend.
“You're right,” Eddie whispered.
“Then Eddie, go tell him that.”
Eddie stood up ready to run after Buck but he paused, turning to Marisol. “I'm sorry I wasted your time.”
“You didn't waste my time. I'm glad I was able to help you find what you were truly looking for.”
—---------------
The date was going okay but the spark wasn't there in Buck’s opinion. Then the date became so uncomfortable when Eddie just barged in. Things began to click as Buck realized that he enjoyed Eddie's company, smile, brown eyes, and low laugh a little more than Tommy's. Tommy knew that so when they walked out of the restaurant the two men had a heart-to-heart.
Tommy wasn't mad and he was glad he helped Buck figure out who he was but at the end of the day, it was Eddie's attention he wanted. Buck had feelings for Eddie.
Thinking about it of course he does. The longing looks, want to be close to each other, the thought of losing Eddie felt like he was losing half of his heart, and don't get Buck started on how they act when they had one or two too many beers. Could Eddie possibly feel the same way?
Buck closed his fridge as he heard a knock at the door. It was late. Well past 11 o’clock. No one should be here that he knew. Buck swung the door open to see Eddie. Eddie was still in his date clothes. His hands folded in front of him with a slight smile on his face. Buck couldn’t believe he was here after the exchange they had at the restaurant.
“Hi,” Eddie said.
Buck gestured him inside, closing the door behind him.
“Hey, what are you doing here? Which I don’t love that you are here. I’m actually really happy that you are.” Buck rambled. There were so many thoughts going around his head at the moment that he didn't know what to say first. He was hoping that Eddie would first.
“Marisol and I broke up,” Eddie said
“Oh,” This was all Buck could say. Buck knew that Eddie’s relationship with Marisol was like his relationship with Ana. Comfortable but has no spark.
“I felt like this was going to come for a long time. It was nice hanging out with her but there were no feelings there. Not like when I’m with,” Before Eddie could finish Buck grabbed the front of Eddie’s shirt and pulled him close for a kiss.
This kiss was different from any kiss Buck had ever had even with Tommy. Tommy was hard and desperate. Like Buck was searching for something. Needing an okay that what he was feeling for men was what he was really feeling. With Eddie, it felt like home. Like he had found everything he needed and more.
The kiss was slow but pleading as Eddie’s hands gripped Buck’s shirt and pulled him closer. There was no more space between them but still Buck desperately wanted to be closer. Wanted to be one rather than two.
Eddie took a small step back but not too far as Buck could still feel Eddie’s heaving chest against his as he desperately tried to catch his breath.
“I didn’t know I loved you,” Buck croaked out between breaths. “I always knew I felt a certain way. Away I had never felt before about anybody. I didn’t have the words to describe that feeling. Now I do. I love you.”
Eddie pulled Buck back in for a quick kiss before taking another step back. Buck gripped at his shirt as for the other man to not leave him. Eddie covered his hands, sending warmth through his body.
“I have always loved you. I was just waiting for you to catch up,” Eddie laughed.
“I’m sorry it took so long,”
Eddie brought one of Buck’s hands laying a lite kiss on his knuckles. “I was willing to wait as long as I needed. I’m just glad you came to your senses before we were old and gray.”
Buck laughed. He was glad that he didn’t either. A life with Eddie and a life with Christopher was all he ever wanted.