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If you had told Buck a month ago that he would fall helplessly in love with a giant human teddy bear man he would tell you to seek mental help and roll his eyes. In his defense though, that was before he met Tommy Kinard and realized that he was even into men in the first place. That didn't stop him from biting his own tongue every time he felt the urge to tell Tommy how much he loves him out of fear of losing Tommy. The only people that he told about his feelings for Tommy were Maddie, Hen, and Karen for obvious reasons.
He wished that he could've told his best friend, Eddie but knew that there was a high chance of him accidentally telling Tommy. He still remembers the day that he told his sisters about being in love with Tommy.
“I love you to the end of this earth, Buck, but you need to sit down before you make yourself sick with the pacing.” Maddie may have been teasing Buck about his nervous pacing in her living room but he could tell that she was worried about him.
“Sorry, Maddie. So you remember how I mentioned that I've been dating Tommy?” Buck slowly sank down onto his sister's couch while blushing at the thought of Tommy.
“Yeah, what about him? Oh my God he didn't break up with you, did he?” Buck felt his heart warm at the concerned look on Maddie's face and gently placed a hand on hers.
“No, it's nothing like that. I think I'm in love with him but am too scared to tell him.” Maddie understood what Buck was afraid of and knew how to get him out of his own head.
“I still remember when I met him at the wedding and can I tell you something?” Maddie could still vividly recall the way that Tommy looked at Buck which let her know that Buck didn't need to fear him not feeling the same way.
“Maddie, that is literally why I am here. What does me being scared of losing Tommy if I tell him I love him have to do with your wedding, though?” Maddie smiled at the memory of the obvious heart eyes that were in both mens eyes when they danced together.
“Because every time I looked over at you guys he was looking at you like you were his whole world and universe.” Buck looked away from his sister while slowly recalling all the times that Tommy embodied the heart eyes emoji when he was ranting about small things.
“It is obvious that he is head over heels for you Buck, you just need to let him know that his feelings are reciprocated.” Buck knew that she was right but he also knew that he needed queer advice before attempting to tell Tommy how he feels, which is how he ended up telling Hen and Karen.
“Thank you, sis but I think I need to talk to 2 more people before I tell him anything. I love you Maddie.” Buck gave his sister a tight hug after getting up to go over to Hen’s.
“Alright, I hope you get the answers that you need, Buck.” Maddie hugged her younger brother and walked him to the door. It was a 15 minute drive from Maddie's house to Hen's and he used that time to have Siri text Hen that he was on his way to her house.
“Hey Buck. Is everything okay?” Buck smiled at Karen before asking to come inside.
“Hey Karen. Yeah everything's okay, may I come in?” Karen opened the door wider so Buck could step inside where Hen was waiting on the couch with wine.
“You said you needed some friendly yet honest advice?” Buck wanted to question the bottle of wine on the coffee table but chose to just silently sit down next to Hen.
“Okay so you both remember that I'm dating Tommy?” Hen turned toward the younger man, ready to comfort him if she needed to.
“I'm madly in love with him and I need some advice about how to tell him.” Karen looked wide eyed at her wife while slowly sitting across from them.
“Well we're honored that you came to us for advice.” Hen grabbed the bottle of wine and slowly opened it.
“Tell him however and whenever you feel comfortable, Buck. There is no time limit or right way to do it.” Karen placed a hand on Buck’s knee while grabbing the wine bottle from Hen and putting herself a glass.
“I know, it’s just. Every time I'm around him my mind goes blank and I forget what English is.” Hen nodded in understanding, she had the exact same thing happen to her when she first started dating Karen.
“I've been there before. My advice is to not overthink it and let the words come to you. When I first told Karen that I loved her I thought that I would never find the words to say it until the time was right and the words found me.” Buck sat back and let himself get lost in his own thoughts.
“Why don't you tell us how Tommy makes you feel? Aside from the blank mind and forgotten speech.” Karen realized that Hen was trying to see if the time was right for Buck.
“He makes my heart skip a beat just by calling me Evan. His smile makes me feel like I'm flying. He's on my mind 24/7. He is the only person aside from Maddie that I'm terrified of losing. Just looking into his eyes makes me feel invincible.” Hen smiled fondly at her best friend at the knowledge that he was finally in a good place mentally.
“That's the words that describe your love for Tommy, Buck. Just tell him everything that you just told us, add in ‘I love you’ and see how he responds.” Buck quickly texted Tommy and asked him to come over to his apartment before getting off of Hen's couch.
“I'm actually gonna try that. Thank you guys so much.” Karen offered him a glass of wine before he left for some extra courage and he gladly accepted it.
Buck had only been back at his apartment for 2 minutes before there was a soft yet loud knock on his door.
He opened it to find Tommy with his hand on his chin and his head down which had given Buck deja vu.
“Hey honey, thanks for coming over.”
Buck walked further into the apartment, knowing that Tommy would be behind him.
“Your text was pretty cryptic and ominous. Is everything okay Evan?” Buck was glad that he wasn't facing Tommy because he knew that unlike every other time, he would notice Buck was blushing.
“Yeah I'm okay I just have some things that I need to tell you.” Buck turned around to face Tommy and finally noticed that, just like last time, Tommy's full attention was on Buck.
“I'm in love with you, Tommy. I'm pretty sure that I've felt this way since we met.” Buck feared the worst when Tommy didn't say anything. He was about to try and make an excuse for what he said when Tommy finally spoke up.
“Evan, ever since chimney introduced us, I knew that I was in love with you. I just want to make sure that you're sure of how you feel about me.” Buck chose to take Hen's full advice and tell Tommy what he told Hen and Karen.
“Tommy, you make my heart skip a beat everytime you call me Evan. When you smile at me I feel like I'm flying. You are all that I can ever think about. You're the only person aside from Maddie that I'm terrified of losing. Just looking into your blue eyes makes me feel like I can do anything.” Buck saw a tear roll down Tommy's face and hoped that he wasn't sad.
“I never knew that I made you feel all of that.” Buck walked closer to Tommy and wiped the tear off of his face before gently kissing him.
“So you really love me too?” Buck kept his hands on Tommy's face while eating their foreheads together.
“Of course I do.” Buck loved how Tommy said it like it was obvious that Tommy was in love with him. It boosted his ego and pride.