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When Buck invited Eddie to a Lakers game, Eddie felt a few emotions rush through his body. He was excited but mainly, he was confused because Buck did not like basketball. So what was he doing with two tickets, no less?
“Did you lose a bet or something?”
“No, um… Tommy gave them to me. They were for our anniversary, before he decided to break up with me, that is.”
“Your boyfriend of six months, gifted you basketball tickets. For your anniversary… Does he not know you hate basketball?”
“Look, whatever, can you just go with me? …Please?”
“Good company and good seats?” Eddie asked with a smile. “Who could say no to that?”
===
“Okay, so our seats should be at the end of the – Oh, shit. What is Tommy doing here? Why is he sitting in the same row?” Buck went from feeling okay to complete panic in less than five seconds. Eddie could sense it — his best friend's distress.
“Buck, just breathe. Say the word and we’re out of here,” Eddie said with one hand on Buck’s collarbone, trying to catch his eye.
“No, no, it’s fine. I’m okay. Besides, what are the chances of us sitting next to each other?”
The chances were apparently very high. Because they were getting closer and closer to where Tommy was sitting and Buck kept moving forward. They were one seat away from Tommy when Eddie grabbed Buck’s hand in his own, snatching his attention.
“Let’s switch places, you don’t have to sit close to him if you don’t want to. We came to have fun, not for you to be stuck next to your ex.” At these words, Eddie could feel Buck relax from where he was still holding him.
“I’m okay, seriously. Thank you. And it's basketball. Pretty sure only one of us was gonna have fun tonight.” Upon hearing Buck’s chuckle, Eddie let go of his hand.
“Okay, but if you need to switch at any time, just tell me. I’ve got your back.”
“I know you do.”
Eddie hated Tommy. Was hate a strong word? Probably. But in Eddie’s defense, the guy was easy to hate. Most of all though, Eddie hated Tommy because of the way he treatedBuck. Buck deserved so much more than what Tommy gave him. If Buck was Eddie’s, Eddie would worship the ground Buck walked on. He would spoil him rotten, and he sure as hell wouldn’t gift him basketball tickets for their six month anniversary. For their six month anniversary, Eddie would drop Christopher off at one of his cousins’ houses, then he would cook an elegant dinner (and order some takeout just in case) for Buck. Eddie would flood the room with candlelight and he would buy Buck flowers. After dinner, Eddie would show Buck how much he loves every part of him in his bedroom. But that was, of course, only if Eddie had thought about it, and he hadn’t, not at all.
It took Eddie two months of being uncomfortable with Buck and Tommy’s relationship to realize that no, he wasn’t homophobic. He was just really, really gay and oh so desperately in love with his best friend. So when Buck came over to Eddie’s house with a six pack and a frown on his beautifully chapped lips, a small, selfish part of Eddie was overjoyed.
Tommy’s annoying voice made Eddie lose his train of thought.
“Evan, Eddie.” Tommy’s monotone voice made Eddie want to stuff his ears with something, anything just to tune him out. Buck was less petty and greeted Tommy as they both took their seats, with Buck sitting in between the two of them.
Eddie could feel Buck’s thigh pressed against his own with a funny feeling building in his stomach, he wondered what it would feel like if he had all of Buck on him. Eddie hated how Buck and Tommy’s thighs could be touching too, since Buck was sitting in the middle.
===
If you asked Eddie who was winning he wouldn’t have an answer. More than half the game was already over and the only thing Eddie could focus on was Buck. Just Buck, Buck, Buck. Every inch of Eddie’s body that was blessed enough to touch Buck was craving more and the rest of him was yearning. Being in love with Buck and not being able to have him felt like willingly drowning in the depths of the ocean.
“Great, the kiss cam again,” Buck mumbled low enough that anyone who wasn’t paying attention would have missed it. As far as Eddie was concerned, the world could be ending and his unwavering attention would still be on Buck. That was also how Eddie knew that each time they brought the kiss cam out, Buck’s anxiety doubled.
“Hey, Buck. Just look at me. The chances aren’t even –”
“Don’t finish that sentence, Diaz.”
The loud whistle made Eddie look up, and right there, on the big kiss cam screen, were Buck and Tommy. Why anyone would want to see them kiss was beyond Eddie. Buck, who was vibrant and beautiful, and Tommy, who looked old enough to be Buck’s creepy uncle.
Eddie could sense the distress Buck was under, not wanting to kiss his ex-boyfriend but not knowing what else to do. Eddie’s only thought when he turned Buck’s face towards his and went in for a kiss was that he was being a good friend! That was the reason Eddie’s left hand was cradling Buck’s face and his right hand was on Buck’s waist, pulling him closer. As soon as Eddie broke them apart, he knew that this was the dumbest decision he had ever made. Because how was he supposed to go on with his life knowing what Buck tasted like and knowing he couldn’t taste him again?
The game was almost over and they still hadn’t uttered a word to each other. Buck’s skin against Eddie’s felt like burning fire. Eddie shot up immediately once the whistle was heard, indicating the end of the game. Buck stood after Eddie, turning to leave when Tommy’s voice interrupted them.
“Evan, can we talk?”
“I’ll meet you outside,” Eddie said while sprinting out, barely sparing a glance towards the men. Thousands of different scenarios were playing inside Eddie’s head about what Tommy wanted from Buck, so he didn’t notice the pole right in front of him.
“Are you okay?” Great , Eddie thought to himself. He had finally lost it because not only did he unpromptedly kiss his best friend, leaving things very awkward between them, but he was now hallucinating Buck’s voice in this kind stranger who was helping him up from his embarrassing fall. Oh . When Eddie finally looked up and got a clear look at the stranger's face, he realized it wasn’t a stranger at all, but Buck. His Buck. Buck with his big, strong arms supporting Eddie.
“Eddie, are you okay? Why did you run out like that?” Hearing the concern in Buck’s voice shouldn’t have turned Eddie on as much as it did.
“Yeah, sorry,” Eddie said while trying to hold himself up now, already missing Buck’s hands on him. “Just wanted to give you guys some privacy,” he continued, looking right behind Buck not being able to look him in the eyes, but not wanting to look anywhere else.
“Eddie, we were in a stadium full of people. What privacy? Besides, if you had stayed then you would have heard me telling him I want nothing to do with him anymore.”
“You don’t?”
“Eddie, why did you kiss me?” Either the room was getting too small or Buck was now considerably closer to Eddie.
“I, um… I don’t know.”
“So you just go around kissing all your friends like that?”
“You needed help, I – I could sense – ” Eddie forgot all the words in the English Dictionary because his best friend was now holding his face with both hands, so close to him. Eddie’s eyes were captivated by Buck’s lips. He could feel Buck’s breath ghost his own skin, knocking the air right out of his lungs.
“Buck, what are – what are you doing?”
“Why did you kiss me?”
“Because I… because I wanted – ” Eddie didn’t get the chance to finish his sentence, not when Buck’s lips were finally where they belonged. What broke them apart was the need to breathe, with Buck resting his forehead on Eddie’s.
“I think basketball might be my new favorite sport,” Buck said, still panting.
“Yeah? Mine too.”
“So, who won the game?”
“I think we did,” Eddie said while going in for what he knows is going to be one of many, many kisses.