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On a bright Sunday morning, two people stood side by side at the altar. Both wore exquisite tuxedos they had ordered two months ago. Today, these two individuals, Buck and Tommy, were about to tie the knot. They had been dating for two years, and Tommy had proposed to Buck five months earlier.
The church was filled with guests as the pastor delivered a heartfelt sermon, offering advice for a harmonious marriage. Everyone listened attentively, except for one of the grooms, Buck. He was restless, his eyes darting toward the pews, searching for someone—his best friend and partner, Eddie. Eddie’s seat, prepared next to Buck’s adoptive parents, Bobby and Athena, was conspicuously empty.
As the ceremony approached its climax, the vows, Tommy gazed lovingly at Buck, his hands holding Buck’s tightly. Buck returned the gaze, though his bright blue eyes didn’t sparkle as they usually did. Tommy noticed Buck’s unease but decided to carry on. Soon, Buck would officially be his.
Tommy had already recited his vows, and now it was Buck’s turn.
“Do you, Evan Buckley, take Tommy Kinard to be your lawfully wedded husband, to love, honor, and cherish, in sickness and in health, for better or worse, until death do you part?”
There was a brief pause as Buck inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly.
“I do—”
A loud crash interrupted him as the church doors burst open. Every head turned toward the entrance to find Eddie, dressed in a black tuxedo, running down the aisle. In a flash, Buck was no longer at the altar; Eddie had grabbed his hand and whisked him away.
The guests erupted in chaos, shouting and gasping. Athena immediately called for backup while trying to chase after Eddie and Buck, her long dress hindering her movements. Tommy, equally shocked, joined the pursuit, but by the time he reached the church steps, Eddie and Buck had already jumped into a car.
Tommy ran after them, but the unmarked car sped off. Falling to his knees, Tommy’s eyes welled with tears as he watched the vehicle disappear from view. Athena approached him and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder.
“Please, Athena… help me,” Tommy pleaded, his voice trembling.
Inside the car, Buck let out a loud sigh, his heart pounding like it was about to burst. He was terrified and confused—terrified by Eddie’s sudden actions and confused about why Eddie had pulled him away from his wedding to Tommy. Beside him, Eddie gripped the wheel tightly, his hands trembling, his breaths uneven.
“Eddie, are you insane?!” Buck protested, his voice weaker than he intended. Adrenaline and confusion made his heart race even faster. He was still in his wedding tuxedo, his tie slightly loosened from his earlier attempts to free himself from Eddie’s grasp.
Eddie glanced at him sharply from the driver’s seat, his jaw tight. The car sped away from the church, leaving the chaos behind.
“Yes, I’m insane,” Eddie finally said, his voice low and filled with emotion. “I’m insane because I saw you standing there, at the altar, with someone else. I’m insane because I realized I was going to lose you if I didn’t do something.”
Buck fell silent. Eddie’s words hit him harder than he expected.
“Do you think I could just stand there, watching the person I love marry someone else? Buck, I love you. I’ve always loved you,” Eddie confessed, his voice cracking slightly.
Buck’s hands trembled as he looked down.
“Why are you telling me this now?” he finally asked, his voice barely above a whisper. “Why wait until I’m at the altar?”
Eddie exhaled deeply, pulling the car over to the side of the road. “Because, Evan… I’m a coward. I thought I could live with seeing you happy with someone else. But I was wrong. I can’t. I won’t. And I know this might be selfish, but I had to try. I had to know if there’s still a chance for us.”
Buck looked up, his blue eyes meeting Eddie’s gaze. His emotions were all over the place—anger, confusion, and something else. Something he thought he had buried a long time ago.
“Eddie… do you realize what you just did could ruin everything?” Buck asked, his tone softer now.
“If it means fighting for you, I’ll take the risk,” Eddie replied firmly.
They sat in silence for a moment, the tension thick in the air. Only the sound of the wind outside the car broke the quiet.
Suddenly, Buck started laughing softly. Eddie was taken aback but let Buck process whatever he was feeling.
“You’re absolutely crazy, Eddie,” Buck said, still smiling through his quiet laughter. His eyes softened as he looked at Eddie. “And maybe… so am I.”
“What… what do you mean?” Eddie asked hesitantly.
Buck reached for Eddie’s hand, gripping it tightly. “I can’t marry someone I don’t truly love. And I don’t think I’ve ever loved anyone the way I love you.”
Eddie’s eyes filled with tears, his breath catching. “Buck…”
“If you’re going to be crazy, Eddie, at least let me be crazy with you,” Buck said with a soft smile.
Eddie let out a small laugh, finally feeling the weight lift off his shoulders. He held Buck’s hand tightly and leaned in to kiss the back of it.
That day, Buck and Tommy’s wedding was called off. Buck explained everything honestly to his family and to Tommy. While there was initial disappointment, everyone eventually accepted his decision.
A few months later, in the small garden behind Athena and Bobby’s house, Buck and Eddie stood hand in hand, ready to make their own vows. Eddie gave a short but heartfelt speech.
“I know it wasn’t easy to get here, but one thing is certain, I love you, Buck. And I promise to never stop fighting for you.”
Tears of joy streamed down Buck’s face as he looked at Eddie and replied confidently, “And I promise to never doubt my feelings again.”
That day, their love story began anew.