Work Text:
Hazel hears the bell on the door chime as she’s wiping the counter down.
“Hi, welcome in. I’ll be with you in just a moment—”
She looks up to find frankly the most beautiful man she’s ever seen patiently waiting in front of her. He seems to be buzzing with some sort of nervous energy, his leg tapping repeatedly on the floor. He has a dark, mysterious energy around him, yet somehow manages to seem extremely friendly. He runs a hand through his dark hair and offers a weak smile.
“Take your time, it’s fine,” the man says a bit frantically. The tone tells Hazel that it is in fact not fine and she sets the wet rag out of sight and turns back.
“I’ll finish up later. You seem to be in a hurry,” Hazel jokes, which earns her a slight blush in return. Score. “What can I get for you?”
“I just need, like, the biggest caffeine hit ever. So the largest size you have of a black coffee,” the man replies hurriedly. He’s shifting a bit nervously in place.
“Alright, you got it. Anything else?”
The man looks up at the menu, panicked brown eyes darting around quickly before frowning and looking back down to Hazel. “I’m sorry, I don’t have time to browse. Is there anything here you think a kid would like? A crap ton of sugar or something like that.”
Ah, he’s got the nerves about some kid? And now he’s trying to impress that kid with sugar? Hazel smiles, wishing it was professionally acceptable to pry. Instead, she just nods. “You’re in luck, because it’s the holidays. Our menu’s filled with Christmas themed junk. I’ve got just the thing. I’ll even expedite your order.”
The last bit is a joke, since it’s a Thursday afternoon and the place is dead. Still, she does hope to get the order done ASAP, because this guy looks like he’s about to jump out of his skin.
“Thank you, thank you. Yeah. I-I’ll be waiting over here,” the man says, shuffling over to the pickup spot of the counter.
Hazel has the order ready in an impressive 2 minutes and 30 seconds. Most of the time was allotted to the caramel and peppermint monstrosity she prepared for whatever kid this man is meeting, and she hands it plus the gigantic black coffee to him.
The man looks at her gratefully and mutters a quick thanks before bolting to the door. He stops in his tracks and looks back at Hazel in horror. “Oh my God! I didn’t pay! I’m so sorry, I was just about to rob you.”
Embarrassingly, Hazel completely forgot to ask the guy to pay. So, this is kinda on her. But, the guy’s cute. Maybe a little good deed will get her on his good side? So Hazel just smiles and waves the man off. “Don’t sweat it. Good luck on whatever it is you need to do.”
Multiple emotions flicker over the man’s face before it settles on a bright grin. “Thank you. I’m Eddie, by the way.”
Eddie. Hazel grins back. “Hazel. Good luck again.”
Eddie nods and sprints outside while clutching the drinks in his hands. Hazel smiles as she watches him through the big glass windows in the front. Interestingly, the plates on Eddie’s truck are Californian ones. Odd. What Californian wants to visit some mom and pop café in the middle of El Paso?
Hazel doesn’t expect to see Eddie again. She had assumed the guy was visiting family or something for the holidays, and would return to California right after.
But, lo and behold, the man’s walking back into the café roughly a week later. Thankfully, he seems a lot more collected this time. And hey, Hazel’s not gonna complain. He’s a nice sight.
“Eddie!” Hazel exclaims. “I didn’t expect to see you here again.”
Eddie blushes, seemingly from Hazel just remembering his name. He smiles shyly and walks up to the counter. “Hi. Hazel, right?”
Hazel nods and grins. “The one and only. How can I help?”
“Can I get a latte? Hot, thanks,” Eddie says. “And just a small one this time. That large one you gave me last time had me up all night.”
Hazel chuckles and inputs the order on her tablet. “You got it. Say, what was it for anyway? If you don’t mind me asking.”
Eddie’s eyes widen slightly, but he smiles nonetheless. “Just… a personal thing. Saw my son after a few months. Big deal for me. I was just really nervous.”
Man, is the mom in the picture? Hazel thinks a bit selfishly. Still, her eyes light up and she replies. “Aw! That’s so sweet. I take it that it went well?”
Eddie deflates a bit, but nods. “I was hoping it’d go a little better, but I can't complain with what I get.”
Hazel frowns, and decides not to push. “Well, I’m sure you’ll get there. Now, your total’s $1.75, unless you plan on robbing me again.”
Eddie’s cheeks flush (adorably, if Hazel may add) and he scrambles to pull out some cash. He hands it sheepishly to Hazel and replies, “I almost did forget again, if I can be honest.”
Hazel laughs and hands Eddie back his change. “I’ll get started on your order,” she chirps as Eddie places his change in her tip jar. And a gentleman!
She meets Eddie at the pickup counter and hands him his drink, plus a muffin he definitely didn’t pay for. “Wait. I-I didn’t—”
Hazel cuts him off. “We all could use some calories this early in the morning. You headed off somewhere important?”
Eddie is silent for a few moments, before he speaks up. “Uh, I guess. I need to, uhm, get my truck registered here. Was gonna head out there now.”
Hazel’s expression brightens and she chuckles. “I was wondering about that! I saw your plates and wondered why some hotshot from California would wanna come here!”
Eddie laughs too, and shakes his head. “Family,” is all he says, and Hazel gets it.
“Well, I take it you’re moving back here? Good luck with that.”
Eddie nods. “Thank you, Hazel. Have a nice day.”
She smiles and watches him walk out. She wonders what major fuck-up he must’ve committed to have to run back to El Paso of all places.
Hazel doesn’t see Eddie for a few weeks after that. She understands— the man is moving. Still, she does look up excitedly anytime someone enters the café. Eddie’s interesting, and she wants to know all she can. (Even if they’ve only talked twice).
It’s after Christmas when he comes back in.
“Eddie! How’ve you been?” Hazel cheered.
Eddie locks eyes with her and his expression softens “Hi, Hazel. It’s been hectic, but I’m good. And you?”
She beams. “I’m doing great now that you’re here. Same thing as last time?”
Eddie looks at her in awe. “You remember what I ordered?”
Hazel laughs. “It was one thing. And I have a good memory.”
Eddie goes a bit pink and coughs. “Right, yeah. Makes sense. Yeah, I’ll… just do the same thing.”
“Coming right up. $1.75 again,” she says, taking the cash he pulls out and getting started on his drink.
When she hands it to him at the pickup counter, she notices the logo on Eddie’s shirt.
“Hey, EPFD! My cousin works for them. Do you?”
Eddie looks up in surprise, and sputters a bit. “O-Oh! Yeah! Today is, uh, my first day. Hence the caffeine boost.”
Hazel nods excitedly, wanting to learn everything she can about this man. “Awesome! You new to firefighting?”
Eddie shakes his head. “Was a fireman in Los Angeles for 6 years before this.”
“L.A.? What made you come here?”
Eddie just laughs a bit embarrassedly. “Maybe I’ll tell you another day. See you later, Hazel.”
“See ya, Eddie.”
Hazel is gonna find out what she can about Eddie whether it kills her or not. This is too good.
It’s 3 weeks into the New Year when Eddie comes back.
“Hey, Eddie! It’s nice to see you. How’s the job treating you?” Hazel sings, already starting to prepare his latte.
Eddie chuckles. “It’s fine. Everyone there is super nice. I feel a bit out of place but, y’know, it is what it is.”
“They’ll warm up to you just fine. Just look at you.” She practically whistles the last bit, which makes Eddie turn a delicious shade of red. “How’s your son?”
Eddie’s expression seems to brighten impossibly, his smile wide and confident and the corners of his eyes crinkled. He looks like he’s ready to burst at the seams. “God. He’s doing great. Amazing, actually. He’s doing high school classes right now. And he’s crushing them. He’s literally still in 8th grade. And as for us, he’s talking to me way more—”
The café is quiet that day, so Hazel just smiles and listens as Eddie rambles about his son. For the few times they’ve spoken, Eddie’s never looked this happy. It tugs at her heart a bit. Eddie clearly adores his son with his whole being. It also makes her more hopeful for her own hypothetical Hazel-Eddie babies. Maybe too soon, though.
She learns about how Eddie’s son— Christopher— moved back to El Paso a few months before Eddie, after he made “the biggest mistake” of his life. He doesn’t go into detail, but Hazel understands why. She hears about how Christopher was reluctant to start speaking to him again, but opened up after a few days. They’re not quite back to normal, but they’re damn close from what she can gather. It makes her joyous to see Eddie so happy.
After a few minutes, Eddie cuts himself off and blushes as he notices a few people have gotten behind him. He mutters out a sorry and hands Hazel a twenty before grabbing his latte and rushing out. She chuckles, not before noticing when Eddie pulls out his phone and starts talking to some “Buck” person. What the hell did that person do to their parents to be named Buck?
Hazel sees Eddie again the first week of February, and he looks a bit sullen. Hazel tones down her usual over-the-top voice and goes a bit quieter.
“Hey, Eddie. You all good?” Hazel asks as she already begins to prepare his drink.
“No, yeah. I’m fine,” he very clearly lies, but Hazel doesn’t wanna push. “I realized I’ve come here a bit, but I’ve never really asked about you.”
Hazel lights up. “God, where do I even start? How much time do you have?”
Eddie cracks a small smile. “Enough.”
After Eddie pays, Hazel launches into a detailed story about how she’s actually from Minnesota, but moved with her grandparents here in El Paso. She talks about her dead parents, which catches Eddie a bit off guard. But, her chipper tone tells Eddie she’s coping just fine and he relaxes. She tells him about her college major, Environmental Sciences, and how she doesn’t know what she’s gonna do with it. She mentions her cousin Damien who’s also a firefighter.
Eddie perks up a bit and smiles. “I work with Damien.”
And that sets Hazel off, and she rambles on about how she and Damien used to be super close before she moved, but they’re rebuilding their bond now that she’s back in El Paso. She talks excitedly about how much Eddie will love working with him— that he’s a big sweetheart but also a hardass when necessary.
When she cuts herself off, blushing in embarrassment, Eddie just grins. His voice is incredibly fond, so much so that Hazel knows it’s not being spared for her.
“You remind me a lot of someone.”
“They must be pretty amazing,” Hazel jokes.
Eddie doesn’t laugh. He just grins wider. “He is.”
As Eddie walks out, latte in hand, Hazel can’t help but notice that he doesn’t necessarily look happier. He just looks like he’s… reminiscing. Reminiscing about someone nice.
Eddie visits the café only 2 days later, looking worn out and distant. He manages a weak smile that does nothing to calm Hazel down.
“Eddie? Are you okay?” Hazel mentally facepalms herself for that one. Duh, of course he’s not. And he’s definitely not gonna open up to some barista he’s semi-friendly with.
He waves her off, chuckling in a way that just doesn’t feel authentic. “Yeah, yeah. Just no sleep. Can I get that latte?”
Hazel doesn’t smile. “Yeah, of course. Don’t worry about paying. It’s on me.”
Eddie doesn’t protest, which just doesn’t match the personality Hazel is growing to know. He just nods, and says a quick thank you under his breath.
When they convene at the pickup counter, Eddie’s fake smile is as good as gone. Hazel decides to try again.
“I know we don’t know each other well, but I promise you can talk to me about anything you need. Even if you just need an ear that won’t respond.”
Eddie’s face plays out an internal struggle, before he sighs heavily. “I’ll… remember that. Thank you, Hazel.”
Hazel stares at the empty space Eddie leaves, and frowns. She knew El Paso sucked, but Eddie must’ve been going through hell.
Eddie is back the next day, looking even worse. His under-eyes somehow look dark after one day, and he walks sluggishly.
“Eddie?”
“I just… I didn’t know where else to go. Normally I would’ve gone to Buck but…”
He trails off.
Buck. Whoever that is, they must’ve been a miracle worker. Eddie looks completely gone without them. It’s clear Eddie hasn’t adjusted to Texas after nearly 2 months, and it’s probably even worse without this mysterious Buck.
“Don’t worry. I’ll close up the café for 15 minutes. Talk to me.”
Eddie nods solemnly, looking one word away from a breakdown.
Hazel ushers him to a two-person table, and lets him sit there for about a minute just breathing, collecting himself.
“My parents,” Eddie says quietly, barely breaking the silence. “They, uh, took my son here around half a year ago. I fucked up. Bad. I already told you that.”
Hazel’s face does something as she remembers this conversation. Eddie was in higher spirits, but still refused to talk about what this fuck-up was.
“And my parents,” he continues, “always offered to take Christopher. Especially after my wife died.”
Ouch. Not what she wanted to hear. She suddenly feels awful for wishing for Eddie’s singleness.
Eddie chuckles dryly. “And, uhm, after I messed up, my son took them up on that offer. Guess he just didn’t wanna be near me, which I get, I guess. I just felt… so empty without him. He was my light, and I didn’t know what to do without him.”
Hazel’s face is stoic, and she’s unsure of what to say. She doesn’t want to say the wrong thing, but she feels for Eddie deeply. Maybe for his son, too. Losing your parents isn’t easy, she knows that.
“My parents have hounded me to move back home since my son and I moved to L.A., and I finally listened. I moved here to be closer to him, even with everything I’ve seen here. After everything my parents did. Just for him.”
Eddie’s expression falters, and tears begin to well up in his eyes. He chokes up before speaking again.
“And I don’t even think it’s working. He still spends most of his time with my parents. A-and they tell me he doesn’t wanna see me when I ask. I wouldn’t believe them, but at this point, I can’t help but feel they’re right. I left everything. I left my job. I left my friends. I left…” Eddie hesitates. “I left Buck. And for what? To be treated like I’m still states away? I thought we were getting better. We were getting better. Am I really that awful?”
And, wow. That’s a hell of a story. And a terrible one. If Hazel ever met Eddie’s parents, she’d probably slip poison in their waters. If they even drank water, that is. They sound like witches.
She can just tell that Eddie is an amazing father. He talks about his son like he’s God’s greatest gift to this Earth. She doesn’t know what he did, but she’s sure he’s more than made up for it.
And she feels even worse that Eddie came to her for consolation. The barista who’s been silently crushing on him for weeks? Eddie has no one here, and he just doesn’t deserve that. She wishes that Buck was here. That fabled Buck.
Hazel hesitantly reaches to place a gentle hand for Eddie’s. She squeezes his hand, and speaks firmly.
“I promise you that you are not the monster you think you are. We all make mistakes. It’s human. It’s even better that you recognize your wrongdoings. And it’s even even better that you recognize your son’s need for space. I know he loves you. I’ve never met him, but it’d be hard not to appreciate a father like you. I lost my dad, but if he were anything like you, I know I wouldn’t have taken you for granted. It’ll work out, Eddie. I promise.”
A tear rolls down Eddie’s cheek and he sniffles. He squeezes Hazel’s hand and gives the tiniest smile in response. “I wish I could believe that.”
“Doesn’t matter what you believe, because I know it’s true.”
Eddie lets out a soft chuckle, one that sounds real. It makes Hazel smile.
“You really are like Buck.”
“How about I get you a drink and you tell me about this Buck person? I’ll keep the café closed longer, I’m sure no one will mind.”
Eddie lights up. “I'd like that.”
Hazel doesn’t see Eddie for a while, not that she minds. He obviously needed to work through some stuff with his son, and the café was probably the last thing on his mind. She hoped he was doing well.
He opened up way more than she ever expected him to. About his familial issues, his issues with El Paso, his issues with himself. Hazel feels like she can confidently call Eddie a friend now.
Speaking of friends… Buck. Maybe?
When Hazel asked Eddie to talk about Buck, she was hoping to get some clarification on who they were. And well… she sort of did?
The way Eddie talked about Buck told Hazel that he really cared about him. Eddie’s face was so expressive, in a way she only saw when he spoke about his son. So, yeah, it’s easy to tell Buck is important.
But Eddie never once used the word friend. That’s what Hazel had assumed Buck was at first— a friend. But as Eddie talked about all the things Buck did, getting Eddie in contact with a caregiver, babysitting his son way more than necessary, living together during quarantine, she confidently assumed that Buck was a best friend. A really good one.
But, again, Eddie never used the term. Sometimes he’d say “my…” and trail off, before just saying Buck again. Like the term best friend just didn’t correctly describe who Buck was. Like he was more important than a traditional friendship.
So… what even were they? Boyfriends? That didn’t seem too far off. Eddie talks about Buck like the sun shines out of his ass.
That was a bit sad for Hazel. She enjoyed the idea of Eddie being single for all of one hour before the end of their talk left her confused.
She couldn’t just ask, right? That’s rude.
Whatever, she’ll figure it out.
It’s halfway through March when Eddie reappears. He looks way better. Far lighter. Just… happier. It warms Hazel’s heart.
“Hey, Eddie! I missed you, you look great.”
Eddie giggles shyly. “Hi, Hazel. Thanks, I missed you, too. How’s it holding up?”
“All good. You and Chris okay?”
Eddie smiles wider. “Amazing. He’s spending Easter with me.” Eddie says it with such pride that Hazel just has to squeal.
“Oh my God! That’s amazing! I know you boys will have the best time.”
Eddie blushes and chuckles. “I’m so excited I haven’t even started planning. I’m just so happy.”
“I expect to hear all about it,” Hazel says, starting on Eddie’s latte.
As Hazel hands it to him, Eddie gets tapped on the back by a very shy looking man.
The man seems to be a bit younger than Eddie. Handsome, objectively, but a bit boyish.
“Hi, I’m sorry, I just have to ask. Can I get your number maybe? You’re drop-dead handsome. You have to know that.”
Hazel has to stifle a giggle as Eddie goes beet red. He smiles shakily and shakes his head.
“Thank you, really. I’ll have to pass. You look really nice, though.”
The man sighs and nods understandingly, though he walks away like a kicked puppy. Hazel understands. She gave up on trying to ask Eddie out, especially after the Buck talk. Getting rejected by a man this handsome must be tragic.
“Real smooth, Diaz. Why’d you say no? You don’t bat for the same team?”
Eddie chuckles and looks away in embarrassment. “I’m fine.”
As he walks out, Hazel ponders his words.
I’m fine.
Not I’m not gay or I’m not looking to date.
He’s just… fine. And that’s it. He’s fine because he’s already spoken for, right? Buck is his goddamn boyfriend. It makes perfect sense!
No wonder he misses the guy like crazy. He had to leave his poor and loving boyfriend in California.
Even though she was proud of herself for cracking the code, Hazel was still a bit heartbroken. Eddie was a good guy, and he deserved to be with the man that made him so happy.
At the end of March, Eddie scrambles inside the café, frantic and excited.
“Hazel!”
She whips her head around, almost dizzy from how fast she did.
“Eddie? What’s going on?”
Eddie looks like he’s about to explode from pure excitement. He’s literally shaking, a big dopey grin plastered on his face. His face is pink and his eyes are just slits from how big that smile is.
“Buck!”
Like Hazel is supposed to know what to do with that.
“Buck,” she repeats slowly in suspicion.
Eddie shakes his head, laughing like a kid. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I’m just too excited.”
Hazel can feel her own heart racing. The joy that Eddie is radiating is infectious as hell, evidently.
“He got time off for Easter! He’s gonna fly down to El Paso to spend it with us!” Eddie nearly yells in the very quiet café.
And Hazel can’t do anything to stop the big smile spreading on her face. Eddie would finally see his (likely, maybe a 99% chance) boyfriend again in less than a month. She confidently calls Eddie her friend now, and there’s nothing Hazel loves more than her friends just being happy.
“Eddie, that’s awesome! He must’ve missed you and Chris like crazy.”
Eddie chuckles, looking down. “Probably not as much as I- we missed him.”
Hazel smirks. “Well, don’t be afraid to swing by here with Buck. And Chris, too, while you’re at it. I’ve been wanting to meet the little guy.”
Eddie looks up with sparkling eyes, and smiles. “I’ve told them both about you. They really wanna meet you. You’re kind of my only friend in El Paso.”
Hazel pointedly ignores the sad tidbit at the end, and lets herself feel her heart warm at Eddie’s words. Eddie’s family wanted to meet her?
“Tell them both to know what they wanna order, it’ll be on me when they visit,” she declares, grinning.
Eddie nods fervently, giggling. “Yeah, yeah. Can I try that Shamrock thing you guys have? This is a special occasion.”
Eddie spits it out after one sip.
Eddie drops in a few times after that, mostly just to pick up a coffee right before a shift. Every time, he makes sure to spare Hazel at least 5 minutes to update her about Buck’s visit. He talks about it with pure unadulterated excitement, like a little boy telling his friends on the playground about the model car he’s getting for Christmas. Hazel finds herself growing excited, too. She wonders if Buck is as lovely as Eddie describes. She also loves kids, so Chris is a welcome addition.
About a week before Easter, Eddie runs inside the café at 5:00 AM sharp. Hazel is still a bit groggy from sleep, and she looks at Eddie with a dazed expression.
“Eddie? You’re so early,” she mumbles.
Eddie laughs far too loudly too early and chirps, “Buck’s plane is landing in 2 hours. I’m about to head off to the airport to pick him up, but I thought I’d get a coffee to stay awake.”
Hazel snorts despite her exhaustion. “Doesn’t look like you need it,” she says, gesturing to Eddie’s trembling self.
Eddie scoffs playfully. “Whatever. A large black coffee, thanks.”
“You got it. Let me finish opening though, yeah?”
Hazel certainly doesn’t expect Eddie to come back the same day only 5 hours later. It’s the middle of a rush when she sees Eddie crowding inside with who she assumes is Christopher (though he is much taller than she anticipated) and possibly the largest man she’s ever seen. She turns to whoever it is working with her and whispers, “Handle it for 10 minutes. I’ve got business.”
She dusts off her apron and shimmies outside the counter to meet Eddie and his little entourage.
“Hazel!” Eddie exclaims. He quickly wraps Hazel in a hug, which she did not expect. She always took Eddie as a more reserved man, and he probably is. He’s probably just too excited to think straight. She pats his back awkwardly and he pulls away with a big smile. He ushers the boy up first, who sticks a hand out awkwardly. “This is Christopher.”
Hazel smiles widely and shakes his hand firmly. “Hey, Chris. Your dad’s told me a ton about you,” to which she’s met with a very expected groan. Undeterred, she leans in and whispers, “It’s obvious you’re way cooler than him.” And that makes Christopher chuckle quietly, some tension leaving his shoulders.
“Not that that’s hard or anything,” Chris replies, which makes Hazel choke laughing.
Eddie perks up, and asks, “What did you tell him?”
“Nothing,” Hazel and Christopher shout at the same time.
Eddie rolls his eyes and Christopher mutters something about being able to tell Hazel is awesome before shuffling back to his dad’s side. It’s now when Hazel notices the man standing beside Eddie— Buck, she presumes. She’s seen pictures, but it’s like they couldn’t capture his full essence.
He’s large, first and foremost. A bit taller than Eddie, with legs for days. He’s wider than Eddie, too, and looks to be made of pure muscle. Soft blonde (brown? ginger-ish?) curls lay over his forehead, and a rosy birthmark frames his eyebrow. Damn, Eddie chose them well.
And, well, any doubts Hazel had about Buck actually being Eddie’s boyfriend dissipate just from the look Buck has on his face. He’s looking at Eddie with pure love and adoration. His smile is wide and bright, almost blinding. His face is pink and the general area around him feels warm. So, obviously, he’s just the more affectionate one in the relationship.
He finally tears his eyes away from his boyfriend and steps forward with a big hand extended. “Hey, Hazel. I’m Buck, Eddie has a lot of good things to say about you,” he greets cheerfully.
Hazel shakes his hand gleefully, giggling bashfully. “Well, it’s probably nowhere near the good things he says about you, Buck. I’ve been eager to meet you since the first time Eddie mentioned you. He talks about you like you’re the cure to the world’s problems.”
Buck’s cheeks flush a little, but he still turns to Eddie with a cocky grin. “Is that right, Eds?”
Eddie groans, but smirks anyway. “Shut up.”
“Well, how about you and Chris go order from my coworker over there? Don’t worry, he knows it’s on the house. I’ve got a lot of embarrassing Eddie stories to squeeze out of ole Buck here,” Hazel jokes, already leading Buck to a table.
Eddie nods and grabs Christopher’s hand to lead him to the line. Hazel brings Buck to a quaint booth in the corner of the café and smiles brightly at him as they sit across from one another.
“So, Eddie,” she starts.
Buck’s expression softens. “Eddie,” he parrots.
“Good guy, isn’t he?”
“God, he’s the greatest. Best person I know, an amazing father, too. I’m so glad to have met him,” Buck says fondly.
Hazel grins knowingly. “He missed you a lot. We aren’t close friends or anything, but he never kept it a secret. You’re his rock, evidently.”
Buck blushes a bit and rubs the back of his neck. “Probably not as much as he’s mine. It’s been hard back home without him, I can’t lie. When he told me he was moving… I kinda went crazy. Started being reckless at work, shutting people out. We talked almost everyday on the phone, but God it wasn’t the same. I know nothing would be able to tear us apart, but I just wanted to touch him. Feel him.”
Hazel nods. “Well, it’s great you were finally able to come out here. Make sure you savor your Easter with him, yeah? I want some good stories from Eddie. And it sounds like you do nothing but produce good stories.”
Buck chuckles, and Hazel continues. “So Eddie told me you’ve known each other for years, but when’d you decide to make things official?”
Buck’s eyes widen and his mouth gapes. For a few moments, he’s silent, and Hazel realizes she’s fucked up big time. “I’m sorry?”
For some unknown and godforsaken reason, Hazel pushes. “Y’know… like when did things become serious?”
Buck’s silent again.
“Dating. When did you start dating?” Hazel supplies.
And Buck sputters, blushing like a schoolgirl. “Dating? Eddie and I aren’t dating!”
Damn. Hazel’s intuition is never wrong. So either God is messing with her today or these two boys have some serious explaining to do. “You’re not?”
“No! Eddie’s my… he’s… my best friend!”
And there it is. That goddamn hesitation to call Eddie his best friend. Eddie was the exact same way about Buck, Hazel remembers. So obviously they’re more to each other. More than they can articulate.
Hazel decides it’s time to bring out big cousin Hazel. She straightens her posture a bit and lowers her voice.
“Okay, okay. He’s your best friend. I see that now.”
Buck nods crazily. “Yeah! My best friend, nothing more!”
“And you’re happy with that?”
Buck hesitates. “I’m happy however Eddie wants me.”
Ah. Classic unrequited love. Except Hazel is not so sure that this love is actually unrequited.
“So you like him?”
And Buck sighs. Like he’s seriously wondering why he’s about to dump his baggage on this stranger. And Hazel thinks he’s about to shut up until he speaks up quietly. “I love him.”
Hazel smiles and leans in. “I think you can achieve a lot if you just be brave.”
Buck looks up and opens his mouth to speak, but Eddie and Chris suddenly appear.
“What’d we miss?” Eddie says cheerfully.
“Nothing interesting,” Hazel fills in. “Buck still owes me an embarrassing story about you.”
She turns to Buck, and Buck shoots her a small smile.
Two days later, Eddie waltzes inside the café nonchalantly. Hazel can see right through his façade, though.
“What’s got you all nervous, Diaz?”
Eddie sighs, and lets his shoulders slump. He walks up to Hazel and speaks almost inaudibly. “Buck confessed a few things last night.”
Hazel perks up. “He did?” She doesn’t push. “And how do you feel?”
“Awful. It’s making me rethink my entire sense of self. I thought I knew who I was, but I’m just not so sure anymore.”
“Are you mad at him?”
“God, no. I don’t think I could ever be.”
“What’d you say?”
“I told him to give me a moment. I just wanted to process it. He promised nothing would change if I didn’t want it to.”
“Do you want things to stay the same?”
Eddie’s voice becomes even quieter. “No. I… want. I just want. All of it.”
Hazel smiles, and places a hand on his shoulder. “You don’t need to have it all figured out, trust me. Nothing in life is black and white. But if you’re sure you like him, and that he likes you back, and you feel ready, don’t let time slip by. You guys have a whole life to build ahead of you.”
Eddie looks up. “How’d you know I was talking about that?”
“Buck told me a few things.”
“Oh,” Eddie slumps again. “What if I mess it up?”
“Seems like nothing could drive Buck away. You guys will be fine, I promise. Sometimes, it’s okay to want. It’s even better to have it.”
Eddie looks back, and nods. “Okay, yeah.”
“Now don’t let this ruin Easter. I’m gonna set you up with a coffee, okay? You’re gonna head back home and set things straight.”
Eddie snorts. “Straight.”
Hazel rolls her eyes and chuckles. “Whatever.”
Eddie doesn’t come back until a few weeks after Easter.
“I’m moving back to Los Angeles,” are the first words out of his mouth.
“I’m sorry?”
“I’m going home. Like next week. I wanted to say bye,” Eddie says softly, his voice full of emotion.
Hazel smiles sadly. “Seems like a big development. I take it something good spurred this on?”
Eddie chuckles, and looks at the floor. “Yeah. I wasn’t gonna last here, anyway. But, I got a good thing waiting for me. We both do.”
“Both?”
“Christopher. He wants to move back, too.”
Hazel squeals. “Eddie! This is great!”
“I still don’t have it all figured out. But, I feel like I’m getting there. And I wanted to thank you. Let’s keep in touch, yeah?”
“It’s not easy to get rid of me, anyway.”
Eddie chuckles.
“Now,” Hazel continues, “is Buck a carnivore?” She gestures to Eddie’s neck, and Eddie’s hand flies up to cover the pink bite mark there. He blushes and ducks his head.
“Fuck you.”
“Seems like Buck’s already staked his claim. You can’t do that anytime soon.”
“Shut up!”
Eddie and Chris drop in one last time right before their drive back to Los Angeles. It’s not a sad goodbye, because Hazel is nothing but proud and happy for her friend. And he’s got a hot piece of ass waiting for him at home.
“Just make sure to invite me to the wedding.”
Chris chimes in, “You should close your eyes when they kiss. They couldn’t keep their hands off each other when they first got together.”
“Chris!”
Eight months later, Hazel’s sifting through her mail when a blue envelope catches her eye. She tears it open and reads the message.
EVAN BUCKLEY & EDDIE DIAZ
Cordially request the pleasure of your company at their celebration of life and love
On April 15, 2026.
“Evan?” she mutters to herself in confusion.