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Buck watched from afar as everyone went to greet Eddie, the 118’s newest recruit who had just graduated from the academy. Although he didn’t consider himself to be a rude person, he wasn’t exactly fast to warm up to someone who changed his shirt in clear view of the locker room window. It was almost like he wanted everyone to see his tight abs and toned arms. Big deal, a fit firefighter, Buck thought. That’s kind of the point.
After a few minutes, the small crowd dispersed, with Bobby giving Buck a disapproving look as he led everyone else away. “You’re not going to introduce yourself?” he asked. “It’s not big of you to be so standoffish just because you’re worried about not getting a spot on the firefighters' calendar. Not to mention the announcement hasn’t even come out yet, so it’s not like he’s stealing your thunder.”
“Oh no…I…”
“You’re not that shy.” Bobby pushed back. “Eddie doesn’t bite. He’s thrilled to be here; he’s really outgoing and ready to get to work. Now why don’t you go say hello while I finish breakfast?”
Fine, Dad.
After he made sure no one was watching, he walked into the locker room. Eddie was sitting on a bench looking straight ahead. He had just been smiling and joking with the rest of the team but now had a more focused look on his face, like he was gearing up for battle, and his hands were folded in his lap. But he looked over his shoulder and then up at Buck.
“And you are?” he asked.
“Oh, I’m Evan Buckley. But everyone just calls me…”
“Buck? Yeah, that’s what I hear.” Eddie held out his hand. “Good to meet you, Buck. I’m Eddie. And please don’t call me Edmundo.”
“No problem. Sorry, I just kind of got caught off guard when I saw you. My first impression of you will forever be of you changing your shirt, making sure you got us all to look at your abs.”
“What’s wrong? You never change in front of the other guys here? It’s not a big deal. Try living in a tent in Afghanistan while serving in the military. You’ll get used to not having any privacy really quick. I wasn’t trying to get attention; I don’t see it that way. Do you have an issue with a guy who works on his physique outside of work too?”
“Well, no…” Buck stammered. He was starting to think Bobby had told him to come in on purpose to get served. Maybe the rest of the house was looking down right now, trying to read their lips and laughing at this exchange.
“OK then.” Eddie nodded. “Because one of the other guys, I think he said his name was Chim…said that you guys were discussing some firefighters’ calendar. And there seems to be a little jealousy here and there or a competition to be the chosen one from this house. You’re not worried a probie would steal your calendar photoshoot, right?”
“No, why would I be? I think it’s Cap I have to worry about. He’s still at the top of his game even after all these years on the job. Plus, the ladies love him. Or so I hear.”
“Good.” Eddie grinned. “I think you have some work to do if you want to catch up to me anyway. I’ll give you some training tips if you want.”
“I just dropped a percentage of body fat.” Buck pointed out. “Had a DEXA scan and a snapshot of the report to prove it.” He pulled out his phone and showed it to Eddie. “You’re more on par with me than you think, I bet any money.”
“Really? I’ll put down $100 to prove otherwise and make sure I bring my results to you. I’ll even let you know once I book the appointment.”
Buck laughed. “All right. Just prepare to be disappointed.”
The door opened, and Hen walked in. “Aren’t you two lovebirds done yet?” she asked, some exasperation in her voice. “Your plates of food are getting cold, and we want to eat.”
The three of them exchanged glances and headed upstairs to the kitchen.
“Lovebirds?” Buck whispered to her. “You know, I don’t think I would call Eddie that at all.”
“Really? For a quick meeting, you were in there for a while. What happened to just introducing yourself and saying nice to meet you?”
“It turns out Buck just wanted to know all about my gym routine.” Eddie deflected the conversation away from any awkwardness or teasing suggestions of crushes. “So, I was kind of giving him some pointers on how to refine his six-pack. He can’t wait to have a former army medic as his training buddy. He thinks I could really whip him into shape.”
“Not a bad idea.” Bobby agreed. “Buck’s really hoping to be in a calendar someday.”
“Guys, come on!” Buck said. This was not the first impression he’d been hoping to make on his new teammate.
“I think they’re just picking on you.” Eddie assured him. “Don’t get so worked up. It seems like you guys really all like each other, and that’s the kind of firehouse I was hoping to be assigned to. It’s even better to have a captain who’s such a good cook…”
Now he’s just sucking up, Buck thought. He listened to Hen and Chim jump in with stories about their favorite firehouse meals and how they liked to bust each other, and then he just decided to dig into his eggs. He figured the glow of a new probie would wear off soon enough so they could ask Eddie to entertain a school field trip and clean the ambulance and fire truck windshields, along with all the other grunt work they had to do during their probie terms.
But even he had to admit he didn’t know why some insecurities got the better of him when he saw Eddie getting dressed and ready for his first shift.
As everyone was preparing for B shift’s arrival so they could head home, Buck decided he didn’t want any animosity to linger between him and Eddie. They had to work together no matter what, after all. Maybe most of the resentment was from his end anyway. Eddie was ribbing him but never went as far as insulting him and even had a cover for the rest of the team about what good friends they were becoming. Gym buddies. Who could hate that? Even though Buck preferred to work out alone with his headphones and a podcast, usually about a TV show he was watching.
“Hey,” Buck called to Eddie in the locker room. “Look, about yesterday morning…I was kind of a prick. I just…overreact sometimes.”
“You’re going to have to say a lot worse than what you did to get under my skin.” Eddie said. “Not much works me up. I mean, I served in the military, yeah, but I also have a kid with cerebral palsy. He’s great, but my wife and I went through hell when he was first diagnosed, and I made some shitty choices at the time. I can deal with some envy and snarky comments about my physique.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. It’s not your fault.” Eddie checked his phone for messages before putting it in his backpack and then he looked at Buck again. “I was just busting you about those workout tips anyway. I’m sure you’re in great shape by yourself. You don’t have to come to the gym with me, although sometimes it’s nice to have company when you’re trying to bench press or lift those 30-pound dumbbells.”
“I’m more of an introvert when it comes to the gym.” Buck explained. “I like to listen to podcasts while I’m working out, but if it’s nice outside, I’ll crank up the music and go for a run. It gets boring when you have nothing to do other than think about how you can’t wait to be done or how much you’re sweating.”
“Fair. And the calendar thing, you know I was just teasing about that too, right? I get why it would be an ego boost for you, though. Who wouldn’t want to be featured on a calendar that every woman in LA wants to get their hands on?”
Women and some men. Buck wanted to correct Eddie but decided against it.
“You’re right,” he admitted. “I guess I just got the wrong impression of you. The probie trying a little too hard to prove himself when he just got here.”
“But you probably did that too, right?”
“Maybe but not like—. OK, yeah. I guess I’ve done my share of stupid stuff to cause Cap to give me a lecture. I have a tendency to cross the line and try almost too hard to save someone when I can’t save myself.”
“I know a little about that.”
Buck breathed a sigh of relief and smiled. “So, a son?” he asked, trying to change the subject. “I’d love to have kids someday. What’s his name?”
“Christopher. But everyone just calls him Chris. He’s the center of my world. Do you want to see some pictures?”
“Sure.”
Buck and Eddie walked out of the firehouse together once they finished briefing the B shift and Eddie was introduced.
He still didn’t understand why he was so captivated by Eddie’s body yesterday. And yes, in the past he had changed clothes in front of Bobby and Chim like it was no big deal, thank you very much. That was one thing he didn’t mention.
That was a mystery to be worked out another time, though. For now, he was happy they could probably be friends after all.