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BUCK: we’re still on for dinner right?
MADDIE: yeah, definitely
BUCK: see you in thirty then
Buck knocked on the Buckley-Han’s door. He’d been looking forward to this dinner all week!
Maddie answered, a smile on her lips. “Buck!”
“Hey, Maddie,” he smiled in return.
“Come on in,” Maddie moved aside to let Buck enter, and that he did. “Dinners at the table. Jee’s with Chimney and Hen.”
They sat at the table. Buck put a piece of meat on his fork. He groaned, saying “this is so good, Mads,” with a mouthful.
“Thanks, I know,” Maddie smiled. “So, how are you? What’ve you been up to?”
“Well, I went on a date yesterday. His name is Eduardo. He isn’t from around here, not at all. The other side of the country, actually. He just moved here a few years back. He has a moustache and stuff, you know. We actually went back to my place and, uh… you know. We didn’t even make it to the bedroom, we just ended up on the couch.” Buck shoved a chip in his mouth.
“You… on Eddie’s couch?” Maddie looked at him like he had grown a second head, her own head tilting to the side a bit.
“I mean, it’s really mine now.” Buck shrugged.
“Right… but isn’t that, like, your thing? You can’t commit to a couch?” Maddie raised her eyebrows. “And plus, with a guy named Eduardo? Who is basically just Eddie?”
“I really don’t know what you're trying to say right now, Maddie.”
“I think you do.”
And fuck, he does.
“Well, you’re totally, definitely wrong. Me and Eddie, we’re best bros. Just because I’m bisexual now doesn’t mean I’ll fall for my best friend, that’s so homo—“
“If you call me homophobic… you’ll never see the light of day again. You’ve been warned.” Maddie cut in.
“Alright, whatever. It’s stereotypical, then. We’re best bros. Friends. Platonic soulmates.” The last one slipped out of his mouth, but it seemed right.
“Yeah, who raised a kid together? You went under a fire truck during active fire to get him, you’re in his will, you constantly get called an adorable family. If Eddie was a woman—“
“That would still be stereotypical.” Buck automatically acted defensive.
“But you would have at least started dating by now. But no, you’re both men. You’re dancing around each other like a couple of idiots. Do you know how insane I’ve been going for seven years, Buck? Watching you two be in denial for so long? No. I bet you don’t, because you’re too dumb to see what’s right in front of you. You both are!” Maddie exclaimed.
Buck stayed silent for a few moments, then spoke up. “Okay, maybe if Eddie was a woman… things would be different. Maybe the stereotype would indeed come true. But Eddie is a man, who likes women and only women.”
“Is he though?”
Those words hung in the air.
“I mean, I don't want to label him myself, but he said he feels like he has to perform on dates with women, right? And he only got with Marisol because he thought it was a sign, yeah?” At Buck’s nod, she continued. “Okay, so he’s not completely straight. Surely not. Surely if not gay, he’s like… demi, or something. Because if he truly loved Shannon, and he loves you, those are two strong emotional connections. He can’t just make something happen on a date.”
Buck looked at her, furrowing his brow. “How do you know all of this? About, like, demi and stuff.”
“I’m an ally.” Maddie threw her brother a wink. He just nodded, not able to say anything else. “And just now, when you said if Eddie was a woman, things might be different? You didn’t deny you have feelings for him right now.”
“It’s lunacy,” Buck simply said, going back to his dinner.
Maddie didn’t believe him. She stood her ground. But, the Buck-and-Eddie-thing might be a lost cause. So instead, she shoved a chip in her mouth.