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The ceiling fan was the only sound in Buck’s loft, stirring the faint smell of sweat, sex, and birthday cake frosting that never made it out of its tub on the counter downstairs.
Buck shifted slightly in his sleep, a warm weight tucked firmly against his chest. Eddie’s head rested just beneath his chin, their legs tangled, a thin sheet draped lazily across their hips, but nothing else. Buck’s lips still tingled from the lazy kisses Eddie had pressed there before they both crashed. Both utterly oblivious to the fact that the birthday party he had planned was already knocking at his door.
Outside, Maddie juggled a pizza box in one arm and a six pack in the other. Athena tapped her foot impatiently, Karen balanced another stack of food, and Hen glanced at her phone.
Chim was already dramatically sighing. “What kind of host invites people over and then doesn’t show up at his own place?”
Athena raised a brow. “This is Buck we’re talking about. He probably ran out last minute to buy another case of soda, or balloons, or…” She trailed off as she eyed the completely darkened hallway.
Maddie frowned. “He knew we were coming. Maybe he forgot his phone again.” She looked at the group. “I’ve got a key.”
Hen smirked. “Of course you do. Big sister privilege.”
“Or the responsibility of making sure my little brother doesn’t lock himself, again,” Maddie shot back smirking, sliding the key into the lock.
The door clicked open.
Inside, the loft was unusually quiet. No music, no Buck bounding down the stairs to hug them, no “Happy Birthday to me!”
Karen set the food down on the counter. “Maybe he’s upstairs?”
Athena’s sharp eyes caught the first clue. A shirt no, two shirts tossed on the floor near the stairs. A pair of jeans thrown halfway over the rail on the stairs.
Hen chuckled. “Oh no. Looks like our birthday boy got himself a pre party.”
“Good for him,” Karen said with a grin, gathering the discarded clothing with her gaze like breadcrumbs. “It’s about time he had some fun.”
Athena folded her arms. “Except we’re the ones waiting with food while he’s… occupied.”
Chim perked up, already gleeful. “Occupied, huh? Ooooh, we’re catching Buck red handed. Or at least red faced.” He started up the stairs. “Come on, let’s meet the mystery date.”
Maddie groaned but followed. “This is a mistake.”
Bobby laughed “I don’t want to see him in the middle of that!”
Hen barked a laugh “I don’t think they’re in the middle, it’s too quiet.”
The group crept up the stairs, joking quietly, ready to tease Buck. Chim had already prepared his one liners about walking in on ‘Buck 2.0. Buck 3.0? He can’t remember.’
But the laughter died instantly at the sight before them. Shock came instead.
There was Buck, sprawled on the bed, his curls sticking to his forehead, chest bare and flushed. And tucked tightly against him, half hidden by the sheets, was Eddie.
The room smelled of sweat, sex, and satisfaction. Clothes littered the floor like confetti. Eddie’s arm was draped protectively across Buck’s stomach, their faces turned toward each other, still lost in the hazy afterglow of sleep.
For one suspended second, nobody moved.
Then Chim burst out laughing. “Oh my God. Oh my GOD. It’s Eddie!”
Hen clapped a hand over her mouth, but the giggles broke free anyway. Karen leaned against her shoulder, snickering. Athena shook her head, lips twitching despite herself. Maddie made a strangled sound halfway between horror and delight. Bobby had to look away, but a smirk forming on his face.
Buck stirred at the noise, mumbling against Eddie’s temple. Eddie shifted, pressing closer, murmuring something unintelligible.
The family froze again.
Then Buck cracked one sleepy eye, smiled, and whispered, “Love you.”
Eddie hummed back, just as soft, “Love you too.”
The silence shattered.
“I love you too, guys!” Chim called brightly.
Both Buck and Eddie jolted upright at the same time. The sheet slid dangerously low before Buck yanked it up with a yelp. Eddie’s face flushed crimson.
“WHAT THE HELL?!” Buck squeaked, eyes wide.
“Happy birthday!” Hen crowed through her laughter.
It took another five minutes for Buck to find his sweatpants, Eddie to throw on his clothes, and the entire group to stop laughing long enough to make it back downstairs.
Buck’s ears were scarlet. “I can’t believe you all,”
“Walked into your apartment because you invited us and didn’t answer the door?” Athena supplied smoothly, sipping her wine. “That’s on you, kid.”
Chim slapped the counter. “This is the best birthday gift ever, and it’s not even my birthday! The bromance finally evolved into romance.”
Hen leaned forward, smirking. “How long have you two been sneaking around?”
Buck hesitated, glancing at Eddie. Their eyes met an unspoken agreement passing between them.
“A while,” Buck admitted sheepishly “two months…”
Maddie softened, smiling through her embarrassment. “I knew something was different. You’ve been happier, Buck.”
Eddie ducked his head, but the corner of his mouth twitched upward.
The rest of the evening devolved into a good natured roast.
Karen grinned. “Do we need to set a chore chart for who gets to clean up those clothes on the stairs?”
Hen wagged her finger. “Better question whose idea was it to leave the jeans halfway up? That’s a tripping hazard. Firefighter safety violation right there.”
Chim put on a mock serious expression. “I just want to know who initiated birthday sex. Was it Buck being predictable or Eddie being secretly smooth?”
Buck nearly choked on his beer. “CHIM!”
Athena smirked. “Judging by how tangled those sheets were, I’d say it was mutual.”
Maddie groaned, covering her face. “I’m begging all of you to stop talking about my brother’s sex life.”
“Correction,” Karen said cheerfully. “Your brother and Eddie’s sex life.”
Eddie groaned, dragging his hands down his face. “Why are we friends with you people again?”
“Because we are the best,” Hen replied. “And you love us.”
Bobby, who had been quiet until now, finally cleared his throat. His fatherly smile softened the teasing. “You know, i have been waiting years for you two to figure it out. I’m glad you finally did.”
“Thank you, Bobby,” Eddie said gratefully.
“Paperwork Monday” Bobby added. “And none of that at work.” He gestures upstairs.
Everyone burst out laughing again.
Later, when the pizza boxes were empty and the games abandoned in favor of storytelling and more laughter, Buck slipped into the kitchen for a moment of quiet. Eddie followed, brushing his knuckles against Buck’s hand.
“You okay?” Eddie asked softly.
Buck exhaled a laugh, shaking his head. “I can’t believe that’s how they found out.”
“Could’ve been worse,” Eddie teased. “At least we were asleep and not…”
“Don’t finish that sentence.” Buck groaned, but he smiled anyway. “Still… they were all okay with it. More than okay.”
Eddie squeezed his hand. “Told you they would be.”
Buck looked at him then, eyes soft and full of that warmth Eddie always felt but never quite believed until now. “Yeah. You did.”
Their lips brushed in a quick, tender kiss before Chim’s voice shouted from the couch: “HEY! NO MAKING OUT IN THE KITCHEN! WE CAN STILL SEE YOU!”
Hen followed up immediately: “Yeah, keep it PG, lovebirds. Some of us are still digesting!”
Buck laughed into Eddie’s shoulder, and Eddie pressed a fond kiss to his birthmark.
The night wound down with more teasing, a few serious toasts, and a lot of laughter.
When everyone finally left, Buck locked the door and leaned against it, sighing. Eddie pulled him into his arms, cheek pressed against Buck’s hair.
“They’re happy for us,” Eddie murmured.
Buck grinned, still flushed from the chaos of it all, but lighter than he’d felt in years. “Yeah. They are.”
And as they headed upstairs clothes once again scattered behind them, Buck thought this was the best birthday he’d ever had.