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The front door banged open and Christopher’s voice echoed through the house, equal parts excited and alarmed.
“Hey, Dad!” he yelled. “A strange man followed me home!”
Eddie dropped the spatula he’d been using to stir the ground beef for taco night and bolted out of the kitchen. His heart thudded against his ribs — every protective instinct snapping to attention — until he skidded into the living room and froze.
Standing in the entryway was Buck, grinning like an idiot, hands raised in mock surrender, with Christopher standing proudly in front of him like he’d just captured a fugitive.
“See? Strange man!” Christopher declared, dramatically pointing at Buck. “Can we keep him?”
Eddie let out a sharp exhale that turned into a laugh despite himself. “Christopher!”
Buck widened his eyes innocently. “Yeah, Eddie. Can you keep me?”
Eddie scrubbed a hand over his face, trying to hide the smile tugging at his mouth. “You two are going to give me gray hair.”
Christopher just grinned wider. “But he followed me home, Dad. That means he’s mine now.”
“Those are the rules,” Buck said solemnly, crouching down so he was eye-level with Christopher. “Finders keepers.”
“Finders keepers!” Christopher echoed, clearly delighted.
Eddie crossed his arms, fighting to keep his tone stern. “Buck, did you seriously walk behind him the whole way home just so he could set up this joke?”
Buck shrugged, unapologetic. “He started it! Yelled across the school yard that there was a strange man near the fence. I figured I’d play along.”
“You two are impossible,” Eddie muttered, shaking his head — though he didn’t miss the warmth in Christopher’s eyes, the way his son lit up whenever Buck was near.
“Dad,” Christopher said seriously, tugging Eddie’s sleeve, “if we keep him, does that mean he eats dinner with us?”
Eddie laughed outright this time, his heart loosening. “Yeah, bud. I think that’s exactly what it means.”
Christopher whooped and darted toward the kitchen, already shouting about tacos and who got to pick the movie for later.
Buck straightened up, still grinning, and Eddie met his gaze. “You know,” Eddie said, voice low but fond, “one of these days you’re gonna give me a heart attack.”
Buck’s smile softened, turning into something gentler. “Guess that means you’d miss me if I didn’t follow him home.”
Eddie rolled his eyes but didn’t bother to deny it. “C’mon, Strange Man. You heard the kid. Dinner’s ready.”
“Best kidnapping ever,” Buck said cheerfully, following Eddie toward the kitchen.
And if Eddie’s smile lingered just a little longer than usual as he glanced over his shoulder at Buck — well, nobody called him out on it.