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The countdown was echoing through Bobby and Athena’s new living room. The music, laughter, and the sparkle of champagne flutes blended into one chaotic celebration. Everyone was gathered around the TV, faces glowing in the light of Times Square, just waiting for the ball to drop.
“Ten!”
Buck stood near the window, watching the reflections dance across the glass. He quickly scanned the room, heart thumping, excitement filling his veins as the New Year closed in. Hen and Karen were already leaning into each other on the other side of the room, smiles taking over their faces. Chim had his arm around Maddie with baby Nash in her arms. He was fussy, teething, and didn’t want to be put down tonight. Even Ravi looked like he’d found someone to smile at…namely May, which, come to think of it, Buck was going to have to talk with him. They would make a good couple, but he had a protective big brother-esque role to fill.
“Nine!”
He grinned nervously, fiddling with the edge of his beer label, still looking around at the happy couples. His family.
“Eight!”
Eddie stood beside him, calm and warm in that worn-out henley Buck pretended not to notice. His sleeves were pushed up, revealing his toned arms. Buck might have protested to his sister that he wasn’t in love with his best friend while Eddie was away in Texas – but he knew he was. He couldn’t quite place when it had happened, just that he was in the middle of it before he realized that his feelings had changed. It felt as natural as breathing to love Eddie.
“Seven!”
Eddie nudged him gently. “You look like you’re thinking too much.”
Buck laughed, a little too quickly. “Just realizing I don’t have anyone to kiss at midnight. Again.”
“Six!”
Eddie smiled faintly. “It’s just a kiss.” He took a quick sip of his beer as he looked over at Buck. Christopher was in one of the spare bedrooms, passed out from playing video games late with Denny and Harry. Mara and Jee were in another room, having fallen asleep around 9:30, even though they were both trying to stay awake. It was just the older adults left awake to welcome in the New Year.
“Five!”
“Yeah, but it’s a New Year’s kiss,” Buck said, eyes flicking from couple to couple. Everyone was paired off, wrapped up in little moments that didn’t include him. Everyone but him. Everyone but him and Eddie. “Well,” Buck said, voice rising with mild panic as the seconds started to vanish, “I’m changing the narrative.” With more confidence than he was currently feeling, Buck quickly and loudly said, “Someone has to kiss me! Please, someone has to kiss me!”
He looked around wildly. Hen just laughed into her drink, Chim nearly choked, and Athena raised a brow in amused disbelief. Karen laughed loudly enough that Maddie looked at her and started laughing as well. Poor Bobby looked like he wanted to be anywhere else in that moment.
“Four!”
Eddie blinked, then laughed under his breath. “Oh my God.”
“Three!”
Buck threw his arms out dramatically. “I’m serious!” He said, gesturing helplessly. “It’s bad luck to start the year alone!”
“Two!”
Eddie hurriedly set down his drink, grabbed Buck by the shirt, and muttered, “Fine.”
“One!”
The room exploded in cheers, and before Buck could react, Eddie cupped the back of his neck and kissed him, soft, sure, and steady, grounding him like touching the ground after riding a tall rollercoaster. It wasn’t long, it wasn’t showy, just warm, and so perfectly timed that for a moment, Buck forgot how to breathe.
Cheers continued to erupt around them, but Buck barely heard them. His eyes fluttered open to find Eddie still close, his eyes soft, pink-cheeked, and definitely looking directly at him. His lips curved in a nervous smile. He seemed contented, in that way where your shoulders relax and you’re able to breathe again after being tense for so long.
“Happy New Year,” Eddie said, voice rough but quiet and steady.
Buck blinked, then grinned slowly, completely stunned, and stupidly happy. “Yeah,” he breathed. “Happy New Year.” They stayed like that for a moment with music and laughter fading into something quieter, something that felt like a promise.
Eddie finally chuckled. “Guess you’re not starting the year alone after all.”
Buck’s hand brushed against his, fingers tangling for just a second longer than necessary. “I could get used to that.”
The room suddenly fell into a hush. Hen and Karen were smirking, Chim was whispering “finally,” and Maddie was looking down and fussing with the now sleeping Baby Nash in her arms while smiling way too wide. Buck pretended not to see a ten-dollar bill exchange hands between Ravi and May. Bobby and Athena were still wrapped up in each other. They had been even more touchy-feely since Bobby's almost death in the lab. Buck couldn’t blame them one bit for that.
But Buck’s heart was still racing, and for once, it wasn’t panic filling his nerves; it was possibility. It was hope.
A sudden noise from the hallway broke the impromptu quiet of the room after the kiss. “It’s about time!” Chris was slowly making his way into the room; his hair was pushed up at all angles, wild with sleep, and his glasses were slightly askew.
Buck and Eddie sprang apart, both flushing scarlet, their laughter overlapping awkwardly.
“Uh…hey, buddy,” Eddie managed.
Chris smirked knowingly. “Told you it would happen this year.”
Eddie froze. Buck’s eyes widened. They looked at each other, and then, slowly, they both started to laugh, a real, unguarded laughter that filled the room. When the laughter faded, their eyes met again. Softer now, and brimming with something neither could pretend away anymore.
“Guess he’s smarter than both of us,” Buck said quietly.
Eddie nodded, taking a small, slow step closer. “Yeah. Um…he’s been waiting for me to admit it.”
“Admit what?” Buck whispered.
Eddie smiled, small but certain. “That I’m in love with you.”
For a moment, Buck couldn’t breathe, but then he smiled, wide and bright. “Good,” he said softly. “Because I’m pretty sure I’ve been waiting to hear that so that I could tell you that I love you too.”
Eddie’s laughter came out shaky but happy as he leaned in again, and this time, when they kissed, it wasn’t about luck or timing. It was about finally.
Maybe Buck wasn’t starting the year alone after all. Perhaps he was beginning it exactly where he was supposed to be. Outside, the fireworks lit the sky with bright, bold, and beautiful colors over the Los Angeles skyline. And for the first time in a long while, Buck felt loved.