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Richie has been riding a lifetime high for about two days now. After he met Eddie– the most beautiful man ever– and left his phone number on the man’s coffee cup, he didn't expect much, but when he finally picked up his phone after his shift, he was met with a short text reading, “ This is Eddie Kaspbrak.”
That's literally all it said. No flirty remarks or tasteful emojis… yet Richie squealed at his phone like he’d just been asked to the prom by his crush.
Thus, starting the record-breaking high Richie has been on. He’s been smiling so much his face aches, giving out free drinks, and randomly feeling the urge to dance, even though he’s had two interactions with this man.
Seems like a good omen.
Rainbows are shining out of his ass, and he is walking on sunshine this particular shift. The after-school rush was calm and polite, elevating Richie's mood from “ he’s having a good day” to “ Did he just get laid?!”
That's why when Zoe comes in right around four, he doesn't think anything of it. “ Hello Zo-Zo!! How are we on this beautiful afternoon?!”
He’s met with a terrifying glare from the teenager. “Don't zo-zo me Richard. You know what you did.”
For a second, he has no idea what she's talking about. Huh? No, I actually have no idea what I did, Zoe. Maybe you should– oh.
Right… the reason Richie has been floating for two days is… her dad. Her mid–divorce, gorgeous dad.
He lets out a nervous laugh right then, trying to avoid her deadly gaze.
“ In my defense… your dad is fucking hot.” Worst thing he could’ve said.
“ Oh, what the fuck?!!” Zoe’s arms raise and lower several times in exasperation, making it look like shes a bird trying to fly away. Richie would laugh, but he's kinda in a tough spot right now.
“ I’m sorry, I’m just speaking my truth!” His hands raise in a “I'm innocent, please don't kill me” fashion.
Zoe looks like she's about to explode or something. “ The first time my dad leaves the apartment to do something in weeks, and he’s preyed upon by my friend, who he now wants to bone, and is suddenly gay?! Which he decided not to notify me about?! ”
The sentence takes a second to really unload in Richie's head. He tries to think of something to say for a weirdly long time before landing on, “ Kids still say bone??”
The deadly glare from across the counter becomes even more lethal. Richie has a hunch that maybe it's not all because of him either. He definitely didn't miss the part where Zoe called him her friend… among other things.
He deflates. “ I’ll make you a drink– on the house– and we’ll have a rap sesh, okay?”
The girl in front of him crumples slightly and looks down at her hands for a few moments. It’s not until he’s halfway done with her drink that she speaks up.
“ Make me a free drink like how you made my dad one…?” he definitely deserved that. Snarky little shit.
He plops her drink down at the other end of the counter and tries to lean down to look into her big, sad eyes. “ You wanna talk about it, kid?”
Zoe heaves a wet sigh, making Richie's heart ache for some reason. “ I just don't like that he hid this from me. I’m his daughter i deserve to know this shit, right? Like, why he decided to split up our family.”
Richie is already nodding; she makes complete sense. Zoe should know about this stuff and should not find out about it from the bear that works at the local Starbucks.
Still… he sees it from both perspectives. Sue him for being just the littlest bit biased towards the gorgeous single father.
She looks up at him, like she’s expecting another one of his shitty speeches. Ughhh fuck my life, why must I have feelings?
“ I see where you're coming from, kid, and yeah, it was probably a little fucked up that your dad didn't tell you the truth, but…” he sighs, “ You know, I've known that I'm gay since I was…seven… and I think I've actually told three people. And you're one of them. It’s so fucking scary, Zoe.”
“Do you… Do you get what I'm saying?” God, he's so bad at these. It’s always been weird how much he sees himself in Zoe, but now it's even weirder that he sees himself in her dad as well.
Pun not intended…but still sending him butterflies.
He decides to continue, rambling at this point, “ So this might be something hard for you— which is very valid— but this is also hard for him too, ya know?” That sounded coherent enough.
She nods and finally looks up for her drink. “ I think I do. Thanks, Rich,” and the anxiousness Richie felt before completely melts away. What's left is the sickening realization that Richie would fucking kill for this kid.
“ Christ Zoe, I'm too manly to have feelings like this– you need to stop dragging them out of me.” That pulls a laugh out of Zoe, making a weight lift off Richie’s chest.
His mouth opens to speak again, but he’s completely frozen in place when he sees Eddie jog up to the counter and his daughter.
“ Fuck, Dad, what are you doing in here? You said you’d wait outside.” Eddie doesn't even seem to notice Richie is there; he’s so focused on Zoe’s wet eyes and red nose.
“ Are you okay? What happened? You were taking so long–”
“I'm fine, Dad,” she huffs, dodging his hands, moving to hold her face.
Eddie begrudgingly takes a step back and turns to the counter. He completely freezes when he sees Richie.
Well… he freezes for a moment before aggressively fixing his suit to make himself look more presentable.
Hubba hubba.
“ R-Richie!! Didn't see you there…” The bigger man hasn't even said anything, and Eddie is already blushing. God, this man is good for his ego.
He’s about to speak when– “ I’m gonna run to the bathroom dad… maybe go puke out my breakfast and lunch.” And just like that, she's gone, walking so fast that if she were in a cartoon, her lower body would be one big circle. Richie can't help but let a loud laugh escape him.
Eddie is fully turned to Richie behind the counter now, slowly letting a smile take over the deep frown he was sporting before. “ I really was just worried about her, I had no idea you–”
“ You don't need to lie to me, Ed’s.” his grin is boyish as he leans over the counter.
A beat of silence.
“ Yeah, I was totally lying.” Eddie deflates as he says it, and oh my god, he’s so adorable.
“ Oh, Eddie, what am I going to do with you?” Richie tuts, smirking.
And before he can make a dirty joke, Eddie mutters, “ I can think of a few things.”
Oh my god.
As much as he wants to pull this lovely thread, he does not need Zoe hearing it when(if) she comes back.
“ So you were banished to the car? Away from me?” He pouts.
Eddie chuckles, “ I—yeah, she's a little angry at me because of the coffee cup thing, which was one hundred percent your fault, a-and some other personal shit.”
The bigger man nods, “ I already fought that battle, and I am almost positive I lost.” They share a laugh.
“ Well… while you're here, how about I make you a drink?”
Eddie scratches the back of his neck “I mean, you don't have to if you don't want to–”
“ What do you think I get paid to do here, Eddie? Stand and look pretty? Traumatize little children with my unfunny jokes?” he places his hands on his hips dramatically, making Eddie laugh.
His new favorite sound– by the way.
A sigh before, “ Sure— fine, make me a drink.” He pulls out his wallet, and Richie pretends he's been shot, staggering backwards and gasping for air.
His hand dramatically flies to his heart. “ I can't believe you would dare touch your wallet when there’s a barista so willing to make it on the house!”
Eddie laughs, “Do you even make money at this stand?? I would love to see the profits at this location compared to the other ones.”’
“ Of course, Mr Businessman.” He gets to work making a drink he thinks Eddie might like and grins ear to ear when he hears the man cracking up from behind the little divider.
After a moment of agonizing over this drink ( usually, he just throws shit in the cup and slams it on the counter), he hands it over to Eddie with a small smile.
Funnily enough, instead of just taking a sip, Eddie holds the drink up— almost above his head— and just… inspects it. For a weirdly long time.
“ What’s in this?”
“ Just drink it, dude.”
“ No, I'm scared you loaded it up with sugar.”
Richie does a half laugh-half sigh, “ I promise I didn't!! Please just drink it.” He starts pouting with puppy dog eyes. Probably looks freaky but worth a try.
Surprisingly, Eddie seems completely enamored by this display and clears his throat before taking a sip of the coffee.
A beat.
Then Eddie fucking moans.
Coach, take me out, COACH— he feels like the meme he sends Steve of the lady bent over with her hands on her knees. He needs a breather.
“ What the fuck did you put in this?!” Eddie says between more rushed sips.
One of his drinks is good??? What???
“ Um, a little bit of everything i guess??”
Eddie sighs, looking down at the drink. He looks like he's shaking. “This coffee is so good I'm not even concerned about that statement.”
Richie laughs, mentally patting himself on the back. He would drive Starbucks’ profits straight into the ground if it meant he got to see Eddie’s beaming smile directed at him.
There's a moment of comfortable silence, then Zoe is back, standing right next to her dad in front of Richie.
“ Can we leave? I got bored of standing in the chip aisle.” Eddie nods, looking a little bummed, then they’re both turning to Richie and— oh god, he's seeing double.
He makes a show of taking off his glasses, wiping them, and putting them back on. “ I'm sorry, ma'am, my glasses must be smudged because I'm seeing two of you.”
Zoe fake gags “ Come on, we don't look that alike!!” It’s such a lie. They have the same dark hair, deep dimples, and even the same resting scowl.
“ Take the compliment, Zo, you know I think your dad is hot.” He throws Eddie a wink, turning him red.
“That is our cue to go. Bye, Richie!” She's taking her dad’s hand and dragging him out of the store.
Richie grins when he hears from far away, “ B-bye, Rich! Thank you!!”
And the walking on sunshine continues.
*
Ever since Richie made Eddie his concoction, the Kaspbraks have come into the Starbucks as a pair. Despite Zoe’s begs and pleas for her dad to go wait in the car.
“ Hey! I want my coffee too!” Eddie had laughed.
“ You just want to see Richie,” Zoe seethed.
It's a wonderful change in Richie's routine. Now at 4:30 every day, his two favorite customers come in bickering and arguing and… excited to see him.
Sometimes he and Eddie stand there and talk for way too long about nothing and everything, sometimes they’re in and out so they can get Zoe to whatever extracurricular, and sometimes ( sadly) Zoe comes in by herself saying “ you know I'm at my mom's on the weekend, Richie” before he can even grumble about his eye candy being gone.
Highlight of his day. Everyday. Well… every weekday, he means.
Who is he kidding? It's just the highlight of his everything at the moment.
*
“ I finally watched that stupid fucking video you sent me.” Richie looks up and is met with Eddie’s beautiful frown. As weird as that sounds.
“ What happened to ‘hello’? What happened to ‘how are you’?” The bigger man sasses.
Zoe looks up from her phone (!!!) and up at Richie. “ What did you send my father, Richard?”
His hands get to work on the Kaspbrak’s drinks. “ Scratch my previous questions. What happened to manners?”
They both ignore Richie's comments. “ Richie here sent me a video of a dog pooping on a baby.” Eddie spits to his daughter.
At the mere mention of the video, Richie starts to fucking wheeze with laughter and has to lean completely onto the drink counter.
“ Richie!! What the shit is wrong with you?” At that, the barista lets out a borderline scream of laughter.
This is hard to admit, but it takes two whole minutes for Richie to calm down enough to finish the family’s drinks.
When he puts them down on the counter, Zoe’s deep frown is on display, and Eddie is clearly trying to hold in a smile at Richie’s antics.
“ Come on, guys!! Don't be so serious!! You know you adore me.”
Eddie’s face cracks, “ Yeah… yeah, we do.”
Richie’s heart skips a beat. Zoe starts looking back and forth between them, making gagging noises, but neither of the men pays her any attention.
What a fantastic end to another Starbucks shift.
*
“ Hey Richie!!” Richie's head flies up like a dog hearing the dinner bell. Eddie is walking up to the counter, finally wearing casual clothes but still looking just as attractive as he was in the suit, and typing aggressively at his phone.
“ E-Eddie, hi! Didn’t expect you to be here on a Sunday.” He nervously adjusts the headband he’s wearing. He only wears them when he knows Eddie isn't coming in… like on a Sunday, but now he's stuck.
“ I swear to god you put drugs in that drink because I just—“ he looks up from his phone and… stops. Just stares at Richie.
More nervous headband adjusting. “ You good, Ed’s?”
The man across from him is just as bright as a tomato. It must look stupid from an outsider's perspective, Richie standing there in his fucking headband and apron across from the hottest guy ever, waiting for him to speak.
“ I-Im sorry you look fucking cute— and I’m getting that um aggression thing and… I need to calm down.” Eddie finally sighs.
Richie’s grinning ear to ear, “ Cuteness aggression? Towards me? Are you sure it's not towards our adorable mini oven?”
Eddie lets out a loud laugh, “You're a dumbass.”
Richie lets a small laugh out as well. “ So… like you wanna beat me up?”
“ Like I wanna squash you between my fingers or hug you until your ribs break.”
I’d volunteer in a heartbeat.
It seems he said that out loud because now Eddie’s mouth is gaping open while he stares.
“ I’m gonna… make your drink now…” he immediately turns around and gets to work.
The comment was worth it when Eddie was too much of a blushing mess to even properly say goodbye to Richie.
It's alright, he’ll see him tomorrow.
*
Eddie fucking dreams about last Sunday.
Seriously. Two nights in a row, a headband and sweatpants-clad Richie has just… been there.
Nothing inappropriate ever happens. Every time Richie appears, dream Eddie sprints at him, demanding hugs and cuddles. Literally nothing else. All of it surprises him to say the least.
This is really the first time Eddie has been in a… flirty thing with another man. Yes, he’s known that he’s gay for a disgustingly long time, but he has never ever acted on it. Then, the literal first time he leaves his “ bachelor pad” to go somewhere that wasn't the office, a tall, broad man that definitely looks like he could throw Eddie around, flirts with him.
It doesn't sound like a big deal, but it definitely is.
Richie is… essentially the man he fantasized about when he was closeted. Big and manly. That was really Eddie's criteria… the black hair and unfunny jokes were just an added bonus. And the fact that Richie looks like he could definitely manhandle him…
Jesus Christ your gonna crash the car, Eddie.
He’s driving to the local starbucks but you knew that already. Actually, local isn't even the right word to use– he’s almost positive that he passes two other Starbucks on his way to this particular grocery store.
He doesn't even get groceries there, what the fuck??
Proof he’s whipped then. He cannot fuck this up with Richie. For some reason, it feels like this is his only chance for a… gay romance? Oh, whatever the fuck you wanna call it. In this current moment, imagining trying to be with any guy that isn't Richie absolutely disgusts him.
The cup that Richie's number is on is still in his kitchen cabinet for fucks sake. This needs to work out for him. If it doesn't, there is a good chance he will never leave his apartment again.
The store is just in his view when he takes a few deep breaths to calm himself down. No big deal… just getting my drink on a Sunday… nothing crazy at all.
And if he bangs his head against the steering wheel at the red light, that is just his business.
*
Be normal, be normal, be–
“ Morning, Richie!!” nailed it.
A blush is already climbing up his neck and ears when Richie looks up and gives him that wide smile. “ What a surprise!! I was dying of boredom without you, spaghetti.”
The nicknames were a new thing. Eddie will claim to hate them because already going by Eddie at the crisp age of 40 was embarrassing enough. He didn't need Richie's crazy nicknames, either. Keywords there were claim to hate them. He actually fucking loves them, but… no one needs to know that.
“ Told you to drop that nickname last week, Richie,” he sighs (fake).
“ Sorry,” he said so unapologetically, “I'm just kinda revved up this morning, is all.”
The images that fly to Eddie's head are not family-friendly.
“ Oh? I–um, really?? What's up?” he stutters through. Come on, you were doing so well.
There's a hint of a cocky smirk when Richie turns around and starts making Eddie’s coffee.
“ Well, last night I finished editing my set, so I won't need to work this job anymore! Now I can finally get back on the road and get performing again— which is so exciting. I'm going to miss making you and Zoe your shitty drinks every day, but this isn’t my passion, ya know?”
Eddie's ears are ringing. Not working here anymore? Tour? Preforming?? What the fuck?
“ What the fuck are you talking about?” Eddie breathes, taking his drink from the other man’s hand slowly.
“ My agent finally looked over my finished set and set the dates for my next tour!” The man is bouncing with excitement, and Eddie so desperately wants to be happy for him, but he still has no idea what's going on— is Richie leaving? He really doesn’t want Richie to leave.
“ Tour? First it’s drinks, next it's a singing career? I hate to say this, but I don't think you could sell out an arena.” He tsks as if he's not about to have a panic attack.
A loud laugh booms out of Richie, and Eddie’s nerves settle for only a moment.
“No serenading going on anywhere near here, Edwardo– unless you're into that, because I know lots of Taylor Swift.”
A beat before Richie narrows his eyes at the shorter man.
“ Seriously, Ed’s? You haven't… heard of me at all?” he leans his elbows on the counter between them
What is he even talking about?
“ Yeah, I’ve heard of you, you're the guy who writes bad dirty jokes on the venti cups.” Eddie spits.
“ Right! That is me!!” Richie says through laughs, “ God, I'm so funny.”
“ Uh huh”
Richie sobers, “ Seriously, I'm a comedian, like standing up on the stage and being funny.”
There is no way in fuck. “ I don't believe you, Richard.”
A loud laugh before, “I was on Kill Tony about a year back, and it really blew me up! I don't really like that guy, but whatever– I got this job to write material for my next set, people really wanted to see me after my episode.”
“ So… you're quitting?” Eddie’s voice is shaking.
Richie shrugs, “ You could say that. Only had this job for shits and giggles, really.”
Eddie takes a deep breath, squeezing his cup so hard he's scared the top is going to fly off.
“ And if I said i didnt want you to…?”
The flush that takes over Richie is so worth the embarrassing comment. He coughs and stands up straight, looking down at Eddie and meeting his eyes.
“ If you told me you didn't want me to… I would say, ‘ Eddie, you have my number, you could call me anytime, and I would drop whatever I was doing in a heartbeat.’”
Eddie's breath hitches.
“ But…” but I want to see you every day— But I need more time to gather some courage— but I still need to ask you out— but I can't lose my chance at you.
Nothing comes out of his open mouth, though.
“ Ed’s? You okay?”
His head snaps up, “ I’m gonna miss you… is all.”
Richie’s face softens, and Eddie dimly thinks that he is beautiful.
“ I’m not dying. If you want to see my fine ass, name a date and time, and I'm there.” He winks, and Eddie flushes.
“ Fine ass? Are you sure about that, Rich?” He scoffs.
“ From your eyes staring at it every time I turn around to make your drink— yes, I am sure about that. Quite positive.”
Fucking shit.
Eddie is about the same shade as the pitcher of strawberry acai behind Richie’s head.
“ I’m—I’m getting a phone call I should probably take…” he stammers, reaching to pull out his definitely not ringing phone.
“ Uh huh.” Richie definitely won this interaction— however that works.
“ Its on silent”
“ Oh, I'm sure it is, Eddie baby.”
Eddie puts his phone to his ear and scurries out of the Starbucks.
“Don't deny yourself this fine ass Eddie!! Fight the power!!!” He hears screamed from behind him.
And if he has a panic attack the second he gets in the car… no, he doesn’t.
*
Eddie is halfway home when the interaction he had at Starbucks really clicks in his brain.
Richie from Starbucks is a famous comedian??
“What the fuck?” He whispers into his steering wheel. He definitely should've asked more questions before he left the store in a panic.
What can he say? Richie frazzles his brain.
He decides the best thing to do is to call and ask Zoe, she's so addicted to her phone, she has to know.
At the red light, he quickly dials her.
“ What?”
“ Hello to you too, the daughter I love and care for.” God damn, Eddie is counting down the days until Zoe leaves her “ I hate my parents” phase.
“Uh-huh. What's up? You know Mom gets mad when she sees me talking to you, Dad.” That is something Eddie definitely didn’t know and thinks is complete bullshit, but that's a future problem.
“ Did you know Richie was a famous comedian?” He rushes out, wanting the information now.
A pause. “ Yeah? You didn't?"
“ Fuck. Obviously, I didn’t, Zoe. Tell me everything you know.”
There's some rustling over the phone; she must be sitting down. “ Well… he has a few specials on Amazon Prime— they’re okay— and blew up a while ago for accidentally coming out on Twitter. Oh, and he just announced a tour which is weird as fuck—“
Eddie’s head is spinning. This is too much to take. “ Yeah, he's quitting the Starbucks for the new tour,” he spits.
Zoe is silent on the other line for a while. “ R-really?”
His heart breaks at the sound of his daughter so sad. If he were there, he would scoop her up and hug her until she felt better. (She would never let him nowadays, but it's nice to dream).
“ Um… yeah, he is. Sorry, maybe I shouldve waited for him to tell you himself.”
A beat. “ Yeah, maybe you should have.” Zoe spits before hanging up.
Great. Another reason for her to be mad at me– she’s always looking for those.
*
When Eddie gets home, after throwing his keys down on this kitchen island with anger he didn't know he had, a text dings on his phone.
When he looks down, he’s met with Richie–Starbucks, sending their fourth text back and forth ever.
All it says is: Just put in my week's notice! 🤪
Just like that its all laid out in front of him. He has seven days to ask out the beautiful Starbucks barista…And find out what the fuck is going on with that famous comedian thing because he moved on from that way too quickly.
But mostly the first one.
*
The Kaspbraks were pretty salty about Richie’s leaving, coming in and yelling at him the day after he put it in his notice, but… honestly, Richie is too damn excited about the tour to be sad about this chapter coming to an end.
Because…Yeah, he’s not going to see his two favorite people (That's scary as fuck to admit) every day, but it's not like he’s going away forever. If they care about Richie, they’ll make time for him and support his tour… right?
He can't seem to be worried about it, though. It's amazing that he even has people who care about him enough for it to matter about how much they see each other. It's so embarrassing–that thought brings him warm fuzzies.
And it's like he told Eddie– he’s not fucking dying– he has Eddie’s number and Zoe’s instagram this shouldn't be a big deal at all.
Yet, they act like it is.
*
“ Hey Richie!” the father and daughter say at the same time, which is adorable. If he were a woman, he’s sure his uterus would clamp every time he saw Eddie being cute with his kid.
See– he spends too much alone time behind this fucking counter. Five more days to go.
“ Hello, my little butterflies!” he’s met with two identical eyerolls.
Almost like clockwork, Richie turns around and begins on their drinks. “ Zoe, how was your soccer game yesterday?” he calls out, and it is insane that he can just say that.
He hears Eddie sigh before Zoe shouts, “ It was totally fucked!!”
“ Zoe!! Language!! Oh my fuck.”
Richie and Zoe’s eyes meet like “ This guy.”
“ And why was it totally fucked?” Richie goes back to the drinks with a chuckle.
“ The ref totally had it out for me! Was on my ass the whole game.”
Both of the Kaspbraks move to the receiving (?) end of the counter as Richie puts down their drinks. “ Hon, I think you're forgetting some parts.” Eddie sighs before taking a sip of a drink and biting his lip.
God have mercy.
Richie puts his elbows on the counter and leans down to their level. “ Oh?”
“ This is completely erroneous–”
“ Zoe insulted the ref's hair and recommended him barbers nearby!!” Eddie says, chipper.
Richie can't help but let his head dip forward as he almost cackles at the story. God thats so Zoe.
The girl scoffs, “ It’s not my fault mullets are out of style.”
Another cackle from Richie. “Ed’s, you’re really raising the next generation right.”
“ I try…trust me i try.” him and the dad share a laugh.
Another teenager comes up to the counter, and Richie gives the Kaspbrak’s the “ one second” finger before heading to the register.
The boy looks roughly Zoe’s age with giant brown eyes and a haircut that’s supposed to resemble an ice cream scoop… maybe we should bring mullets back because christ these boys are getting harder and harder to look at.
He takes the boy's order, but then the weirdest thing happens when he turns around to make it.
“ Zoe?” the boy calls out.
Richie immediately turns around.
Zoe is completely red– like her dad gets, fucking christ– and is taking several steps away from her father.
“ S-Sam?!” Richie has never seen her like this before. Zoe is a confident smartass, not whatever the fuck this is.
“ Hey!! I didn't know you came here! Its good to see you!!” Sam jogs up to Zoe, and now Richie is trying to finish this drink right fucking now.
“ I– um– yeah!” Hey, that's her dad's catchphrase.
Richie hands the little snot his drink and locks eyes with Eddie, sending him “ What the fuck” eyes.
“ Wanna walk with me? Gotta pick up my mom's groceries.” Now Sam looks nervous?? What the fuck what the fuck what the–
Zoe nods, the two of them are walking away, and Richie has to guess that Zoe is about to tell her soccer story from yesterday.
Richie’s head swivels to look at Eddie. “ What was that?”
“ Would you be mad if I said I have absolutely no idea??” he looks as baffled as Richie feels.
“ Yes i would be mad– in fact– I'm the maddest ever.” he slams his hand down on the counter. “ I’m getting mama bear instincts right now, and my fucking cub is running away with a scoop of ice cream–”
Eddie's loud laugh silences him, and Richie is beaming with pride.
My god, he’s so pretty when he laughs.
Richie clears his throat and prepares himself to say what he’s been wanting to say for weeks.
It’s now or never, Tozier, only five days left.
“ You know Ed’s… a new restaurant just opened up near here…”
Eddie's face contorts. “ Okay? And? Are you trying to set my daughter up on a date? Because my soon-to-be ex-wife would kill me with a fork.”
Richie chuckles. “ Right, Ed’s because I just love setting children up on dates.” He leans down slightly and meets the smaller man’s eyes.
“ No…I was hoping I could take you out…to the restaurant,” He’s never heard himself speak so timidly.
Eddie chokes on his coffee and starts to cough. “Like a date??” he sputters.
And just like that, Richie's heart is falling out of his ass. Were the last four weeks or so a total joke? Was he just Eddie’s test flirt since he just came out? Stupid stupid stupid–
“Yes— yeah like a date— if you're comfortable, I mean, because I can go fuck all the way off.” He rushes out, his hand scratching the back of his neck.
A way too long moment of silence before the bright fucking red Eddie Kaspbrak curses.
“ Fuck, you fucking asshole.” He mutters at his cup even though he means it towards Richie.
“ Okay— I am fucking off—“
“ No! Please don't.”
Richie pauses mid-rise from the counter. “Don't fuck off?”
Eddie nods. “Don't fuck off… please.” he takes a deep breath. “ I was planning on asking you out– and now my plan is kinda ruined, so good going fuckface.”
A grin spreads across Richie’s face. “ Really?” he murmurs.
Eddie nods, then takes a huge swig of his drink. “ So, this is how this is going to work–” his hand karate chops in front of him. “ We’re going to pretend this never happened, I'm going to come in tomorrow without Zoe, and I'm going to ask you out.” His eyes meet Richies and honestly? The urge to fall to his knees is overwhelming.
“ Anything else, Ed’s?” he breathes.
A beat. “ Well… you're going to say yes. And… I’ll finally see you out from behind this counter.”
Richie is positively giddy, “ Yes, sir.”
Eddie takes a sharp breath, and Richie definitely saves that little tidbit away.
“ So…see you tomorrow? I think I need to go get your baby cub away from that ice cream scoop.” Eddie says with a smirk.
“ Yes! I will see you tomorrow, Eddie baby…”
Then Eddie is walking away, and Richie is bouncing around the kiosk in glee.
“He's going to ask me out!!” he quietly screeches into the mini oven.
Tomorrow can not come sooner.