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Buck had wanted this to be a ten-minute grocery run. That was the first mistake.
The second had been telling Eddie he was going to the grocery store.
The third—and, in Buck's opinion, the most baffling—had been allowing Eddie to hear the word alone anywhere near the sentence.
“I'll be gone twenty minutes,” Buck had said.
“No.”
“You're sick.”
“I know.”
“You need to stay in bed.”
“I know.”
“You're congested.”
“I ab painfully aware.”
“You've got a fever.”
“Barely.”
“Eddie.”
“Buck.”
And that had been that.
There had been no amount of cajoling, bribery, pleading, or pointing out that Eddie was currently wearing sweatpants, a hoodie, and an expression that suggested standing upright was a personal affront to his dignity that could convince him to stay home.
Eddie had insisted he was coming.
So Buck had sighed, grabbed his jacket, grabbed Eddie's jacket, grabbed his wallet, grabbed his keys, grabbed the grocery list, and then, because he knew his husband, grabbed a travel pack of tissues from the bathroom.
He had also grabbed another travel pack from the hall closet.
Then another.
Eddie had watched all of this with narrowed eyes.
“You're being dramatic.”
“You've sneezed fourteen times since breakfast.”
“I counted three.”
“You were asleep for two hours.”
“Then you don't know how many I sneezed.”
“I was awake.”
“That's creepy.”
“That's marriage.”
Eddie had snorted. Then immediately sniffled.
Buck had pointed at him.
“See?”
“Dod't.”
And now, forty minutes later, they were in aisle three of the grocery store, and Buck was beginning to think twenty minutes had been wildly optimistic.
Eddie was leaning against the cart.
Not pushing it. Not helping.
Leaning.
His hood was pulled over his head despite the fact that the store was warm, his hands were tucked into the front pocket of his sweatshirt, and the sleeve of his right arm was already damp.
Buck tried not to stare. He failed.
“Stop looking at me.”
“I didn't say anything.”
“You were thinking loudly.”
Buck smiled.
“I love you.”
“I know.”
Eddie sniffled.
Then sniffled again.
Then rubbed the underside of his nose against his sleeve.
Buck's smile disappeared.
“Baby.”
“No.”
“You can't keep doing that.”
“Watch me.”
“Your sleeve is wet.”
“That's a you problem.”
“It's definitely going to be a you problem when your nose gets rubbed raw.”
“Then I'll have a raw nose.”
“Eddie.”
“Buck.”
Buck sighed.
He had married this man.
He had voluntarily chosen this man.
He had stood in front of their friends and family and promised to love him for the rest of his life. Apparently, that included supervising his husband through a head cold while he stubbornly refused tissues.
Buck dug into his pocket.
“Here.”
Eddie glanced down.
A travel pack of tissues appeared between them.
“No.”
“Take them.”
“I have a sleeve.”
“Your sleeve is not a tissue.”
“It's working.”
“It's disgusting.”
“I'm sick.”
“Exactly.”
Eddie looked at him.
Buck looked back.
Eddie took the tissues.
“Happy?”
“Immensely.”
Eddie tore the packet open and pulled one out.
He dabbed at his nose.
Then another.
Then he folded the first one over and used it again.
Buck watched.
“You know you can use more than one.”
“I know.”
“We have four boxes in the cart.”
“We're not talking about those.”
“We absolutely are.”
Eddie gave him a look.
Buck smiled innocently.
They moved another aisle.
Or rather, Buck moved another aisle.
Eddie shuffled beside him.
The grocery cart slowly filled.
Orange juice.
Chicken.
Rice.
Carrots.
Celery.
Ginger.
Honey.
Lemons.
Tea.
More tea.
A collection of cold medicines Buck had spent ten minutes reading because he refused to buy anything without checking what was in it.
Then immunity shots.
Then electrolyte drinks.
Then more orange juice.
Then another four boxes of tissues.
Eddie noticed those.
“You're buying eight?”
“Yep.”
“We don't need eight.”
“We do now.”
“Why?”
“Because you have personally used half a box since this morning.”
“That is an exaggeration.”
Buck held up his phone.
“I made a note.”
Eddie stared.
“You're tracking my tissues?”
“Baby you’re hardly ever sneezy when you get a cold, I’m the sneezy one. If you’re this bad, imagine what I’m going to be like when I catch this.”
“You’re not catching this.”
“Eds, you sneezed on me twice this morning already and coughed in our bed all night last night.”
Eddie groans.
“I’b absolutely going to kill you.”
“You are not going to kill me.”
“This stupid virus from hell will definitely whack you into an early grave while sending your nose through a wash cycle.”
Buck stares at Eddie.
“I’m not even sure I understand that analogy.”
“Baby, I cannot get you sick.”
Buck grips Eddie’s hand in his. “Eds, it’s going to be ok I promise. Plus now we’ll be ready with all our tissues.”
“You’re weird.”
“You married weird.”
“I married an idiot.”
“Also true.”
Eddie smiled faintly.
It was a tired smile.
The kind that didn't quite reach his eyes.
Buck noticed. Of course he noticed.
He noticed everything.
The faint flush across Eddie's cheeks.
The glassiness in his eyes.
The way he kept swallowing.
The slight rasp beginning in his voice.
The way he was standing closer than usual.
The way his shoulder kept bumping Buck's arm.
The way he kept sniffing because apparently even now he refused to blow his nose.
Buck reached over and rubbed his back.
Eddie leaned into him for exactly three seconds before straightening.
“I can walk.”
“I know.”
“You're hovering.”
“I know.”
“You're annoying.”
“I know.”
Eddie sniffled.
Buck grinned.
“Bless you.”
“I didn't sneeze.”
“I know.”
“Then why did you say bless you?”
“Preemptive.”
Eddie rolled his eyes.
They reached the end of the aisle.
And then Eddie's breathing changed.
It was subtle.
Buck knew that sound.
The tiny pause.
The little hitch.
The way Eddie's head tipped back slightly.
Buck turned toward him.
“Eds?”
Eddie lifted one hand.
His eyes narrowed.
His nose wrinkled.
“Dod't.”
Buck stopped.
Eddie's mouth fell open.
He tried to catch it.
He really did.
“Hh—”
His shoulders jumped.
“Heh-MMptx’shu!”
He immediately pressed his fist against his nose.
Buck rubbed his arm.
“Bless you.”
Eddie sniffled miserably.
“Thanks.”
He hadn't even fully recovered before another hitch caught him.
Buck's eyebrows rose.
“Again?”
Eddie glared.
“Hh—hh—”
He turned his face into his fist.
“Haptnxt!”
Buck smiled.
“Bless you.”
Eddie's eyes watered.
He looked exhausted.
“Thanks.”
Buck leaned down and kissed the side of his hood.
“Okay?”
“No.”
“Want to go home?”
“No.”
“Want to sit in the car?”
“No.”
“Want me to carry you?”
Eddie gave him a flat look.
“Try it.”
Buck considered.
“Actually, I might.”
“Don't.”
Buck laughed.
They continued.
Eventually, mercifully, they made it to the checkout.
The cart was ridiculous.
There was enough food and cold medicine in it to suggest that one of them had contracted a highly contagious plague.
Eddie looked at it.
Then at Buck.
“Eight boxes of tissues?”
“Eight.”
“Four bottles of juice?”
“Four.”
“Two kinds of tea?”
“Three.”
“Three?”
“One is ginger.”
“That's not tea.”
“It comes in a tea box.”
“That's not how tea works.”
Buck ignored him.
Eddie sighed. Then leaned against him.
Buck immediately wrapped an arm around his shoulders.
They waited.
Eddie's head settled against Buck's shoulder.
Buck ran his hand slowly up and down Eddie's arm.
For a few moments, everything was quiet.
Then Eddie's nose twitched.
Buck felt it.
“Uh-oh.”
Eddie shook his head.
“Don't.”
“Bless you.”
“I haven't sneezed.”
“You're about to.”
Eddie's breathing hitched.
“Hh—”
He pressed his fist against his mouth.
“Hh—NGT!”
Buck rubbed his arm.
“Bless you.”
Eddie sniffled.
Then immediately hitched again.
Buck waited.
“Hh—hih—”
Eddie's shoulders jerked.
“Hh'Ha MPXTchoo!”
“Bless you.”
Eddie exhaled shakily.
“Thank you.”
He rubbed his nose.
Buck reached into his pocket.
Another travel pack.
Eddie stared at him.
“You have more?”
“Always.”
“You're ridiculous.”
“And yet you married me.”
Eddie accepted the tissues.
“Unfortunately.”
Buck kissed his temple.
“Love you too.”
They had just settled again when a voice came from behind them.
“Buck?”
Buck froze.
Eddie lifted his head.
They turned.
Tommy Kinard stood behind them.
For one long second, nobody said anything.
The grocery store seemed to go strangely quiet.
It wasn't actually quiet.
There were carts rolling.
People talking.
A child complaining somewhere near the bakery.
A cashier calling for assistance.
But Buck barely heard any of it.
Tommy looked surprised. Then his expression changed.
His gaze moved from Buck to Eddie. Then down to their intertwined hands.
Then back to Buck.
“Hey.”
Buck swallowed.
“Hey, Tommy.”
Eddie said nothing.
He merely watched.
Tommy smiled. It wasn't particularly warm.
“Didn't expect to see you here.”
“Yeah,” Buck said. “Small world.”
“Apparently.”
The silence stretched.
Buck shifted his arm around Eddie.
Eddie felt the movement.
He felt Buck stiffen.
He felt the sudden tension under his palm.
And Eddie did not like it. Not one bit.
Tommy looked at him.
“So…”
He gestured vaguely.
“This is…?”
Buck's jaw tightened.
“My husband.”
Eddie saw it.
The flicker in Tommy's expression.
The surprise.
Then something else.
Something that looked remarkably like disapproval.
“Oh.”
Eddie's eyebrows lifted.
Buck's arm tightened around him.
“Eddie,” Buck said quietly.
Tommy's eyes moved between them.
“Right.”
Another awkward silence.
Buck cleared his throat.
“So, uh… how've you been?”
Tommy shrugged.
“Fine.”
“Good.”
“Busy.”
“Yeah.”
“Work's good.”
“That's good.”
“Yeah.”
Silence.
Eddie looked between them.
This was painful.
Actually physically painful.
And he was sick enough already.
Tommy looked back at him.
“So you two are married.”
Buck nodded.
“Yeah.”
“How long?”
“Two years.”
Tommy's eyebrows rose. “Wow.”
Buck smiled awkwardly. “Yeah.”
“So I was right about you having feelings for someone else while we were together.”
Eddie's eyes narrowed.
Buck's fingers tightened around his arm.
Tommy apparently didn't notice.
Or didn't care.
“Good for you.”
The words sounded nothing like congratulations.
Buck sighs.
“Eddie and I weren’t even on each other’s radar when you and I were together Tommy.”
Tommy huffs a laugh without any humour.
“Sure. If that’s how you want to play it.”
Eddie frowned.
“What does that mean?”
“Nothing.”
“Didn't sound like nothing.”
Buck murmured, “Eddie.”
Eddie sniffled.
“I'm just asking.”
Tommy looked back at Buck.
“Doesn't surprise me.”
Buck's expression tightened.
“What doesn't?”
“That you're still doing the whole…” Tommy gestured between them. “Domestic thing.”
Buck stared.
Eddie stared.
Tommy continued.
“You always did like playing house. Just not with me.”
There it was.
The first real hit.
Buck's face changed. It was subtle.
But Eddie knew him.
He knew every expression Buck wore.
He knew the little things Buck did when something hurt.
The way his shoulders went slightly rigid. The way his smile disappeared. The way he looked down for half a second before forcing himself to meet someone's eyes.
Buck looked away.
“I never cheated on you Tommy.”
Tommy shrugged.
“Whatever narrative you want to go with.”
Eddie's hand slid into Buck's.
Buck squeezed.
Tommy glanced down.
“Guess you're serious.”
Buck's voice was quiet.
“Yeah.”
“Clearly.”
Another pause.
Tommy smiled faintly.
“I suppose congratulations are in order.”
“Thanks.”
“Didn't think you'd actually settle down.”
Buck's smile disappeared again.
Eddie felt his stomach turn. Not from the virus. From anger.
“Why wouldn't he?”
Tommy looked at him.
“I didn't say he couldn't.”
“You implied it.”
“I was talking about Buck.”
“That's my husband.”
Tommy blinked.
“So?”
“So you don't get to talk about him like he's some joke.”
Buck squeezed Eddie's hand.
“Eddie.”
“No.”
Eddie's voice was congested. It was also very calm.
That was worse.
“You've made your point.”
Tommy's mouth twitched.
“I wasn't trying to make a point.”
“Sure.”
Buck gave Eddie's hand another squeeze.
“Let's just—”
“It's fine,” Tommy said.
Then he looked at Buck.
“Honestly, I'm happy for you.”
Buck nodded.
“Okay.”
“You always wanted this.”
Buck's brow furrowed.
“What?”
“This.”
Tommy gestured toward Eddie.
“The husband. The family. The whole thing.”
Buck said nothing.
Tommy smiled.
“You were always looking for something like that. For someone who didn’t think you were too pathetic to love.”
Eddie's expression hardened.
Tommy continued.
“Guess you found it.”
There was something in the way he said it.
Something that made Buck look uncomfortable.
Eddie felt it immediately. He turned toward his husband.
Buck's eyes were fixed on the floor.
And suddenly Eddie wasn't thinking about the grocery store.
He wasn't thinking about his fever.
He wasn't thinking about his nose.
He was thinking about Buck.
His Buck.
The man who had spent the last forty minutes worrying about whether Eddie had enough tissues.
The man who had remembered his favorite tea.
The man who knew exactly which cold medicine Eddie could tolerate.
The man whose first instinct when someone made him uncomfortable was to make sure Eddie was okay.
And Tommy was standing there treating that love like something pathetic.
Eddie's nose twitched.
He ignored it.
Tommy sighed.
“You know, Buck, I always thought you'd eventually grow out of this.”
Buck looked up.
“Out of what?”
“This.”
“What's this?”
“The need to be needed.”
Eddie went still.
Buck's face went blank.
Tommy kept talking.
“You've always had that thing.”
“What thing?”
“You need people to depend on you.”
Buck swallowed. “Maybe.”
“And now you have Eddie.”
Eddie felt Buck tense.
Tommy smiled.
“So I guess it worked out.”
There was no humor in Buck's face now.
“You don't know anything about my marriage.”
“No.”
Tommy shrugged.
“But I know you.”
Eddie almost laughed.
Because that was exactly the problem.
Tommy thought he knew Buck. Maybe once he had.
But he didn't know this Buck.
He didn't know the man who woke up early to make Eddie coffee.
He didn't know the man who kept a spare charger in Eddie's truck.
He didn't know the man who knew exactly how Chris liked his sandwiches cut.
He didn't know the man who cried during movies and pretended he hadn't.
He didn't know the man who kissed Eddie's forehead when he thought Eddie was asleep.
He didn't know the man who had built a life with him.
And he certainly didn't know how deeply Buck could love.
Eddie’s breath hitches, and he turns towards Buck.
“Ehhh’SHHTT!”
Buck instantly tightens his arm around Eddie.
“Bless you.”
Tommy looked at Eddie.
“Does he always need to take care of you?”
Eddie blinked.
“What?”
Tommy nodded toward Buck.
“Seems like a lot.”
Buck immediately said, “Tommy.”
“No, I'm just saying.”
Eddie stared at him.
“I don't need him to take care of me.”
Buck frowned.
Eddie continued.
“He takes care of me because he loves me.”
Buck looked at him.
Something softened in his eyes.
Tommy's expression tightened.
“Right.”
Eddie sniffled.
Tommy glanced at his nose.
“Are you sure you're not contagious?”
“It’s allergies,” Eddie mutters already scrubbing at his nose with his fist.
That’s a lie.
Eddie knows it.
Buck knows it.
And it looks like Tommy may know it, because he takes half a step back.
Eddie noticed.
Oh.
Oh, that was interesting.
Tommy had been perfectly happy standing close enough to insult them.
But now that Eddie was visibly sick?
Suddenly he wanted distance.
Eddie's eyes narrowed.
His nose tingled.
He could feel the cold sitting heavily in his sinuses.
And then an idea formed.
It was petty. It was childish. It was deeply satisfying.
And Eddie Diaz had never claimed to be above petty when someone hurt his husband.
He sniffed. Hard.
And is secretly pleased when it causes its intended effect.
Eddie can feel the prickly, tingling sensation high in his sinuses.
His mouth twitched.
Buck noticed. Of course he did.
He glanced down at Eddie.
Eddie gave him the tiniest smile.
Buck's eyes widened.
“Oh, no.”
Eddie's breath hitched.
Tommy frowned.
“You okay?”
Eddie nodded.
“Fine.”
Another hitch.
“I'm—”
He sniffed again.
“I'm f—”
His nose twitched.
“Heh—”
Initially, he’d exaggerated it as he inched slightly forward towards Tommy, but by the third hitch there wasn’t any need to exaggerate anymore. His nose was begging for relief.
Tommy's eyes widened.
Eddie rubbed his nose to encourage the itch and directs his attention to Tommy.
“He- hey, Tommy?”
“What?”
“You woo-woo-heh-hih?-wouldn’t happen to-too-to?”
Eddie rubs his nose harder.
“Ha-ha-have any ti-ti-hi-ti-he ah tissues on you would you? Hi hi I’b all ou-out. Ha.”
He holds up the empty plastic sleeve from the travel pack that Buck has given him earlier which conveniently had 2 used tissues stashed in it.
Tommy stared and actually backs up a little more with his hands out in front of him.
“No man. I don’t carry that.”
Eddie blinked.
“You don't?”
“No.”
Eddie looked mildly offended.
“Re-re-ha? really?”
Tommy shook his head.
“No.”
Eddie's breath hitched.
“Bud I ha-hi-hi dee-deehee-deed do-hoo-ha deed do sde-sdee-ee.”
Then his face crumpled.
Buck's eyes widened.
“Eddie.”
Eddie lifted one finger.
He was beyond pretending now.
His nose was burning.
His sinuses were crawling.
His breath came in quick, helpless little hitches.
“heHH-hiiihtCHOOO!”
Eddie snaps forward on purpose, his hands poised in front of his face but nowhere near close enough to actually stem the spray.
Buck automatically reached for him.
“Bless you.”
Eddie barely heard him.
Tommy stepped farther away.
He’s not nearly done.
Eddie's eyes watered.
His nose tingled harder.
And suddenly the entire grocery store disappeared.
There was only the itch. The awful, relentless itch.
“Heh—heh—heh—”
Buck rubbed his back.
“Easy.”
Eddie shook his head.
He still has to sneeze.
He aims forward in the direction Tommy is standing in, praying that Tommy is in the vicinity to be hit by the germs and probably some snot and saliva that’s being ejected from his face.
“IshOO! HehhhSHOOO! HUHEHSHOO! ESHOO! SHOO! HEH-EHSHOO! HA-EH-SHTOO! SHOO! IshOO! ISH! IsHOO! SHOO! HU-SHOO! Hu-hu-HUESHOO!”
By the time he finishes, his face is red.
His eyes are streaming.
His nose is running freely now.
His breath keeps coming in ragged little gasps between sneezes.
Eddie sags back into Buck without meaning to, that fit which was much bigger than he’d anticipated and he’s spent, he genuinely doesn’t feel well.
Buck catches him easily and smirks.
He knows Eddie did that on purpose.
Or at least the beginning had been on purpose.
The rest? The rest was entirely his sinuses' fault.
So he’s also concerned that Eddie was able to produce a fit that big and how unwell Eddie clearly looks.
Tommy stared at them, horrified.
There was a tiny pause.
Then Tommy looked down at himself.
His expression was one of absolute disgust.
“Oh, you've got to be kidding me.”
Buck bit his lip.
Eddie blinked through watery eyes.
Tommy looked furious.
“Did you seriously just sneeze all over me?”
Eddie sniffled.
“I asked if you had tissues.”
“You did that on purpose!”
Eddie shrugged weakly.
“Maybe.”
“That's disgusting!”
Buck finally lost the battle. A laugh escaped him.
Tommy glared at him.
“You think this is funny?”
Buck tried to stop smiling.
“No.”
It was immediately obvious that he was lying.
Tommy looked between them.
“You're both unbelievable.”
Eddie wiped his nose with his sleeve.
“Thank you.”
Tommy stared.
“For what?”
“Leaving.”
Tommy's mouth dropped open.
Buck coughed to hide another laugh.
Tommy pointed at Eddie.
“You know what? Fine.”
He turned toward Buck.
“You deserve each other.”
Buck's smile vanished.
Tommy's voice sharpened.
“Seriously. I don't know what happened to you.”
Buck frowned.
“What does that mean?”
“It means you're not the guy I thought you were.”
Eddie's expression changed.
Buck said nothing.
Then Eddie’s breath starts hitching again.
“Hh-heh-hi?-heh-heh”
Tommy shook his head.
“Whatever. Enjoy playing husband.”
“HhhRESHHOOOO!”
Straight in Tommy’s vicinity.
Tommy actually jumps backwards.
“Fuck man! Learn how to cover with your elbow or something!”
Eddie's eyes narrowed.
“Id’s jusd allergies.”
“Whatever.”
Tommy turned.
Eddie stared after him.
Buck waited.
Eddie sniffled, then quietly said “I hate him.”
Buck laughed.
Eddie leaned back against him.
“I really hate him.”
“I know.”
“He was mean.”
“I know.”
“He deserved it.”
Buck looked down.
“You absolutely did that on purpose.”
Eddie blinked innocently.
“I have no idea what you're talking about.”
“You baited him.”
“I asked for tissues.”
“You practically announced you were going to sneeze on him.”
“I was suffering.”
“You were plotting.”
“I can multitask.”
Buck laughed again.
Eddie smiled, then sniffled again and immediately starts scrubbing at his nose with his sleeve.
Buck notices.
“Bless you baby.”
Buck bends and presses a kiss to Eddie’s too warm temple before taking another fresh travel pack of tissues out of his pocket and handing them to him
Eddie takes them gratefully and pulls out a couple to press to his nose.
“Blow your nose Eds. You know you need to.”
“Dno.”
“Eddie”
“Dno”
Buck sighs. He knows Eddie hates public displays of sickness. That sneezing fit had only happened because he hates Tommy and what he was saying to Buck more.
They made their way through the checkout.
Buck reluctantly released Eddie long enough to unload the cart.
Eddie stood beside him, pressing tissues to his nose.
Every few seconds, another hitch ran through him.
“Hh—”
He pinched the bridge of his nose.
“Hh'mptchoo!”
“Bless you.”
Eddie sniffled.
“Hh—”
He stifled the next one into the tissue.
“Hm-hmpxt.”
Buck glanced over.
“Bless you.”
“Hh'Ha MPXTchoo.”
“Bless you.”
“Hngt.”
“Bless you.”
Eddie looked miserable.
Buck rubbed his back.
“Stop stifling.”
“Public.”
“So?”
“So I dod't want everyode hearing.”
Buck stared at him.
“You just sneezed sixteen times on a stranger.”
“That was different.”
“How?”
“I was baking a point.”
Buck laughed.
Eddie sniffled.
“Dod’t laugh.”
“I love you.”
“I know.”
Buck paid.
Then pushed the cart outside.
The warm air hit Eddie.
He immediately shivered.
Buck noticed.
“You're cold.”
“No.”
“You're shivering.”
“It's breezy.”
“Eddie.”
“Fine.”
Buck loaded the groceries into the truck.
Eddie stood beside the passenger door.
His nose was still running.
His eyes were still watery.
He looked exhausted.
Buck opened the door.
“Get in.”
Eddie climbed inside. Buck shut the door.
A few minutes later, the groceries were loaded.
Buck climbed into the driver's seat.
The moment he closed the door, the world seemed quieter. Sorta.
Eddie is hunched over in his seat still desperately trying to stifle.
“Hh'Ha MPXTchoo! Hmxt! MXT! Mxt! Nxt! NXT!NXT!NXT! Hi-heh-heh-NXXT! HNXT Hh-MPXT! Hnxt!
Buck looked at him.
“You okay?”
“Ye-ye-ah ha-hanxt!”
“Still congested?”
“Hnxt!”
“You should blow your nose.”
Eddie immediately shook his head.
“Eddie.”
“Hh'Ha MPXTchoo! Dno.”
“Baby.”
“Ha-HA-nxt! NXT! HehhhSHOOO! HUHEHSHOO”
Buck sighed.
“You know as well as I do that your nose isn't going to stop until you blow it.”
“HhhRESHHOOOO! Hehhh-HISHOOO!”
Eddie sighed.
“Fide.”
He grabbed several tissues.
Then several more.
He folded them together and finally wraps them around his poor dripping nose.
Buck watched.
Eddie blew his nose.
Once.
Twice.
Then a third time.
He stopped.
Buck waited.
Eddie sniffed.
Buck gave him a look.
Eddie sighed.
“Fide.”
He blew again.
And again.
And again.
The tissues were quickly becoming useless.
Buck silently handed him another handful.
Eddie accepted them.
He blew again.
The sound echoed inside the cab.
Buck looked straight ahead.
Eddie blew again.
And again.
Then he leaned back, exhausted.
“Done.”
Buck glanced at him.
“Really?”
Eddie sniffed.
Buck waited.
Eddie sighed.
“Apparently not.”
He grabbed more tissues.
Buck couldn't help smiling.
Eddie blew his nose again. And again. And again.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Eddie dropped the ruined tissues into the plastic grocery bag Buck had set up as a trash bag.
He sagged against the seat.
“That's disgusting.”
Buck reached over.
“Come here.”
Eddie leaned toward him.
Buck rubbed his cheek.
“Feel better?”
“A little.”
“Good.”
Eddie closed his eyes.
Buck kissed his forehead.
“We’re getting you home.”
“Yeah.”
“And into bed.”
“Yeah.”
“And you're drinking the tea.”
“Hmm.”
“And taking the medicine.”
“Ok.”
“And using the tissues.”
Eddie opened one eye.
“You're enjoying this.”
“Immensely.”
Eddie smiled weakly.
Then his nose twitched.
Buck froze.
Eddie's eyes widened.
“No.”
“Hh—”
“Eddie.”
Eddie grabbed another tissue.
“HA-EH-SHTOO!”
Buck laughed softly.
“Bless you.”
Eddie groaned.
Then another hitch caught him.
“Hh—hih—”
He pressed the tissue to his nose.
“Hh'RRTCH!”
“Bless you.”
Eddie sniffled.
Buck reached over and squeezed his hand.
“Ready to go home?”
Eddie nodded.
“Yeah.”
Buck started the engine.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Eddie murmured, “I really did hate him.”
Buck glanced over. “I know.”
“And I really did sneeze on him on purpose.”
“I know.”
“Mostly.”
Buck laughed.
“Mostly?”
“The last six were not my fault.”
“I'm sure.”
Eddie smiled.
Then leaned his head against Buck's shoulder.
Buck kept one hand on the wheel.
The other rested over Eddie's on Eddie’s thigh.
He squeezed gently.
Whatever Tommy had thought of him didn't matter.
Whatever he had said didn't matter.
Because Buck had a husband beside him.
A sick, stubborn, sarcastic husband with a red nose and watery eyes who had just weaponized a head cold in the produce aisle because someone had hurt his feelings.
And Buck loved him.
Eddie squeezed his hand back.
“Buck?”
“Yeah?”
“I'b sorry.”
“For what?”
“For baking you udcomfortable.”
Buck shook his head.
“You didn't.”
“Tommy did.”
“Yeah.”
Eddie was quiet.
Buck glanced at him.
“I'm okay.”
Eddie looked unconvinced.
Buck squeezed his hand again.
“Really.”
“Okay.”
“And Eddie?”
“Yeah?”
“Next time you want revenge, maybe don't exhaust yourself doing it.”
Eddie considered that.
“No probises.”
Buck laughed.
“Of course not.”
Eddie smiled.
Then sniffled.
Buck reached for the tissue box.
“Here.”
Eddie took one.
“Thanks.”
“Always.”
The truck pulled out of the parking lot.
The grocery bags shifted softly in the back.
The heater began to warm the cab.
Eddie leaned closer.
And Buck drove them home.
Together.