Chapter 1
The evening had settled into a comfortable quiet at Eddie’s house. Dinner dishes were cleaned and put away, Christopher was tucked in and fast asleep, and the living room lights were dimmed just enough to make the space feel cozy. Buck sat cross-legged on the couch, his laptop balanced on his thighs, typing out a work email he’d promised Bobby he’d send by tonight.
Across the room, Eddie leaned against the counter, scrolling through his phone, occasionally glancing at Buck. The silence between them wasn’t unusual—it was the kind of silence that spoke of years of friendship, trust, and unspoken understanding.
“Hey, Buck?” Eddie’s voice broke the quiet, casual but warm.
“Hm?” Buck didn’t look up, still focused on his screen.
“What color should I wear to the date this weekend?”
The question stopped Buck mid-typing. His hands froze above the keyboard, and he slowly turned his head toward Eddie, who was still staring at his phone like he hadn’t just dropped a bombshell.
“Uh... dunno?” Buck said, his voice laced with confusion.
Eddie finally looked up, his expression completely serious. “Well, we have to match, so what color is your suit?”
Buck blinked at him, trying to figure out if this was some kind of joke. “Hey, Eds?”
“Yeah?”
“Since when were we going on a date?”
Eddie’s face fell, his eyes widening as the realization dawned on him. He cursed softly, rubbing the back of his neck. “Shit, I forgot to ask you.”
Buck stared at him, incredulous. “You... forgot to ask me,” he repeated, his tone flat.
“Yeah,” Eddie admitted, his cheeks flushing slightly. “I had it all planned out. I’d ask you, you’d say yes, and then we’d figure out the details. But, uh... I think I skipped a step.”
Buck sat back against the couch, crossing his arms as a slow grin spread across his face. The initial shock was giving way to something warmer, something that made his chest feel a little lighter. “You skipped the most important step.”
“Not my finest moment,” Eddie muttered, avoiding Buck’s eyes.
Buck couldn’t help but laugh, shaking his head. “So... are you gonna fix that, or am I supposed to just assume I said yes?”
Eddie finally looked at him, his lips twitching into a small smile. He took a breath, his voice quieter now, softer. “Buck, will you go on a date with me this weekend?”
Buck pretended to think, tapping his chin with exaggerated deliberation. “Hmm... What’s in it for me?”
“I’ll let you pick the color,” Eddie quipped, a spark of humor cutting through his awkwardness.
Buck’s laugh was louder this time, and he set his laptop aside, leaning forward. “Yeah, Eds. I’ll go on a date with you. But you better bring your A-game. Matching suits aren’t gonna save you if it’s boring.”
Eddie chuckled, the tension in his shoulders easing as he crossed the room and plopped down in the armchair opposite Buck. “Trust me, Buck, it won’t be boring.”
For a moment, neither of them spoke, the weight of the moment settling into something easy, something real. The TV hummed softly in the background, and Buck picked his laptop back up, his grin lingering as he typed. Eddie leaned back, his heart lighter than it had been in years.
Somehow, the night had turned into something unforgettable.
