planting our love
The yard looks better after the flowers get pruned and the mulch gets relaid.
Eddie listens to Buck ramble while they work, explaining the benefits of honey bees and discussing the menu of the restaurant they’re going to for dinner. He chimes in every now and then but is mostly content to just listen.
It's when they’ve finished planting the last flower that it happens. Eddie can’t help but think of Chris’s words, of the fact that his son knows he’s in love with Buck. And Eddie allows himself to think that maybe- maybe- it’s reciprocated.
Eddie takes in the state of Buck, the sweat on his brow and the dirt of his cheek, and something in him snaps. There, kneeling in their garden, Eddie surges forward and presses his lips to his best friend’s. He holds it for a minute, two, in awe that Buck isn’t pulling away. In awe that he might actually get to have this.
Eddie pulls back and takes Buck in. Buck’s fluttering lashes. Buck’s slightly parted lips. Buck’s pink cheeks.
“I’ve been wanting to do that for a long time.” Eddie can barely hear himself over the sound of his heart pounding in his ears.
“Y-you have?” The inflection in Buck's voice makes it sound like he can hardly believe Eddie’s words.
Immediately, Eddie softens. “For as long as I can remember. I love you, Evan.”
Buck’s jaw drops open and wetness pools in his blue eyes. Eddie can’t help but feel like shit for it. He can’t believe there was ever a moment in time that Buck doubted Eddie’s love for him. He curses everyone, mostly Abby Clark, who ever left his best friend behind. He curses the Buckley parents, who made Buck believe he would never be enough. Eddie is here to remedy that all.
“You’re living in my house,” Eddie starts, and he’s finding it hard to get air into his lungs. “You’re co-parenting my son. We work together. We spend every moment together. And I don’t want it any other way. I want you, Evan. I want this.”
Buck falls back from his knees onto his butt in the mulch. Eddie follows him, shuffling forward and grabbing his hands.
“Talk to me, Buck, before I make a fool out of myself.”
“I want this too, Eds. I’ve always wanted it. But I never thought I would get it, not with you. I-I’ve known I loved you for a while now, but I just kept it to myself. I was too scared of ruining what we have. You’re my best friend, Eddie, and I wouldn’t jeopardize that for the world.”
“You have me, Evan. You’ve always had me.”
Buck leans forward this time, the hesitancy in his posture nothing like the sureness of his kiss. Buck’s plump lips press against Eddie’s with a ravenous hunger, his devotion being poured into the gesture. Buck rises up to his knees, placing a hand on the back of Eddie’s neck and pulling him in.
Eddie surrenders to it, letting Buck have him. He’s so distracted that he doesn’t hear the back door open.
“Thank God,” Chris says from the back porch. “I’ve been waiting for y’all to figure that out.”
Buck immediately disconnects their lips. “Chris, buddy! You’re not… upset?”
Eddie blinks, in awe of how quickly Buck composed himself, and struggles to do the same.
“Why would I be upset?” Chris questions, like Buck is stupid for asking. “My dad and my other dad finally got together. I mean, it was painful to watch, truly. Sweet Dios, war is over!”
And then, Chris turns around and goes back inside.
Eddie can’t help but laugh. He laughs until he’s out of breath and his stomach hurts, and Buck watches him fondly while he does it.
“So, we’re doing this, huh?” Buck smiles softly.
“I’m in if you are,” Eddie tells him. “I’ve got your back.”
“And I have yours.”
Eddie smiles, unabashedly wide. He stands, wipes the dirt from his knees, and offers a hand to Buck. Buck grins back at him with pearly white teeth, accepting the offered assistance.
Eddie leans forward to kiss Buck, just because he can. “I’m never gonna get tired of doing that.”
“Good.” Buck pecks his lips again. “Because I can be pretty demanding.”
Eddie chuckles, pulling Buck into a hug. He savors the moment, revels in the comfort of holding his best friend and now boyfriend.
“The team is gonna freak,” Buck says into his neck.
Eddie releases Buck, shifting back and holding him by the shoulders. “Not if we don’t tell them.”
“What do you mean? You wanna sneak around?”
“Maybe for a little while,” Eddie shrugs, grinning. “Just until we get used to this.”
Buck nods, considering. “Yeah. Yeah, let’s keep it between you, me, and Chris for a while.”
“You can tell Maddie,” Eddie offers. “She’s your sister.”
Buck shakes his head. “Not yet. I’ll tell her. Just- not yet.”
“Hey, no rush.”
Eddie lets go of Buck's shoulders and grabs his hand. “I’m thinking something easy for lunch. Sandwiches?”
“Sandwiches sound great.”
-
That night, after dinner, they sit down with Chris and discuss what happened with him. Buck wants to make sure that Chris isn’t upset, and Eddie wants to make sure Chris knows to keep the revelation on the down low.
Chris reassures them that he’s overjoyed they finally figured their feelings out and that he’ll keep their newfound relationship a secret until Bucks and Eddie are ready to share it.
By the end of the talk, Chris is yawning but refusing to admit he’s tired, so Buck makes some popcorn and finds a bee documentary. The three settle on the couch, sharing the bowl of popcorn and watching the movie.
Chris nods off about halfway through, so Eddie carries him to his room. When Eddie gets back to the living room, it's to Buck's eyes glued to the TV.
“I told you bees were interesting,” Buck says around a mouthful of popcorn.
“I never said they weren’t,” Eddie responds, sitting down.
He reaches over and snatches a few pieces of popcorn for himself, preparing to listen to Buck talk about honey bees for the next couple of days.