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Eddie arrives at work cranky and tired. Christopher didn’t want to wake up, so Eddie had to be the bad guy and basically drag his kid out of bed. Chris had whined and moaned all through their morning routine and they barely made it to school on time. Eddie had planned on stopping for coffee on his way in but, of course, LA traffic made that pretty much impossible, so he is running on empty. He barges through the break room to throw his things in his locker before making a beeline for the coffeepot.
“Somebody looks grumpy today.”
If it was anybody else, Eddie would scowl and ignore them. He knows Hen made the coffee though, so he’ll let it slide.
“Good morning, Hen,” he mumbles. He adds some powdered vanilla creamer to a mug and pours the heavenly liquid over top, stirring it together into the world’s most beautiful concoction. He inhales the aroma and sighs heavily as he sits down next to her.
Eddie has been working at the zoo for months now, and Hen is by far his favorite coworker. They’ve even gotten their kids together to play and for the adults to drink wine and gossip.
“Rough start to your day?”
“Just fighting with Chris to get ready for school. He never wants to get up in the morning.”
“I wonder where he gets that from,” she replies sarcastically.
They enjoy their coffee in peace as the rest of their coworkers come in. Their manager leads them in the morning meeting and then it’s time to open up.
Eddie and Hen are stationed separately today so they part ways at the entrance where Eddie takes his place. His job for the first part of the day is to greet visitors and hand out maps if needed. He can see there’s already a bunch of people lined up, so he runs his hand over his face roughly and sets his sunglasses on his nose, smile at the ready. That cup of coffee really helped but it’s still about to be a long day of screaming toddlers and pointing people to the restroom. Eddie loves his job but today is one of those days where he’ll be glad to go home.
Once the barrage of people starts walking in, he greets them all and hands out the foldable paper maps when asked – mostly by the older guests; the zoo has an app, after all. He takes photos of families, points them in the right direction to their desired animals, and answers questions about show times.
A couple hours into his shift, Eddie shuffles around in his designated area waiting to be needed. He’s smiling at a little kid who has curls just like Christopher when someone comes up to him.
“Excuse me, could I get one of those maps?”
Eddie turns around and freezes when he sees the man in front of him. In shorts and a loose-fitting shirt that show off lots of tattoos, this is the most beautiful man Eddie has ever seen. He’s smiling at Eddie who only briefly forgets he was spoken to.
“Uh, s-sure, yeah, here you go.” Eddie hands him a map which the man takes but doesn’t even look at it.
“How long have you worked here,” he asks, glancing at his nametag, “Eddie?”
Eddie can’t help but to smile at him when he says his name. “I’ve been here about six months now.”
“Ah, so you must be koala-fied to tell me the best route to take then.”
He glances up at Eddie through his eyelashes and Eddie can’t help the laugh that bursts out of him.
“Really?”
“Oh yeah,” he says, encouraged. “I’d be bear-y remiss to do my first zoo trip all wrong.”
Eddie laughs again. He can’t believe such terrible puns are coming from such a beautiful man. Why is it so endearing?
“First time in LA?” he asks.
“I moved here about a year ago, but it’s the first chance I’ve had to get to the zoo. I didn’t know you’d be here, or I would have found the time sooner.”
Eddie’s stomach swoops and his heart does a dance in his chest. He ducks his head as he feels his cheeks redden.
He clears his throat awkwardly and points to the map in the man’s hands. “Well, you want to start at the reptile house then and make your way around to Africa and Asia. You should end up at the aviary just in time for the show. It’s a big circle so you’ll find your way back around.”
The man hums in response. “Will you be here when I get back?”
Eddie blushes again. “Uh, no, probably not. I’m only up here for the morning.”
“That’s a shame. Thanks for the advice, Eddie,” he says, tapping Eddie’s arm with the rolled-up map. The man starts to walk away but turns back quickly. “Later, gator,” he says with a wink.
Eddie comes back to his senses moments or hours later and realizes he didn’t even ask the man’s name. He looks in the direction of the reptile house but he’s nowhere in sight. As if Eddie would have the guts to do anything even if he were to catch up to him. The man was clearly and openly flirting and Eddie had completely blanked.
Oh well. It was a nice change of pace anyway – something to think back on when he feels lonely or unwanted. A whole man flirting with him in broad daylight in the middle of the zoo. Well, the front entrance, but whatever.
Eddie goes back to smiling at guests and welcoming them for the next hour. His coworker comes to replace him, and he heads off to eat his lunch with a little more pep in his step than usual.
-
Weeks go by, and Eddie’s life has gone right back to the same it always is. Get the boy to school, talk about animals, get pooped on by said animals, drink wine with Hen and Karen, have lunch with Pepa and Abuela, help Chris with homework, lather, rinse, repeat.
Luckily, today he has been working with Hen, so it’s been a good day. They head up to the aviary for one of Eddie’s favorite parts of the job. The macaw flyover always dazzles the guests, and he has a special place in his heart for the colorful birds. His favorite, Maurice, rests comfortably on his shoulder and Hen gives the others treats as they sit on their perch.
They’re interacting with visitors and encouraging them to stick around for the show when Eddie spots a familiar face in the crowd. When he makes eye contact, the handsome man smiles and gives him a wave. He smiles back in shock – he never expected to see him again. He looks great, too. He has jeans on today and a sleeveless shirt that shows off how big his arms are. Eddie gulps and goes back to answering the woman’s question.
“Macaws often mate for life, like penguins or swans. They’ve been seen flying so close together, they appear to be holding hands – or, you know, wings.”
The woman chuckles and thanks him before stepping away.
“Trying to make me jealous, Eddie?”
Eddie turns to the voice, smiling when he sees him standing so close.
“You’re back,” he says. “What, no puns today?”
“Well, I’d tell you my bird joke, but it would probably fly over your head.”
“Right,” Eddie laughs. “So, you’re jealous of me helping other guests then?” Eddie nods in the direction of the woman who just left.
“I meant your friend here,” Buck looks up at the bird on his shoulder and then back to Eddie’s eyes. “No sunglasses today.”
“Maurice here broke the lenses one time. Luckily, they were on my head and not my eyes, but that’s not a mistake I’ll make again.” He says it while handing Maurice a treat, so he knows Eddie’s not upset with him.
“Well, we can’t have any damage to that gorgeous face.” He says it quietly, and Eddie meets his gaze in time to catch the redness in his cheeks.
“I didn’t get your name last time.”
“It’s Buck,” he sticks his hand out for Eddie to shake. “Well, Evan, but Buck.”
“Nice to meet you, Buck.”
Hen clears her throat behind him.
“Time for the show. You sticking around?”
“Oh, absolutely.” Buck gives him a wicked grin.
Eddie rolls his eyes and turns on his microphone.
“Good afternoon, LA!” The gathered crowd responds, and he goes through his script with ease. When it’s time for the birds to show off, he has the crowd count down with him. “Three, two, one!”
They soar over the audience in a beautiful show of color, their feathers glinting in the sun. They loop around as practiced and head back to their perch, except for Maurice, of course. Hen and Eddie reward them with lots of treats while the audience applauds and exclaims in wonder.
They usually stick around for a few minutes after the show in case anyone has questions. Hen is talking to a little girl and her mother about the macaws’ long life span and Buck walks back up to him.
“Very impressive,” he says, appreciatively.
“You think so?” Eddie tries to be a little flirty. Buck smiles and bites his lip which either means it worked or he’s holding back a laugh.
“Hey, would it be totally inappropriate to ask for your number?” He steps a bit closer and lowers his voice.
Okay, so probably the former then.
“Probably,” Eddie tells him. “But I doubt Maurice will rat us out.”
Buck’s smile is radiant. He glows like Eddie just told him the best news ever.
“Oh I see what you did there, okay. Toucan play at this game, huh?”
“He’s a macaw, Buck.”
“Right, of course.”
Buck pulls his phone from his pocket and has Eddie enter his number.
“I better help get these guys ready to go.” Eddie nods to the birds behind him.
“Okay, I’ll uh – I’ll text you or something then.”
Eddie smiles at Buck’s sudden nervousness. He’s usually so confident, but sometimes he gets so adorably shy. “Bye, Buck.”
Buck waves and heads off into the zoo.
When Eddie and Hen are walking back to the aviary, she elbows him in the stomach. “Okay, what the fuck was that?”
Eddie feigns innocence. “What?”
“Edmundo.”
“Henrietta.” She gives him a look that he knows means she will not be swayed. “I’ve seen him once before. He flirts in animal puns.”
“And that’s what does it for you, huh?”
Eddie laughs as he puts away their equipment. “He was cute though, right?”
“He was very…broad.”
Eddie sighs wistfully.
“Okay, Juliet, come on.” Hen pulls him out the door.
-
That night, after homework is finished, dinner is eaten, and bedtime stories have been read, Eddie sits on his couch with a beer. He’s scrolling through a random article when a text comes through.
Unknown: Did you know macaws mate for life?
Eddie huffs a laugh.
Eddie: Hello Buck. Yes, I did know that.
Buck: Show off
Eddie: Did you enjoy the rest of your zoo trip?
Buck: It was okay.
Hard to compete with the cute bird guy.
Eddie runs a hand over his face. Buck might actually kill him.
Eddie: You’re very forward.
Buck: Only when I know it’s working.
Am I making you uncomfortable? I can back off.
Eddie: It’s not that, I’m just not used to it.
Buck: I doubt that.
I have work early in the morning so I’m heading to bed.
Just wanted you to have my number.
Eddie: Goodnight Buck
Buck: Night Eddie
-
Chris wakes up not feeling well. He doesn’t have a fever, but Eddie can tell he’s not his usual self. He calls Pepa to see if she can watch him, but she has a meeting in the morning that she can’t miss. He calls his manager next, frantic and nervous, but she says he can work in the ticket booth today and to just bring Chris with him.
He packs up a bag for both of them, making sure to grab Christopher’s stuffed giraffe. It’s the only thing that brings him comfort when he’s sick or has a nightmare.
They get settled inside the ticket booth – it’s an easy part of the job but a bit boring. People typically already have their tickets purchased before they come. Chris gets out his coloring book and crayons and Eddie discreetly scrolls on his phone.
Hen comes to see them a little while later, standing on the other side of the window.
“You boys doing okay? Need anything?”
“We’re okay, thanks.”
A commotion draws their attention.
“Call 9-1-1,” Hen orders and runs over to an older gentleman who seems to have fainted.
Less than ten minutes later, an ambulance and a firetruck pull up in front of the entrance. Chris immediately perks up. His coloring abandoned, he climbs up on Eddie’s lap to see better.
Men and women in uniform file out of the vehicles and, after checking the man briefly, decide to move him into the shade. Hen points in the direction of Eddie’s booth which has a large awning.
Two of the men help the guest up and start walking with him. They take their time, encouraging the embarrassed visitor to take it easy. Hen brings a chair over for them to drop him off and –
“Buck?!”
The man looks up and smiles. “Oh hey, Eddie. Wondered if we’d see you here.”
“What –”
It’s only been a week since he last saw Buck. They’ve only texted the one time, but Eddie’s thought about reaching out again every day.
Now, Buck is beaming at him – in a uniform.
“You’re a paramedic?”
They set the man down in a chair and another man comes up to finish his assessment. Buck walks over and leans on the window.
“Nah, I’m a firefighter.” Fucking hell. “I’m just here to help in case Chim needs anything or if someone needed a rescue.”
Eddie swallows and can’t quite stop staring. His button-up is tight around his arms, showing off his thick biceps.
“Who’s this?” Buck nods.
“Uh,” Eddie looks down at Christopher grinning at him. He had totally forgotten he was here. “This is my son, Christopher.”
Buck is completely unbothered. “Hi Chris, I’m Buck. Hey, do you know what a duck’s favorite snack is?”
Chris squeezes his giraffe and shakes his head.
“Cheese and quackers.”
The boy giggles and Buck grins. “That’s silly.”
“Yeah, but everyone should be a little bit silly every once in a while.”
Chris looks up at Eddie. “Dad, you know a real firefighter?”
“Apparently so.” Eddie looks to Buck who blushes. “Tell Buck the joke you told me the other day, he’ll love it.”
“Oh!” Chris gets excited. “Buck, what do you call an alligator who solves mysteries? An investi-gator!”
Buck laughs, which makes Chris proud. “That’s a good one, kid. You got any more?”
Chris thinks, putting his finger to his chin. “What do you call a pig that loves karate? A pork chop!”
Buck laughs again, waving a hand at Chris. “Ah, you’re giraffe-ing me crazy.”
The boy’s grin grows wider, and he gasps, pulling his giraffe closer to him.
“Time to go, Buckaroo.”
The paramedic is standing behind him. They checked out the patient and got him on a stretcher, all without Eddie even noticing.
“Okay, Chim. Gotta go, you guys. Nice to meet you, Christopher!” And then he’s running back with his team. To save lives. And fight fires.
-
Buck: So. You’re a dad.
Eddie: Yes I am.
You’re a firefighter.
Buck: Yes I am.
Single dad?
Eddie chuckles.
Eddie: Yes Buck, I’m a single dad.
Buck: Just had to check
Or else the thoughts I’ve been having about you were super inappropriate
Eddie: You’ve been thinking about me?
Buck: Owl the time
Eddie rolls his eyes.
Eddie: You know you’re lucky you’re cute.
Chris doesn’t change things for you?
He holds his breath. He wouldn’t be surprised. It’s not like he was hiding Chris. They’ve barely talked at all; he just hadn’t come up yet. But some people are simply not interested in dating single parents. Maybe Buck doesn’t want kids. Although watching him with Chris today, Eddie kind of doubts that. He had instantly won the boy over. Even Hen had made a comment after everything calmed down again.
Buck: Chris doesn’t change anything for me.
-
When Eddie sees Buck practically jogging toward him the following week, he chuckles softly to himself. What a goof.
“Eddie!” Buck waves, as if there was a chance of him missing the 6’2” firefighter barreling toward him.
“Hey Buck,” Eddie greets him warmly, with the soft smile he always seems to wear when he’s around. “Are those…sloths?”
Buck is sporting a bright pink button down patterned with…yep, sloths.
“You like it?” Buck poses to show it off, pulling the fabric so Eddie can see better. “I think this’ll be my official zoo shirt.”
“You’ll need more than one if you keep coming back as often as you have been. Not that I’m complaining.”
“So you like it then.”
Eddie laughs. “Yes, Buck, I like the shirt.”
“Thanks! You’re looking pretty foxy yourself,” he says with a smirk.
“Buck!” A woman pushing a stroller yells. “I’m going to get a table!”
“Okay!” Buck waves and looks back at Eddie. He’s still grinning ear to ear but Eddie’s smile has dropped. Has he been making up their connection this whole time? Has it been so long since he’s dated that he completely misread everything? No, surely that’s not a whole wife and baby that Buck’s keeping from him. Right? Eddie looks up into the man’s eyes in a silent plea for answers. Buck sees it immediately and puts his hands out in front of himself, defensively.
“No, nonono,” he waves his arms to emphasize his point. “That’s Maddie, my sister, and my niece. Sister. Niece. Not wife or girlfriend. Or baby. Although I would like a baby. Someday. Or babies. But that particular one is not mine. Well, I babysit her sometimes but that’s not…Maddie’s my sister. She’s actually dating Chimney, the paramedic that was with me when we got called out here. And that’s his baby. Not mine. Because that’s my sister.”
“Okay, okay,” Eddie laughs and breathes a heavy sigh. “Okay Buck, breathe, I hear you.”
Buck sighs and smiles again. “Okay, right. Sorry.”
“No, I just…thought I was completely delusional for a second there. I thought maybe I was making all this up in my head.”
“Definitely not,” Buck assures him. He’s giving Eddie that look. It has the tendency to make Eddie a little weak in the knees, which is a phrase he always thought was so dramatic. Surely another person can’t actually make you feel weak in the knees. But here he is – weak-kneed.
“I need to get out front. I was just walking up from my break.”
“Okay. I’ll text you later.”
“Okay,” Eddie starts to walk off. “Tell your girlfriend I said hi.”
“She’s my sister!” Buck yells after him.
-
Buck: Hippo-thetically speaking…
Eddie snorts. He still can’t believe how adorable he finds this nonsense.
Buck: If there was a kids’ concert at this park near my station next weekend
Would you and Chris want to go?
“Who’s that?” the boy in question asks.
“It’s my friend Buck,” Eddie tells him. “You remember, the firefighter.”
Chris smiles. “He was funny.”
“Yeah, he is funny.”
Buck: Or if you prefer not to bring your child on our first date
I have options for that too
Eddie stares at the phone in his hand. Realistically, this is what he was hoping for all along. Why is he freaking out now that it’s actually happened? The incredibly attractive man who is silly and kind and weird and great with Chris and saves people for a living has asked him out on a date.
“He’s asking if we want to go to a concert at the park with him next weekend.”
“Really?” Chris pushes his homework out of the way. “That sounds so cool, Dad, I wanna go!”
Eddie laughs and brings the paper back within reach. “Okay bud, it’s not until next weekend. That’s plenty of time to do your homework.”
Chris grumbles but continues with his worksheet.
Maybe Eddie can do this. Maybe he can do something that will make himself happy. Maybe Chris will see him being happy and understand that it’s okay to be scared while you do those things. Maybe his mom is wrong and he’s not bringing his son down with him. Maybe Christopher is the one who gives him the strength to carry on. Maybe Buck will be one of the best things to ever happen to them.
Eddie: Chris and I are both available for a date next weekend. Just tell us where to be.
Buck: That’s so great! I can pick you up!
Or not if you don’t want me to know where you live
We can meet at the park
Oh and they’ll have food trucks
Eddie: We can meet you at the station? Drive there together?
Buck: That’s such a good idea, you’re so smart
We could meet there a little early and I can show Chris the engine
If you think he’d like that
Eddie: He would love that
Thanks Buck
-
Chris and Eddie meet Buck at his station and Buck makes good on his promise to show off all the bells and whistles. They then hop in Buck’s jeep which has the roof removed to appreciate the beautiful California night air. Chris whoops from the backseat like he’s on a rollercoaster with his arms up in the air.
Eddie turns around to watch Chris in the seat behind him and feels immense joy when he sees how much fun his boy is having.
“Dad, put your hands up!”
Eddie laughs and obliges when he faces the front again.
“Woohooo!” he screams, making Christopher laugh uncontrollably. Buck picks his arms up too, but Eddie smacks him.
“No fair, I want to play too!”
“You can play at red lights.”
So they do. At the next red light, they all put their hands in the air and shriek loudly, drawing the attention of the other cars.
When they get to the park, Buck sets them up on a picnic blanket and goes to order their food. Eddie tries to give him some money, but the man is very insistent.
“Eds, I asked you guys out. This is my treat.”
Eddie blushes but accepts defeat.
Buck orders way too much food but it’s delicious so they devour all of it. When Christopher asks for cotton candy after, Buck immediately stands up to get him some and Eddie has to pull him back down and tell them both no. Twin sad faces let him know just how much trouble they’ll be as a duo, but he stands his ground.
Luckily, the music starts, so Eddie helps Chris turn around to face the stage and he and Buck sit behind him.
Eddie leans over to Buck about twenty minutes into the show. “No cute puns tonight, huh?”
Buck smirks. “I knew it. I knew you loved them.”
“Well I wouldn’t go that far.”
Buck chuckles softly. “Alright I did have a good one for you tonight.” He clears his throat dramatically. “Are you a beaver? Because dam, you are fine.”
He accompanies this with a scan of Eddie’s body and Eddie laughs loudly.
“Thank you for this. Tonight’s been really fun.”
“Yeah?” Buck asks, looking almost surprised. “I’m having a good time too.”
“Good. Next time is my treat.”
“Next time, huh?”
“Yeah,” Eddie says. He closes the short distance to place a kiss on Buck’s cheek. Buck blushes and his smile stretches across his face, but he doesn’t look away from Eddie’s eyes. He leans in to meet Eddie in the middle, and gives him a soft, sweet kiss.
Eddie feels like a teenager with butterflies in his stomach. He hasn’t experienced anything like this in so long – since he actually was a teenager. He scoots even closer, and Buck puts an arm around his shoulders. Eddie watches Christopher bop and clap along with the music and imagines what it might be like if this was their family. It’s way too soon for that, obviously, but something about the three of them together feels so right. He can’t seem to stop the thought.
And to think, all it took were a few terrible animal puns to seal the deal.