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“Double or nothing,” Chimney declared across the fire loft station, eyes narrowed at Buck.
In the middle of the table was a pile of cheesy Dorito chips that they were using instead of money. The game had started halfway through their shift. Whenever they had down time, they had returned to it. The bell had yet to go and they were taking advantage of the spare time.
Buck snorted, shaking his head. “No way. Last time I did that I ended up with millions.”
As the fire station loft grew silent around him, Buck looked up from the cards in his hands to find everyone staring at him. He blinked.
“What?”
When nobody answered, Buck replayed the words in his head and he swallowed thickly.
Evan Buckley had never been a gambler. He never played the lottery and if he played cards, it was just for fun with his friends, never anything with high stakes. The one and only time he had was when he was in his mid-twenties and in Vegas with a bunch of people he had just met. He was just passing through, had met a group of people who had dragged him out for the night.
He had been on a winning streak and had been enjoying himself. He had been playing cards at a table, a small crowd gathering around them. Buck hadn’t realised at the time, but he had been playing with someone they called a ‘whale’. The man had smirked at Buck across the table.
“Double or nothing.”
The crowed had egged Buck on and slightly tipsy and fuelled by the crowd around him, Buck had agreed.
He had the winning cards and had left Vegas with his bank account significantly more endowed then when he had started. Buck had left the group behind and headed towards his next adventure. He had never really touched the money he had earned, putting it into a savings account and only ever touching it when he needed it. Buck enjoyed working and meeting new people and when he finally landed in L.A, Buck had finally found where he belonged. He found his sister once more and people he could call family which was a lot more significant than the millions that sat in his account. He would take his family over his money any day.
Buck cleared his throat and carefully placed his cards down. “I fold.”
“Oh no,” Chimney said, pointing a finger at Buck. “What do you mean you ‘ended up with millions?’”
Buck looked around the table.
Hen was looking at Buck with wide eyes, mouth dropped open.
Eddie was staring at Buck like he had never seen him before.
Smith was shaking his head, mumbling something under his breath.
Tanika’s nose was scrunched up with confusion, mouthing the word millions to herself.
Buck sent Bobby, who was standing in the kitchen making them dinner, a helpless look. Their captain simply stared back at Buck, brow raised in a silent question.
“I – it’s nothing. I’m joking,” Buck lied badly. He stood, his chair dragging across the silent loft loudly. “I’m out.” And then he bailed, hurrying over to Bobby.
“Oh no you don’t!” Chimney called after him.
“Can I help?” Buck asked Bobby, not even embarrassed by the pleading tone he had taken on.
“Sure,” Bobby said, nodding at Buck to come around. “You can start on the veggies.”
Buck came around the other side of the kitchen island, hurrying to wash his hands. When he dried his hands and he went to pick up a knife, only to look up and find Chimney staring at him at him from across the kitchen island, Hen and Eddie standing on either side of him.
“Does Maddie know you are secretly rich?” Chimney demanded.
Buck sighed and put down the knife. “I’m not secretly rich.”
“You said millions,” Hen pointed out.
“Look, it’s nothing. All I did was win some money passing through Vegas,” Buck said, sending them all a pleading look. “It’s no big deal.”
“You’re the one who paid for Christopher’s physio treatments,” Eddie said.
Buck froze.
A few weeks ago, Christopher had started going through a growth spurt. With it came more pains and the need for physio. Carla had found them a great physio who could help Chris, but even with Eddie’s insurance, it was going to cost. So, Buck had paid for all the physio Chris would need and just had lied to Eddie and had said he and Carla had done some digging and found a way for it to be covered.
Hen and Chimney shared a look before quickly ducking away, shooing away those who were lingering around the kitchen.
Buck looked to Bobby whose gaze was now solely focused on the pan in front of him. Shifting his gaze to Eddie, Buck licked his lips.
“No?”
Eddie stared at Buck. “It wasn’t covered by my insurance, and I haven’t received any bills for it. You paid for it.”
“I – okay fine,” Buck admitted. “But it’s Chris! Of course I was going to pay for it. You’re the best dad, Eddie. And I love that kid. And you’re my best friend and I can help so I did. And I’m not taking it back.” Buck crossed his arms over his chest. “So, suck it.”
Eddie moved around the kitchen bench and Buck tried not to flinch as Eddie grew closer and closer.
“You can’t hate me,” Buck blurted out, dropping his arms. “And no matter what you say, I’m not taking it back. And I will continue to spoil that kid.”
“You…” Eddie trailed off.
Before Buck could blink, Eddie was cupping his face in his hands and dragging Buck into a kiss. Buck flailed for a beat before he was sinking into Eddie’s grasp, hands coming up to grip at Eddie’s forearms, heart beating a mile a minute.
Eddie’s lips were softer than what Buck had imagined (and he had picturing kissing Eddie a lot lately) and he tasted of Doritos. Buck hummed into the kiss, capturing Eddie’s bottom lips, and gently sucking on it.
A loud cough had them separating as Buck dared to swipe his tongue along Eddie’s bottom lip and they pulled apart.
“You kissed me,” Buck said stupidly.
“You love us,” Eddie countered.
“Of course I do,” Buck blinked. “You kissed me.”
“And I’ll kiss you again, if that something you want,” Eddie said, cheeks flushing bright pink. He looked at Buck nervously, fingers trailing down Buck’s cheeks as he went to pull away.
Buck squeezed Eddie’s forearms, stilling him. “I want. I’ve wanted that for ages. You and Chris.”
Eddie nerves disappeared and a bright smile flashed across his face. “Yeah?”
Buck nodded fast and hard, making Eddie laugh.
“As happy as I am for you boys,” Bobby interrupted.
Eddie dropped his hands and Buck felt himself flush hot as he turned to look at Bobby.
Their captain was giving them a mock stern look, his eyes sparkling and a smile tugging at his lips. “You are still on the clock. So perhaps this could wait until after shift?”
Buck and Eddie both nodded.
“Good,” Bobby smiled. “I have some paperwork for you both to fill out later.”
Buck ducked his head, smile breaking out across his face as Eddie took his hand and squeezed it.
“Sure thing, Cap,” Eddie said.
“Eddie, you can set the table. Buck, get chopping,” Bobby ordered.
Buck quickly pressed a kiss to Eddie’s cheek before he moved back to the chopping board, picking back up the knife. He couldn’t help the grin that was plastered on his face or the giddy feeling that was building up inside him.
As Eddie purposely brushed past him, Buck couldn’t believe how lucky he was. He would give up all his money in a heartbeat if it meant getting to have Eddie and Chris in life. He would give up everything to have Eddie in the way he had been dreaming off.
But maybe he didn’t have too and that thought made Buck grin. He never had much growing up, but now, he had everything he ever needed.