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“Is this seat taken?”
Eddie Diaz looked up from the plate of cake he had been making his way through. His eyes travelled down the handsome man who stood beside the empty seat to his left. Eddie’s gaze dropped to the man’s shoes, slowly travelling up his body, taking in the expensive suit that fitted the muscular body perfectly. When Eddie reached the man’s eyes, he licked the cake from his lips, a burst of sweetness spreading across his tongue.
“That depends,” Eddie said, pulse thrumming under his skin.
“On what?”
“On what my new husband thinks about you taking that seat,” Eddie hummed, letting a smirk spreading across his lips.
Evan Buckley-Diaz (and the new title had warmth spreading through Eddie’s body, making him feel drunk) grinned, blue eyes sparkling.
“I think he would be super jealous,” Buck said, slipping into the seat. “Luckily I am your new husband.”
Eddie grinned. “Yes, you are.”
It had been a long time coming.
It had come about when Eddie had brought Chris back from Texas. They had been standing in the kitchen, Chris having gone to bed, back in the bedroom that had always been his. Eddie had come back to the kitchen after saying good night to find Buck there, doing his dishes.
It wasn’t an oh moment, Eddie had thought when he reflected on it. It had been a series of moments from the first time they had met. Buck had been there for Eddie since he had first come to L.A. Buck had been the partner that Eddie had been searching for and just hadn’t known that he was there the whole time.
He had crossed the kitchen, Buck’s bright smile directed at him. Eddie had cupped Buck’s face, taking in the moment of surprise, the way Buck’s eyes had darted to Eddie’s lips, the silent plea in his gaze when Buck’s had lifted his eyes back to Eddie’s. It was all that Eddie had needed and he pulled Buck into their first, last kiss.
It hadn’t been perfect.
Eddie’s hand had been shaking and Buck’s hands had been wet where they clung to Eddie’s hips. But it was so them and it was the best kiss of Eddie’s life. They had kissed until they were both panting, resting their foreheads against one another as they caught their breath.
“Eddie?” Buck had asked, cautiously.
Eddie’s fingers had trembled against Buck’s jaw as he gently traced the line of it. “I missed you.”
“I missed you too,” Buck had promised.
“When I was in Texas,” Eddie had said, feeling Buck flinch ever so slightly. “You were still there. You were the first person I called when I needed to talk and all I wanted was you to be there with me. And I know I had to do it on my own,” Eddie said before Buck could interrupt. “And you let me. Because you’re my partner. You’ve always been my partner.”
“Eddie,” Buck breathed.
“It took longer than it should have to realise that I love you,” Eddie said.
“No,” Buck said quickly. “No, it didn’t. You weren’t…we weren’t ready.”
Eddie swallowed thickly, nerves thrumming under his skin making him feel like he could throw up. “We?”
“Yeah,” Buck said. “We weren’t ready. We’ve been building this for…” Buck huffed a laugh. “Since the beginning, I think. But we weren’t ready and now we are.”
“You-“
“Love you too,” Buck had gushed out. “Watching you leave was the hardest thing that’s ever happened to me, but it made me confront what I was really feeling for you.”
They had kissed some more until Eddie’s lips felt swollen and sore. They had fallen asleep that night, wrapped up in one another. When Eddie had woken up to find Buck curled into him, face lax in sleep, Eddie had known then and there that he didn’t want to waste any more time. When Buck’s face had scrunched as he transitioned from sleep to awake and found Eddie staring at him, he had given a sleepy, satisfied smile.
“Hey,” he had croaked out.
“Marry me,” Eddie had responded.
Buck had simply smiled back at him. “Yes.”
They had told Chris first. When they had climbed out of bed, Buck had started whipping up breakfast for the three of them. By the time Chris had emerged from his room, breakfast was set up.
Chris wasn’t totally surprised. On the way home from Texas, Eddie had broached the subject with Chris.
“How would you feel if I said I might be in love with Buck?”
Chris had given Eddie a long look before answering slowly. “I wouldn’t be that surprised.”
“You wouldn’t?” Eddie had asked, shooting Chris a quick look.
Chris had shrugged. “Buck’s like a dad to me too. He’s more than just your best friend dad. I…I kind of thought you guys would date when I was younger.”
“What about now?”
“You wouldn’t be allowed to screw it up,” Chris had warned.
“I don’t want to,” Eddie had said. “I think…I think that’s why it’s never worked, kid. Because they weren’t Buck.”
“Yeah,” Chris said. “Buck’s pretty special.”
“He is,” Eddie had agreed.
After Chris, they had told Maddie next. She had pulled Buck into a big hug, whispering something in his ear that Eddie hadn’t been able to hear. It had made Buck’s cheeks go pink, but he had kissed Maddie’s cheek and whispered thank you to her.
Maddie had then hugged Eddie tightly and told them how happy she was for them.
News had spread quickly from there and by the end of the evening, Bobby and Athena had hosted a celebration in their new home. Champagne had been passed around as they hugged one another and offered their congratulations.
Bobby and Athena had helped them pull together the wedding quickly.
“We don’t want to wait,” Buck had said when they asked.
Within the month, the wedding was planned, and Eddie walked down the aisle with Chris and then they had turned and watched as Maddie had walked Buck down the aisle, tears in both their eyes.
Eddie beamed at Buck, gently grabbing his tie, and pulling him into a kiss. It was a little more than chaste, Eddie unable to help himself from deepening the kiss. Eddie had never been happier than he was right now in this moment, and it was all thanks to man sitting beside him.
“Love you,” Buck mumbled as their lips parted.
“Love you too,” Eddie beamed.
“Having fun?” Buck asked, stealing some cake of Eddie’s plate.
“Yes,” Eddie said. “I’m so happy, Buck.”
Buck’s face softened, his eyes sparkling with emotion. “Me too. Thanks for marrying me.”
“Thanks for marrying me,” Eddie said. He threaded their hands together, resting it on his thigh. “I love you.”
They had been building it for a while, but Eddie was happy with the foundation they had laid. There would be ups and downs, but they had their whole future together and Eddie couldn’t wait to build his life even more with the man he called his husband.