Chapter Text
Buck is still living his single-but-content life when Eddie comes back from El Paso with Chris. Eddie pulls Buck aside as soon as they get a chance for privacy.
“Buck, I realized in El Paso - I’m in love with you.” Eddie looks at Buck hopefully, but Buck’s face falls, and Eddie tries to steady his jaw so he doesn’t mirror Buck’s fallen expression.
“Shit, Eddie. I’m - I’m so sorry. I just, that’s not how I think about you. And-” Buck has a realization, right in the middle of Eddie’s love confession.
“I’m still in love with Tommy. I think maybe he’s the one. The one for me.” Eddie’s heart crumbles away in his chest, but he’s not going to be that jealous asshole.
Eddie says, “Okay. Okay, Buck. I understand. It’ll be okay.” Eddie ekes out a smile, but he can’t tell from the inside how convincing it is. “I guess you’d better go get your man back.”
Buck gives Eddie a long hug, and says, “Yeah, not to mention give you and Chris time to get settled back in without me looking over your shoulder the whole time. But we should all do something next week. The zoo, or a movie, or whatever Chris wants. The three of us.”
Eddie bites the inside of his cheek and nods without wincing. “For sure. The three of us.”