100 Ways
84. The key is under the mat.
"Oh, did you remember the onion?" Barry said loudly as he scrubbed a plate clean.
"You have no faith." Eddie's voice said, crackling slightly through Barry's phone speaker. "Yes, dear, I got the onion."
Barry laughed and set the dish in the drying rack. Joe was out of town for the weekend, so he and Eddie took the opportunity to do a date night: homemade dinner and Netflix. And some chilling.
"Okay, I'm here," Eddie said. There was some shuffling noises, and then the sound of a car door closing. "Hey, let me in." Barry heard the knock in person and through the phone.
"Let yourself in."
The door handle jiggled. "It's locked!"
"Oh, Joe must've locked it when he left," Barry said. "There's a key under the rock with white speckles."
Eddie scoffed. "Why can't you let me in?"
"Cause I'm elbow deep in dishes," Barry replied.
"Well I'm carrying the grocery bags, and I have no clue which rock you're talking about."
"The obviously fake one. Never mind, I'll come get you." Barry quickly dried his hands and went to the front door, flicking the lock and pulling it open.
Eddie stood on the front step, grinning at him over the top of the brown paper grocery bag. "Honey, I'm home."
Barry took the bag out of his arms and leaned down to kiss him, thinking about the day when Eddie will come home to a place that is actually theirs. It gave him butterflies—the good kind—that he hoped would never go away.
"What are you smiling about?" Eddie asked as they walked into the kitchen.
"Oh, nothing," Barry said, setting the groceries on the counter and turning to him. "I just…I appreciate you and everything you bring into my life. I'll never take you for granted again."
Eddie stepped closer so their chests touched, smiling up at him. "Good."