Buck could feel himself getting more and more tense as Eddie continued talking about his run-in with Chris's old English teacher earlier that morning. He started to peel off the label on his water bottle, attempting to focus on the tiny pieces that were still stuck instead of listening to Eddie talk excitedly about how she's no longer Christopher's teacher, that she's now a vice principal, and so on. His distraction was working, until Eddie finally confessed that they were going out for coffee that coming weekend.

"What?!" Buck exclaimed, looking up from the mess he had been making into Eddie's brown eyes, trying to ignore the hurt he was seeing in them. "I'm confused. Isn't this the same teacher that you were furious with last year because Christopher ended up hurting himself?" Why would Eddie want to meet her?

Eddie nodded, shifting uncomfortably on the couch. "People change, Buck. And she asked me," Eddie replied, as if that explained everything.

And Buck guessed it kind of did. Eddie never made the first move. Buck had been waiting a goddamn year for some sort of recognition, for some sort of validation that they had something more than just being best friends, only to be disappointed every time Eddie ducked out of a hug, ignored a blatant flirtation, and skirted around important conversations.

"Yeah, I guess you're right," Buck said, unable to mask the bitterness in his voice. Shaking his head, Buck tossed the now ruined bottle of water in the garbage and headed downstairs, needing some space from Eddie. He caught the worried glances that Hen and Chim were shooting at him, but he ignored them as well.

XXXXX

The rest of that day was crazy, all because the rookie jinxed them earlier by saying it was a quiet shift. Buck appreciated the distraction, the noise, because it meant he didn't have to spend the whole day imagining Eddie going out with Ana. But now as the truck pulled back into the station, and Buck remembered that he was going home, alone, the worries started to back in. Catching Eddie's arm on his way by, Buck decided to bite the bullet. "Hey Eds? How about pizza and beer Saturday night? You can fill me in on your date?" He can be the supportive friend, he knows how to do that. Some part of Eddie was better than nothing.

Eddie nodded, clasping Buck on his shoulder. "Yeah, sounds good man," he said, relieved that Buck was finally talking to him again, not understanding his earlier reaction. Eddie headed to the locker rooms, happy that the jinxed shift was over, even though he would never admit that he thought it was jinxed out loud.

XXXXX

Saturday came faster than he expected. Buck sat in his apartment, looking out at the beautiful sunny day and then glancing back at his phone. He was so freaking confused. Eddie had texted him earlier that morning, saying that Ana had backed out on the coffee date and asking if he wanted to come instead. Buck stopped himself from replying instantly, not wanting to seem desperate. But then he started thinking more. Was Eddie asking him on a date? Should he dare get his hopes up only to have them dashed again?

'As a date?' Buck quickly typed back, biting his lip as he waited for Eddie's response. He could see the three little dots appear and disappear, as if Eddie was debating over what to respond. He could feel the pit in his stomach grow heavier as more time went by. Maybe he shouldn't have asked. But he was tired of waiting for Eddie to make the first move.

He was startled out of his thoughts by the ding of a new text message - from Eddie. Hesitating slightly before unlocking his phone, he read the short message. 'Sure?' Only one word? With a question mark? How the heck was he supposed to interpret that? A second message appeared, confirming the time and place with a wink emoji. Now Buck was even more confused than he was at the start of the day. But realizing that it was close to meeting time, Buck just grabbed his jacket and headed for the door.

XXXXX

Buck saw Eddie as soon as he walked in the door of the small cafe. Nodding to the barista - Jenny, he thought her name was, as this was a place he frequented often, he headed over to where Eddie was sitting. He was met with a brilliant smile, directed right at him. Buck could feel his knees tremble, and quickly plopped down awkwardly in the seat across from Eddie. He wasn't used to seeing a smile like that on Eddie's face, and it had his heart racing.

"I'm sorry -" both men started to say at the same time and then stopped, realizing that each other was saying the same thing. Eddie reached out across the table, tentatively taking Buck's hand in his. "Let me go first, please Buck?"

Buck just nodded, unable to say anything more. Eddie could have asked him to strip naked and dance on the table, and he would have done it in an instant, as his focus narrowed to his hand in Eddie's, the comforting grip of his partner and the soft circles that Eddie's thumb was rubbing on the back of his hand. The rest of the cafe and its patrons faded into the background as he waited for Eddie to speak.

"After our last shift, Hen and Chim pulled me aside and told me how stupid I was being," Eddie said bluntly, looking directly across at Buck. "You may have noticed...that I'm not the most observant person," Eddie added, darting another look at their clasped hands.

Buck couldn't help himself. He tried to cover his laugh with a cough, but it turned into a snort and then he was laughing at both Eddie and the horrible sound that just came out of his mouth. Eddie chuckled too, smiling in response to Buck's laughter.

"I'm so sorry Buck," Eddie continued, once Buck's laughter had finally died down enough so that he could hear Eddie again. "I didn't want to date Ana, I want to date you. But I didn't realize that you wanted that too," Eddie said honestly, stumbling over his own words a bit. He felt a flash of anger at himself, all this time wasted because he couldn't see the opportunity right in front of him.

Noticing the look that flashed across Eddie's face, Buck shifted chairs, so that he could be next to Eddie, not letting go of his hand once while he moved. Buck rested his free hand on Eddie's thigh, hoping to provide the same level of comfort to Eddie. "I want to date you too," Buck said simply, looking Eddie straight in the eyes. Buck leaned in closer, intent hopefully clear as he captured Eddie's lips with his own. Buck had meant to leave it as a short, gentle kiss, but was pleasantly surprised when Eddie's hands were all of a sudden in his hair, gripping his curls and pulling him in closer. Buck gasped as Eddie nipped at his lower lip, opening his mouth to allow Eddie's tongue to slide in and explore. Suppressing a moan, as Buck remembered that they were in a public place, Buck reluctantly pulled back from Eddie, blushing a deep red as he noticed several of the other patrons were blatantly staring at the two of them.

"Not to imply or pressure you into anything -" Eddie started to say.

"Let's go back to my place -" Buck started to say at the same time, both men grinning as they came to the same conclusion.

Buck stood up first, tossing a couple bills on the table for a tip and then pulled Eddie behind him, out of the cafe and towards his Jeep which was just parked around the corner. Eddie crowded him up against the driver's door, stealing another kiss, just as passionate as the first. "You're all I want," Eddie whispered, his hands resting low on Buck's hips. "Same," Buck whispered back, deciding at the last minute to push Eddie into the backseat instead, knowing exactly how to show Eddie how much he wanted him.