"I.. I think I'm okay with it." He said plainly. Mike and Lucas both raised their eyebrows in suspicion, "Really?" Mike said, "You're totally fine with the two of them being.. a thing?" He asked. "I guess, I mean.. Look, we can stand here and give our two cents all day long, but what we say or think doesn't really matter, does it? When have you ever known Steve, or Eddie for that matter,
to be open to criticism or reasoning.. Hmm?" Dustin quipped back, the two boys gave each other a knowing look, "Well, that's not really what we're saying.. We aren't trying to break them up, if they're together or whatever.. it's just going to shift the group in a different way than what you'd been trying to do and with Eddie showboating like he's won some prize.. it's gonna get annoying..
Hell, it already is annoying." Mike replied, his voice raising an octave as he continued to complain. The two older boys inside,
hearing all the commotion coming from right outside the front door, finished gathering their things into Eddie's gym bag and walked out to see what the problem was. Steve was the first one out, coming down the steps in a hurry as he saw the boys arguing back and forth, he stood between them. "What's going on? Why are you yelling?" He asked, seemingly concerned. "Mike wants Eddie to stop talking about what you do with each other." Eleven said, a blank expression on her face. Eddie started to laugh but covered his mouth when Steve whipped around to give him a 'I knew you said something' stare. Steve turned to look at Mike, "What did he say?" Steve asked in a calm tone. "He was getting his kicks telling us about your night together and basically said you were his bitch." Mike said bluntly, glancing behind Steve to look at Eddie who was looking at Mike with a cold and angry expression,
shaking his head at the younger boy and mouthing the words 'You're gonna pay for that'.. Steve looked dumbfounded and he turned to look at Eddie, who threw his arms up in confusion, "I don't know what he's talking about." Eddie said, trying to fake innocence.
Steve raised his hand to cover his eyes and shook his head, exasperated by the fact he was having to do damage control at nine in the morning. "Look," He began saying, his hand out and pointing at the kids as if he were telling them a game plan.. "You guys can't be so sensitive.. If you keep letting him get to you, he's gonna keep picking. You should know that better than I do." He said,
now turning around to face Eddie and giving him the same expressions, "And you.. stop tormenting the kids and trying to get a rise out of them. I'm not in the mood to play referee today." He then looked back and forth between Eddie and Mike, "Now, do I make myself clear?" They glared at each other and paid Steve no mind. Steve clapped his hands loudly to garner their attention back to him. "Do I make myself clear?!" He reiterated. "Whatever.." Mike said as he picked up his bike and led Eleven by the hand to get on it with him. Eddie waved his hand in dismissal and began walking to Steve's car. Steve stood there watching the two part ways and then looked at the rest of the kids who were still staring at Steve, not saying anything. "Well, let's go already.." Steve said, shooing his hands and motioning for the kids to get a move on. They quickly started walking to their bikes and began to head off, Max turning to Will and the two of them sharing a laugh at what just happened.
In the car, as they drove to the convenience store to gather their snacks, Steve was reprimanding Eddie for his behavior around the younger teens. "You're gonna have to stop telling them about everything we do.. Some things are private, Eddie.. It's not cool.
They don't need to know any of that and I don't know why you get such a thrill out of telling them shit." Steve said, clearly still upset at Eddie. Eddie rolled his eyes as he looked at the passing scenery, his head turned facing the window. "Are you even listening to me?" Steve asked as he shoved Eddie's arm to get his attention. "Yes, oh my god I hear you.. jesus christ, why are you so mad?"
Eddie asked in an irritated tone as he finally turned to look at Steve. "Uh well, I guess I'm mad because you're talking behind my back and making me out to be some nymphomaniac and giving them the inside scoop on everything we've done." Steve said, his facial expression now matching his annoyed tone of voice. Eddie sighed and mumbled something under his breath.. "What did you say?" Steve asked, now glancing back and forth between Eddie and the road. "No Munson, go ahead, what is it?" He pressed.
Eddie rubbed his hands across his face, dragging them down slowly as his eyes shifted to look at the roof of the car, clearly over this entire conversation. "You're only mad because I told them the truth and you don't want them to know that you could possibly be attracted to me!" He yelled, now becoming annoyed as well. Steve looked over at Eddie, surprised at his response, he then looked back at the road. "And that's a bad thing? I don't think it's any of their business what I do or who I do it with and I'd appreciate it if you'd have some decency about you and keep that shit to yourself." Steve said, never taking his eyes off the road. Eddie started to reply but instead just pressed his tongue to the corner of his mouth and shook his head as he let out a wry chuckle, turning his head to look out the window again. The rest of the ride was quiet. As they arrived, Steve was all too eager to get out of the car..
He slammed the door shut behind him and walked into the store, causing Eddie to jump. Moments later the rest of the gang arrived,
Dustin pulling his bike up next to Eddie's door and motioning for him to roll the window down. Eddie sighed and rolled it down an inch or two. "Did Steve already go in?" He asked, Eddie nodded with a smile, "Yep.. he just couldn't wait to get away from me thanks to Wheeler and his big mouth." Eddie snarled. Dustin furrowed his brow and glanced at Mike before looking back at Eddie,
"Well I mean.. you were kind of pushing it man.." Dustin said, trying to reason with him. Eddie raised his hand and rubbed his temple before pointing that same hand in Dustin's direction, "You know damn well I was just teasing and that's all.. christ.. when did you all get so serious?" He said with a smile. Dustin nodded, "Yeah I know, but you know how fickled Mike can be.." He replied,
"Listen, man.. you know I don't care what you do and I'm gonna have your back no matter what. But maybe just try to tone it down a little? At least until Steve is more mellowed out about it." He said, using that as his exit point and riding his bike up to the front of the store and going inside to join Steve. Eddie sat there, thinking over what Dustin had said.. Maybe he did get too ahead of himself. He got out of the car and walked over to Mike and the others who were standing close by waiting on Dustin and Steve to come back out. Mike looked at Eddie in anticipation, waiting to see what he was going to do or say next.. "Hey man,
look I'm sorry about earlier.. You know I was just kidding around.." Eddie said, "It was just funny to me how grossed out you were like you had walked in on your parents screwing or something.. but anyway, I shouldn't have told you guys any of that."
He said as he offered his hand out as a truce. Mike glanced at Lucas before placing his hand in Eddie's. "It's okay dude.." Mike said with a smile. Eddie smiled back as he gripped Mike's hand tighter and took a step closer to him, Mike looked up at Eddie confused.
"But now thanks to you, I'm gonna have to apologize to Harrington and talk about...feelings." He said, changing his voice to say the word mockingly, "So you're gonna pay for that." He said before turning to walk back to the car. Mike stood in silence for a minute,
the realization hitting him that he had no clue what was coming as he looked over to Lucas who was just as stunned, "Oh shit.."
Mike said, wishing now that he would've kept his mouth shut.
Inside as the boys had gathered all the snacks and sat them on the counter, the cashier rang everything up and gave them their total.
Steve looked at Dustin who looked back at Steve with a smile as he pulled his swimming truck pockets inside out, Steve rolled his eyes and took out his wallet and paid for their snacks. They gathered their bags and grabbed some ice from the cooler outside as they walked over to Steve's car, Steve leaned into the backseat and grabbed the cooler, not even looking at Eddie. He walked back to the front of the car and began filling the cooler. Eddie watched them through the windshield as Steve sat everything down on the hood of the car. It was miserable outside, hair sticking to Steve's face while he stood out in the blistering sun filling the cooler with all the drinks and ice.. He reached his hands down and grabbed the bottom of his shirt and pulled it over his head, taking it off, wiping his forehead before slinging it onto the hood while he finished what he was doing. Eddie smirked as he continued to watch him, bringing his hand up and placing his thumb against his lips.. His mind racing as his eyes trailed from Steve's face down to where the top of his pants lay flush against his pelvis. After getting everything shoved in to the small cooler, Steve opened the back door and sat it in the floorboard behind the driver's seat. Dustin and the other kids already riding off, heading to the pool, Steve got back inside the car and started to pull out of the parking lot. Eddie put his hand on top of Steve's while he was gripping the gear shift, Steve looked down at their hands touching then up to meet Eddie's eyes. "Listen.. I'm sorry for everything." Eddie said,
genuine remorse beaming from his face, "I shouldn't have said anything, not behind your back especially.. Do you forgive me?"
He asked in a calm, low voice. Steve huffed, still upset that he'd spilled the beans and all the kids knew about them now.. but he smiled endearingly and nodded. "Yeah, I forgive you. Just don't go around calling me your bitch anymore.." Steve said, half kidding as he continued to drive away from the store. Eddie smiled and leaned back into his seat, "Well that isn't what I actually said anyway.." Steve looking both ways for oncoming cars, "Oh yeah, what did you say?" He said calmly as he waited for a car to drive passed so he could pull out onto the road. Eddie squinted one eye as he scratched his head nervously, anticipating another argument, "Uh... I said you were begging me not to stop and I had to fuck you three times before I could get some sleep.." He replied,
looking over at Steve with an apologetic smile. Steve slammed the brakes, jostling them both forward. "YOU WHAT?!"
The kids all pulled up and parked their bikes as they arrived at the pool, they paused before dropping their bikes to the ground,
looking around for Steve & Eddie. "Where are they? They're in a car, they should've gotten here first." Dustin said. "Maybe they pulled over somewhere to bone again." Lucas said with a chuckle, Will and Max joining him in laughter. "Well let's hope it's a quickie because I'm melting out here.." Mike said. Just then Steve's car came barreling into the parking lot, they could hear shouting as the car approached them. "AND IF YOU THINK THAT'S HAPPENING AGAIN YOU'RE DEAD WRONG BUDDY,
DEAD WRONG!" Steve shouted as the car parked and Steve got out and slammed the door. The kids watched on in shock as he grabbed the cooler from the backseat, slamming that door as well and walked up to them. "What?! Let's go already.." He said as he walked passed them through the gate. They all watched as he stormed away, eyes wide and blinking profusely.. Turning their attention back to the car to see Eddie getting out, grabbing a gym bag from the floorboard and slamming the door, a disgruntled expression on his face. "Shit.." He muttered to himself as he slung the bag over his shoulder and walked up to them. "You..
oohhhh you.." He said menacingly as he pointed a finger at Mike, Mike glanced at the others and back at Eddie as he approached him.
"I..." He started to speak but closed his mouth and eyes, his hand previously pointing a finger at Mike now closed tightly into a fist, he took a deep breath nd looked at the group in front of him, "Welp, it appears that I'm in the doghouse kiddos.." He said,
throwing his arms up in defeat. Max raised an eyebrow, "Why?" She asked curiously. He sighed and smiled, "I told him what I actually said to you guys earlier and he blew a fucking gasket." He said as he dropped his arms to his sides. "And you're mad at me for that? That's your own fault, Eddie." Mike said. Eddie rolled his eyes as he started walking through the gate toward the pool. "Did you apologize?" Will asked, trying to help resolve the issue. Eddie nodded, "Yep. A couple times.. when I could get a word in." He replied as he turned to walk into the men's locker room. Max and El staying behind as the boys walked in together,
Max leaned forward to shout into the locker room so they could hear her. "Did you tell him we didn't care? That it doesn't matter to us whatsoever?" She asked, also trying to help. "YEP." Eddie replied from inside the locker room. While Eddie stood inside a changing room to put on his swimming shorts, Dustin who was sitting on a nearby bench offered his opinion. "What if you told him that we thought it was a joke and the only reason Mike brought it up was because he didn't find it as funny as we did?"
He asked, thinking it was a plausible solution. "Already tried that too, Henderson.. He didn't believe me." Eddie replied from inside the stall. Eleven stepped forward beside Max outside the entrance to the locker room, "What if you did something nice for him as an apology?" She asked, "Sometimes when Hop does something Joyce doesn't like, he buys her flowers or surprises her with a night out to make up for it." She said. Eddie stepped out of the stall, now wearing his black trunks, he stood there a minute before walking outside the locker room and appearing in front of the two girls, the boys following behind him. "Do you think that would work? I mean not the flowers, but giving him a gift?" He asked, a quizzical look on his face. El nodded and smiled,
"It works when Hop does it." She said. Eddie glanced at Max and the boys, waiting for their opinion. "It couldn't hurt to try."
Max said, agreeing with El. Dustin and Will nodded, "That's definitely what you should do." Dustin said, "Steve loves gifts. I do it everytime I piss him off.. Works like a charm." He said with a big smile. Mike shrugged and Lucas interjectred, "The question is, what do you get him as an apology for embarrassing him?" He asked. Eddie smiled, "I have an idea." He said as he walked away,
going to sit in the shade and continue pondering his idea. The kids followed behind him, each of them going off to dive into the pool and go down the waterslide. Steve was already in the pool, having changed while Eddie and the kids were still by the car talking.
He laid back, propped against the siding of the pool, sunglasses on and head leaned back, enjoying the cool water. Eddie sat nearby, coming up with what he was going to do to try and make peace with Steve. He really didn't like fighting, especially not over something he considered so trivial.. And he really didn't want to be in the doghouse, considering Steve swore off any physical contact because Eddie wouldn't keep his mouth shut. As he sat there twirling his hair, tongue sticking out of his mouth and resting on his upper lip while he was deep in thought, he noticed a girl approaching Steve. Switching his expression from contemplation to interest in what was unfolding in front of him. He leered at the two as he scooted forward, his curiosity turning to rage as he watched the girl sit by Steve, her feet in the water and a big smile on her face as the two talked and laughed. Max took a break from splashing Lucas in the face to glance over and see if the lovebirds had made up yet, her smile dropping quickly as she saw what was going on.. Her eyes darted over to Eddie and she saw he was *fuming*. "Oh shit.." She said audibly, Lucas and Will stopped goofing off and followed her gaze to see what she saw, after getting a glimpse of the situation, Will swam over to nudge Mike and point in Eddie's direction. Mike and El looked confused as they turned to see what Will was pointing at, both of them now looking wide eyed at the scene before them. They hastily swam to the side of the pool and hopped out, grabbing Dustin from his current place in line for the diving board. "Dustin.." Max said as she jerked his arm, turning him around to face her, "Quick question.. Is Eddie the type to cause a scene if he's angry.. or jealous?" She asked, the expression on her face seeming like she was just asking a random question. "Eddie?" Dustin laughed, "Uh.. I wouldn't put it passed him.. This is the same guy who got kicked out of the mall for fighting with Jeff because he heard a rumor he was playing with another D&D party." He said. Max tilted her head and pointed across the pool, "Well then I think we may have a problem." She said. Dustin squinted his eyes and followed her direction to see the steam practically shooting from Eddie's ears and Steve chatting it up with some girl, he squinted again to try and make out who it was but the sun was blinding him.. "Oh shit" He said, his expression showing worry. They began trying to make their way through the crowd to get to Eddie before he got them all kicked out.
Eddie shot up from his seat on the low set brick wall he was sitting on and marched up to stand above Steve and the short haired girl giggling by the pool. "HI." He said loudly, interrupting their conversation and causing them to look up at him, startled by his loud voice. "What's up?" He said, his facial expression doing him no favors to hide his jealousy, "Who are you?" He asked the girl in a crude tone. She scoffed at the audacity of this guy, "I'm Robin." She said as she looked up at him, shielding her eyes from the bright sun with her hand. "Eddie.." Steve started to introduce them formally but Eddie put his hand out, cutting him off.
Steve put his hands up, deciding to let it play out. "Who is this, Steve?" Robin asked, glancing over at Steve. "Robin, this is Eddie.
Eddie, this is Robin." Steve said, "Eddie, Robin is the friend of mine I was telling you about. We work at the movie place together."
Eddie glared at Steve and looked back at Robin, still reeking of jealousy and annoyance. Robin laughed as she looked from Eddie's facial expression back to Steve, immediately figuring out he was intimidated. She stood up and leaned close to Eddie, "Easy there tough guy... He's not my type." She said. Eddie looking at her somewhat confused, Robin looked Eddie in the eyes waiting for it to register in his brain what she was hinting at. Eddie stood there, mind empty, no thoughts. She sighed and leaned into his ear and whispered, "I'm a lesbian, dude.. I like girls." Eddie's eyes shot open wide, his cheeks blushed as he was now super embarrassed for almost causing a scene. "Oh..." He said, his tone entirely different now. Steve shook his head as Robin began laughing. She looked down at Steve who was still in the pool, "He's territorial, isn't he?" She asked jokingly. The kids finally made it over to join the three older teens. "Oh, it's just Robin.." Dustin said with a relieved sigh. Robin scoffed, "Wow, don't be so excited to see me." She said. Eddie turned heel and immediately walked back to where he was sitting, mumbling the whole time as he walked away, "Shit shit shit.." He was totally embarrassed that his first meeting of Steve's best friend went so awkwardly because he thought they had something going on. Robin motioned her hand in Eddie's direction, "Is he always so brutish?" She asked but got no response. "Hello? Earth to dingus.. You alright down there?" She asked Steve, noticing he seemed in a daze as he was gazing at Eddie sitting all alone. Steve looked up at her and nodded, "Yeah.. I'm just gonna go check on Eddie." He replied as he climbed out of the pool and walked over to sit beside Eddie. "You okay?" Steve asked, leaning down to try and make eye contact with him.
Eddie moved his hands from in front of his face and leaned back, "I kinda fucked that up, didn't I?" He asked, almost rhetorically.
"Nah.." Steve replied, leaning back as well. "Robin's cool.. In fact you might've met your match when it comes to being the group asshole." He said jokingly, trying to get Eddie to smile, which he accomplished. Eddie smiled slightly and sighed, "Ughhh...
I don't know what happened. I just saw her and you and then you guys were laughing and.." Steve grinned, "Eddie Munson,
did I just make you jealous?" Steve asked mockingly. "Nooo.." Eddie replied immediately, not trying to be taunted about it.
Steve laughed, "Oh yeah, I think I did. You're totally jealous! You thought I was flirting with her!" He said with a chuckle. "Shut up I did not!" Eddie replied, his cheeks blushed a light shade of red. The others looked on before Robin asked, "So what's the real deal here?" Max and El looked around to see who was going to answer that.. "They're kind of a thing now, we think.."
"Wow.." Robin said surprised, "So the idiot's batting for the other team now, huh? Oh, I'm gonna have to know every detail of how this happened." She laughed.
"Look, I know I screwed up.. but will you please just come back to my place tonight? I wanna make it up to you." Eddie said,
trying his best to show his sincerity. Steve took a deep breath, "I told you, I'm not giving you any more ammo to torment the kids with and I meant it." He replied seriously. Eddie rolled his eyes, "Okay number one, that's not what I meant.. and number two.. you'll fold." He said with a smirk. Steve looked away and sighed, not knowing what Eddie had up his sleeve or if he wanted any part in it.. "Please?" Eddie asked again, big puppy dog eyes staring Steve down, moving to be in his peripheral vision.
Steve turned to look at him again, Eddie pooched out his lower lip.. Steve laughed, "I don't know..." He said. Eddie grasped his chest and dropped to his knees in front of the other boy, "Pleaseeeeeee?" He asked again, in a loud sing song voice. Steve put his hands in front of himself, shushing Eddie "Alright, alright... get up.." He said as he looked around to make sure no one was staring. Eddie grinned and stood to his feet, offering Steve his hand which Steve quickly swatted away and stood on his own.
"It's a date." Eddie said with a smile before starting to walk off to join the others, "Hey! I've gotta go to my house first and get some clothes.. I'm not sleeping in a dirty band tshirt again." Steve said, Eddie waved his hand in dismissal, "Whatever you say, princess."
He said before cannonballing into the pool.
Robin used this as her chance to walk over to Steve and get the scoop about what was going on between him and the weird, heavy metal guy.. "Hey.." She whispered as she appeared beside Steve, making him jump slightly. "Ah.. What?" He asked. "So the brats are saying you and the Munson boy are an item now.. That true?" Steve blushed and stumbled over his words, "W-What? Ha, nooo.. He's not.. we're not.." Robin's smile grew wider as she watched him struggle to answer the simple question, she punched his shoulder. "Wha..OW ROBIN! What did we talk about.. about the hitting?" Steve said. "You *like* him! You're totally in love with him." She said emphatically. Steve shook his head and scrunched his nose but didn't say anything. She let out a soft chuckle, "YOU DO LIKE HIM! Oh my god, when did this happen? You've got to tell me everything I need to know every detail of how you met and how this happened.. How long has it been going on? Oh my god, was this happening last weekend? Is that why I had to pull a double?
Was this why you didn't come in yesterday and I had to cover your shift?.." "Robin.." Steve tried to chime in, "I can't believe it why didn't you tell me? I mean, me of all people, the last to find out.." "ROBIN!" Steve shouted, finally gaining her attention and getting her to let him speak. "..Sorry." She said. Steve nodded, "It's fine.. Look, I'm not sure what this is yet.. We haven't talked about anything like that yet. I'm not sure if we're going to because I don't know what this is." He replied to one of her many questions. "Have you uh... you know.. huh?" Robin asked, making obscene gestures with her hands.. "Oh my god.." Steve said,
grabbing her hands then letting go. "Have you?" She asked again, grinning ear to ear waiting for his response. Steve blushed and let out a nervous chuckle. "Oh. My. God." She replied, "Steve! You little harlot!" She said jokingly. "Alright alright, enough girl talk.. What the hell do I do?" Robin raised her eyebrow, "What do you mean?" She asked. Steve scratched the back of his neck,
causing the hair covering the side of his neck to brush back with his hand. Robin gasped and touched his neck, seeing the *numerous* amount of hickeys, she brushed his hair back on the other side to see even more. "Wow, you've got a matching set."
She continued teasing. Steve swatted her hands away and continued venting, "Robin, focus.. c'mon, this is really important." He said in a serious tone of voice. "You're right, you're right.. we'll talk about all the slutty details later, sorry. Continue." She said. Steve sighed,
"I don't know what to make out of all this.. I mean, it all happened so fast you know. I mean, one minute I'm picking him and Henderson up from school to drop them off, and the next thing I know I'm spending the night curled up in bed with Eddie Munson.."
"Whoaaa" Robin interrupted again, "You spent the night? Cuddling? Dude, that's your boyfriend now." She said. "ROBIN I'M SERIOUS!" He shouted. "I'm really confused here.." She rolled her eyes.. "Okay, I'm gonna ask you some questions and you just say the first thing that pops in your head." Steve sighed, "Robin I'm really not in the mood for a Cosmo questionaire..." He said,
tired of talking in circles. "No no no, This will help you, I promise." He sighed again, but agreed. "Okay, how do you feel when you're around him?" She asked. "I dunno..Happy, I guess? I mean, he's really funny in a nerdy kind of way. I mean, we laugh and joke alot but I can also have a serious conversation with him too." He answered. "Okay, okay... And how do you feel about the sex?" She asked in a serious tone. "Robin!" He said, thinking she was once again just trying to hear gossip. "C'mon it's a serious question." She explained. "Ughh...It's fine, the sex is good okay?... The sex is really good, actually.." He trailed off. Robin chuckled to herself before continuing, "What do you think about when you see him?" She asked. Steve looked away from her to look at Eddie, who was shoving the other kids into the pool. Smiling and jumping in behind them.. Steve continued watching him, a smile spreading across his face as he watched Eddie climbing out of the pool, shaking the water from his hair and throwing his head back,
his hair falling onto his back and shoulders as he locked eyes with Steve and they shared a flirty wave. Eddie blowing him a kiss,
Steve chuckled and winked back flirtatiously.. Laughing as he watched Eddie grab his chest again, as if he were swooning over the wink and falling back into the pool dramatically. Robin never taking her eyes off of Steve, watching how he looked at Eddie adoringly as she waited for his answer. "...I think he's amazing." Steve finally replied in a softspoken and sincere tone. Robin smiled,
"Hey, dingus.." She said in a gentle manner, matching his tone. Steve turned to look at her briefly before looking back at Eddie.
"I think you already know what to do." She said, smiling ear to ear, truly happy that her friend seemed so smitten.
"Alright kiddies, gather round.." Eddie said, calling all the kids over to him in the corner of the pool away from all the other people.
"What?" Max said, the rest of the gang also swimming to Eddie. "I'm gonna need you guyses help.. Harrington is wanting to stop by his house on the way back to mine, and I need you guys to beat us there and do something for me.." They all shared the same concerned look. "You're not gonna ask us to drop off condoms are you?" Mike asked with a grimace. "No no.." Eddie said, Mike sighing with relief, "I've got plenty of those." He said, causing Mike to say ew audibly. "No, I need you guys to look in the cabinet under the sink, there's a box with Christmas decorations in it, I need you to gather all the lights and hang them throughout the house.."
The kids nodded in agreement as Eddie continued, "Then in my room, just turn on my lamp, I already have it covered with a red scarf so just leave the overhead light off.. Everything else I can handle when we get there. Okay? You guys in?" He asked, looking between the six of them with his big doe eyes, waiting for their answer. "Sure, we can do that for you Eddie." Dustin said with a smile. "Perfect.." Eddie said, turning to lock eyes with Steve once more, "I hope this goes well..".