It was early evening when Tommy finally walked through the door of Buck's apartment, looking like death warmed over.

His hair was messy, his turnout jacket was slung over one shoulder, and his eyes were practically half-closed with exhaustion.

Buck was in the kitchen, standing next to Mindy Chen, who was sitting on the counter, legs crossed, sipping a dirty martini out of one of Buck's fancy cocktail glasses.

"Oh my god," Tommy groaned, dropping his jacket on the back of a chair.

Mindy's head tilted toward him. "Wow," she said. "You look like hell."

Tommy sighed, rubbing a hand down his face. "Thanks."

Buck's eyes softened. "Long shift?"

Tommy gave him a tired look. "I swear, if I see one more drunk college kid tonight, I'm quitting."

Buck smiled faintly. "Tough night?"

"You have no idea."

Mindy swirled the martini glass between her fingers. "I'm going to assume you're Tommy," she said casually.

Tommy's eyes flicked toward her. "Yeah."

Mindy's lips curved. "I'm Mindy. One of Buck's many best friends."

Tommy's eyebrows lifted. "Ah."

Buck grinned. "She's also the bad influence in my life."

Mindy smiled. "I wear that title proudly."

Tommy sighed, dragging a hand down his face. "I don't know how you're this energetic after working all day."

"Oh, I don't work," Mindy said brightly.

Tommy's eyebrows shot up. "Excuse me?"

"She's in fashion," Buck explained.

Mindy smiled lazily. "It's more of a lifestyle than a job."

Tommy's mouth twitched. "Of course it is."

Mindy's gaze slid toward Buck. "So, are you going to make me another martini or what?"

Buck smiled. "On it."

Tommy sighed and set the Whole Foods bag down on the kitchen counter. "I got groceries."

Buck's eyebrows lifted. "Ooh, did you get the good cheese?"

Tommy shot him a tired look. "Yes."

"Did you get the chocolate-covered pretzels?"

Tommy sighed. "Yes."

"The jalapeño hummus?"

Tommy's head snapped toward him. "Yes."

Buck's smile widened. "Wow. You do love me."

Tommy rolled his eyes as he started unloading the bag. "You know, we should have people over tonight."

Buck's eyes narrowed. "What kind of people?"

Tommy shrugged. "The usual suspects — Hen, Chimney, Bobby, Athena, Ravi, Maddie…"

Buck's head tilted. "That's a lot of people."

Tommy's eyes glinted. "You scared?"

Buck scoffed. "Please. I've survived worse."

Tommy's mouth twitched. "Oh, and you should invite your other friends too."

Buck's eyes sharpened. "What other friends?"

Tommy smirked. "Veronica, Ginny, JJ, Mindy—"

"Mindy's already here," Buck said.

Mindy smiled smugly. "And thriving."

Tommy raised his eyebrows. "Well, perfect. But under one condition."

Buck's gaze darkened. "What?"

Tommy's smile sharpened. "No Eddie."

Buck's mouth twisted. "Oh."

"Actually—" Tommy's eyes narrowed — "Eddie is banned."

"Banned?"

"Yes," Tommy said. "He's like the Black Plague. Unwanted and contagious."

Buck smiled faintly. "That seems a little harsh."

"Does it?" Tommy shot back.

Buck's mouth curled. "Okay, yeah, fair."

Mindy's eyes narrowed. "Wait — why are we banning Eddie?"

Tommy rolled his eyes. "Because he's being a jealous psychopath."

"Oh," Mindy said. "Obviously."

Buck sighed, setting down the martini glass. "Well, actually…"

Tommy's gaze sharpened. "Actually, what?"

Buck hesitated.

Mindy's eyes narrowed. "Oh, this is going to be good."

Buck sighed. "Okay. So. You know how I mentioned someone catfished me on Instagram?"

Tommy's head tilted. "Yeah?"

Buck's mouth curled. "The account was called Madison Welment."

Mindy's eyes widened. "Still an iconic name."

"And," Buck continued, "it was full of Karlie Kloss photos."

Tommy's eyes narrowed. "Okay…?"

"I… might have flirted back," Buck admitted.

Tommy's mouth dropped open. "You WHAT?"

Buck held up his hands. "I didn't know it was fake!"

Tommy's jaw tightened. "Wait… you actually thought some random supermodel was DMing you?"

Buck's face burned. "Listen—"

"Buck," Tommy said flatly. "Seriously?"

Buck's face twisted. "She was very convincing."

Tommy's mouth curled. "Oh my god."

Mindy grinned. "Oh, babe."

Buck rubbed a hand down his face. "Okay, the point is — I contacted Athena."

Tommy's eyes widened. "Athena?"

Buck smiled faintly. "She's looking into it."

Tommy's head tilted. "And you think…?"

Buck's eyes narrowed. "I think it's Eddie."

Tommy's mouth fell open.

"No," Mindy said. "Oh my god."

Buck nodded. "It makes sense."

Tommy scoffed. "No way."

"Yes way," Buck said.

Tommy's mouth twisted. "You're telling me that Eddie Diaz — father, firefighter, decorated war hero — took the time to create a fake Instagram account using Karlie Kloss photos just to catfish you?"

Buck smiled faintly. "Yes."

Tommy stared at him. "You're insane."

"No," Buck said. "I'm right."

Mindy's mouth was hanging open. "If this is true…"

Tommy's mouth curled. "Oh my god."

"And you know what?" Buck's eyes gleamed. "If Eddie shows up here tonight? He's done."

Tommy's mouth twitched. "You're dangerous."

Buck smiled. "I know."

Tommy sat back against the counter. "This is a level of toxic I wasn't prepared for."

"You better catch up," Mindy said, taking another sip of her martini.

Tommy's mouth curled. "So. We're still doing dinner?"

"Obviously," Buck said.

Mindy raised her glass. "Oh, this is going to be a disaster."

Tommy smiled darkly. "Let it burn."

Buck sent out the text invitations:

Buck: "Dinner at mine tonight. Bring booze."

Hen's reply was immediate:

Hen: "Who's cooking?"

Buck: "Tommy."

Hen: "In."

Chimney's reply:

Chimney: "As long as Tommy's cooking, I'm coming."

Athena's reply:

Athena: "I'll be there. With updates."

Maddie's reply:

Maddie: "Can't wait! ️"

JJ's reply:

JJ: "Say less."

Veronica's reply:

Veronica: "Do I need to wear black tie?"

Ginny's reply:

Ginny: "Can I bring John B.?"

Buck: "Absolutely not."

Buck smiled and put his phone down. His chest was still buzzing with leftover adrenaline.

"Okay," Buck said, standing up. "We're in business."

Tommy leaned back against the counter. "And if Eddie shows up?"

Buck's eyes narrowed. "We'll handle it."

Tommy's mouth curled. "I like when you're dangerous."

Buck smiled faintly. "I know."

Mindy lifted her glass. "To toxic behavior."

Buck's smile sharpened. "Cheers."