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“Eddie?”
Eddie Diaz’s head snapped around from where he had been looking towards the bathroom in the restaurant. The place was one that Eddie frequented with his son Christopher since the two of them had come to L.A. They hadn’t gone out for dinner much in Texas and so Eddie decided that he would take Chris out to dinner once a week.
A man was hovering by the open chair on the opposite side of the table. He was dressed in a t-shirt that was stretched across his chest, the buttons fighting for their life and dark pants that made the man’s legs look like they went on for miles. Eddie couldn’t help but let his gaze run up and down the man, heat rushing to his cheeks as he did.
“Yes,” Eddie said.
The smile that was directed at Eddie was one full of relief. He took the seat much to Eddie’s surprise, blue eyes bright in the dim lights of the restaurant. His curls were loose, and Eddie’s eyes were drawn to the splotch of pink that stained his skin above his eye.
“Sorry for keeping you waiting,” the man said, sounding slightly out of breath. “My last call ran long. Shark attack on the freeway.”
Eddie arched a brow. “Sorry. A shark attack on the freeway?”
“Oh yeah! The aquarium was releasing a rehabilitated shark back into the ocean, but they crashed on the freeway,” the man said excitedly. “It was crazy! It bit one of the workers but all he cared about was getting the shark to the ocean.”
Eddie blinked at the stranger across from, drawn in by the man’s enthusiasm. “What did you do?”
“Hooked the shark up the engine, doused it with our hoses and transported it to the ocean to set him free.” The man grinned widely. “We thought he wasn’t going to make it, but it did! He lived and now he’s back with all his friends.”
Eddie couldn’t help but grin at the stranger. “That’s amazing.”
“Yeah. It’s why I’m so late. We still had to clean up the scene.” Buck said. “I thought…when you stopped responding I thought you might have bailed. I’m glad you didn’t.” He gave Eddie a sincere smile that made Eddie’s heart flutter in his chest.
It occurred to Eddie just then that he had been mistaken for a date. Not that he minded in the slightest. “Oh – I think you have the wrong idea.”
The man’s face fell. “I – Maddie told you I was a firefighter, right? Sometime our calls run a little long and I can’t exactly bail mid-emergency you know. I really did try to get here as soon as possible.”
“Hey, no, that’s not your fault,” Eddie said quickly. He frowned at the pout on the man’s face. He wondered what the man’s previous dates had said about his profession and it made Eddie feel a rush of anger towards them. “You don’t have to apologise for that. You’re doing important work.”
The man looked a little relieved. “I’ll make it up to. Do you want another drink?” he nodded at Eddie’s empty glass.
“Yeah,” Eddie said before he could stop himself. “But wait. I think there has been some misunderstanding.”
The man frowned. “Oh. You, uh, change your mind about the date?”
“Your date is an idiot if they change their mind,” Eddie found himself blurting out and he felt his cheeks go burning hot.
The man blinked, a small smile pulling at his lips. “Yeah?”
Eddie found himself nodding. “Yeah. Except, I’m not your date.”
“But you’re Eddie,” the man frowned.
“I am,” Eddie confirmed. “But I’m not your date.”
The man’s eyes went wide with the realisation and his mouth dropped open. “Oh shit.” He looked around the restaurant, taking in the tables where other couples were dining.
Eddie watched as the man’s face fell, his heart tightening with guilt. “Sorry.”
The man shook his head. “No. I – God, I’m so sorry. My sister set me up on a date and she gave me a general description and I thought… I saw you and thought I’d hit the jackpot and God this is embarrassing.”
“I think I hit the jackpot,” Eddie blurted out. “And I’m glad you sat down.”
The man’s eyes widened. “Really?”
“Dad?”
Eddie whipped around at the sound of his son’s voice. He had been so caught up in the man that he had missed Chris coming back from the bathrooms.
“Hey,” Eddie said. “You all good?”
Chris nodded, swaying on his crutches as he looked at the man curiously. “Who’s this?”
“This is…” Eddie trailed off, realising he didn’t know the man’s name.
“Evan Buckley. But, uh, everyone calls me Buck.”
“Hi Buck,” Chris grinned. “Are you having dinner with us?”
Buck started to shake his head. “Uh, no, sorry. I sat down at the wrong table.”
“No, you didn’t,” Eddie said, feeling bold. “Would you like to join us for dinner?”
Buck looked between Eddie and Chris, surprise written on his face at the offer. “Are you sure?”
Eddie nodded. “Yeah. Your sister set you up on a date. I know this isn’t what you were expecting and your actual date is –“ Eddie gave Chris a quick look. “Wrong for leaving when they did. Maybe we could make it up to you. If you would like.”
Buck looked between them again before he slowly relaxed, a bright smile crossing his features. “I would really like that.”
“Great. Let’s get another chair.”
Buck quickly stood up, letting Chris take his seat back before hurrying to find another. Buck too his new seat, settling down between Eddie and Chris, giving them a shy smile. “Thanks.”
“No worries,” Eddie said. “Hey Chris, Buck was telling me about a shark he rescued today.”
Chris’s eyes went wide. “You did?”
With a look to Eddie, Buck retold his shark story, Chris hanging off every word. Eddie found himself entranced by Buck. He couldn’t believe what he had done. Eddie hadn’t dated anyone since Shannon. It had taken him a while to realise that he wasn’t quite a straight as he had always thought and while he had come to terms with that, he hadn’t met anyone who had been interested in. But seeing Buck, Eddie found his mouth going dry and his heart racing.
A waitress came by and took their orders and Buck turned to Eddie.
“So, what do you do?” Buck asked.
“We just moved to L.A,” Eddie explained.
“Dad’s going to be a firefighter too!” Chris cheered.
Buck’s face lit up. “Really? You’re in the academy?”
Eddie nodded. “Yeah. Nearly finished my training.”
“That’s amazing,” Buck beamed brightly. “Do you know what house you are going too?”
“Not yet,” Eddie said.
Buck nodded. “Hey. If you like, I could take you and Chris on a tour of my station. Give you both some insight of what it’s going to be like?”
“Can we dad?” Chris asked.
“That would be nice. Thanks,” Eddie grinned back.
Their meals were brought out and dinner continued to be fun. Buck was a hit with Christopher, answering the boys’ questions and engaging him in a way that Eddie rarely saw adults do. He didn’t try and offer to do anything for Chris, even as Chris struggled with his cutlery. Didn’t bat an eye when Chris got sauce all over his cheeks, just naturally handed him a napkin to wipe his face.
By the time the waitress cleared the plates, Eddie was pretty sure that he could fall in love with Evan Buckley. He was kind, generous, funny, and handsome and Eddie was glad that Buck’s date had bailed on him.
When the waitress brought them the bill, Buck grabbed it before Eddie could, giving the girl his card.
“Buck,” Eddie protested.
“No way,” Buck said. “I’m paying. This was…this was the best first date I’ve ever been on. Thank you, Eddie for inviting me to join you guys.”
“I’m paying for the second one then,” Eddie said firmly.
Buck smiled widely. “Yeah? You want to go on another date?”
Eddie nodded. “Yes.”
“Can I come too?” Chris asked.
Buck grinned. “I’d love that. Hey, maybe we could check out the zoo together.”
Chris beamed and Eddie felt himself ready to melt into a pile of goo. They left the restaurant together, Buck walking them to Eddie’s car. He waited as Eddie got Chris in the car and when the door was shut, Eddie turned to see Buck looking nervous.
“You know, we don’t have to go out again,” Buck said. “I get you were just trying to make me feel better after my date bailed and –“
Eddie surprised himself by leaning in and giving Buck a quick kiss.
Buck stopped mid-speech, hand reaching out to grab Eddie hip, kissing him back gently.
Eddie pulled away, his cheeks feeling hot. “We absolutely have to go out again.”
Buck laughed loudly, his smile bright. “Yeah, we really do.”
“I am so glad your sister set you up tonight,” Eddie said. “And I’m so glad I met you.”
“Here, my number,” Buck said. They quickly exchanged numbers and Buck pressed another quick kiss to Eddie’s lips before stepping back. “I had a really nice time.”
“Me too,” Eddie said. “So, zoo? Say Saturday?”
“I’ll be there,” Buck beamed. “Night, Eddie.”
“Night Buck,” Eddie beamed. He watched as Buck jogged away, heading to a jeep that was parked a few spaces away.
Eddie had never done anything this bold in his life (other than moving his son to L.A) and he was so glad he asked Buck to stay. Eddie might have been the wrong date, but he was so glad that he was. Moving to L.A had been the best decision he had ever made and he couldn’t wait to see Buck again.