Sideways

Chapter 1. Eddie Makes His Choice

Late Night Hours, Thursday Morning, November 16th, 2022

"Officially responsible for the creation of new life," says Buck's voice from the speaker on Eddie's iPhone.

"Uh, I guess maybe that's easier when you can just say I am going to be a father."

He didn't just fucking say that. I must be hearing things, Eddie thought to himself as he sat leaning against the foot of his couch, button-mashing and listening to his best friend, his Buck, the most important person in his life (well, adult), utter the dumbest shit he could ever possibly say.

Eddie has a microsecond to be thankful they aren't all Facetiming as he feels the blood drain from his face before he hears Hen ask.

"Whoa, Whoa, Whoa, Kameron and Connor are pregnant?"

"Yes, they are having a baby," replies Buck.

"Congratulations! Uh, wait. Do we congratulate you? Asks Chim in an excited but confused voice.

"I don't know. It feels weird to congratulate him," Eddie says, trying and failing to keep the sassy tone out of his voice.

"Feels weirder not to," Chim follows with. "Eddie's right; the etiquette rules are kind of hazy."

"Uh, m-maybe we should see what Bobby thinks," says Buck.

Eddie knows he is deflecting. Textbook Buck, he deflects when people are not reacting as he wants them to. But honestly, what else did he expect? Did he really think everyone was going to jump for joy here?

"You guys think he's still awake?" asks Buck.

"Pretty sure after the day he had, he ain't sleeping," Eddie states.

"Hang on, Hang on." comes out of the speaker in Hen's voice. They can hear her fiddling with her phone, obviously trying to add Bobby to the call.

Eddie continues to button mash, trying to find something to do with himself because he knows it won't go well if he starts voicing his feelings right now. Oddly, Hen can't get Bobby on the call. He has a moment to hope Bobby is all right before he sighs out loud while rubbing his temples with his fingers. "I'll try and take a nap. Chris is going to be up in an hour. Hey, I'll see you guys tomorrow." and stabs the end button on his phone much harder than he needs to.

He gets up off the floor in front of his couch, moves the pillow away from the back, and lays his head on it. PlayStation controller lying on his chest, he stares at the ceiling with thoughts running through his head. He has so many conflicting feelings about this fucking situation Buck has gotten himself into. Well, he has a lot of feelings about Buck in general.

Eddie knows he needs to shut his mind off, or sleep will never find him. His eyes are burning after the long day they all had. So, he starts some calming and breathing techniques Frank taught him, and within a few minutes, he feels the darkness take him.

What feels like seconds later, he hears the alarm on his phone go off, still sitting on the table where he left it. He sits up, and his foot hits the controller he dropped to the floor during his nap.

Eddie gets up, picks up the controller, and stretches, immediately feeling his back and shoulder stiffness. "Fuck." he mutters, knowing he will be sore from that small nap on the couch. He should have stayed up because now he will be out of whack all day.

Walking down the hall towards Chris' room, he gently taps on the door. "Mijo, it's time to get up for school."

"I am already awake, D-Dad," Comes Christopher's sleepy and yawning voice.

"Go jump in the shower. I'll make you some scrambled eggs for breakfast, yeah?" Eddie says.

"Can I have the cheesy kind Buck makes with hot sauce?" Chris asks. "Sure, thing Mijo."