Sideways

Chapter 6 Lightning Crashes, AKA Secret Buddie Vs. The Buckleys

Thursday, Thanksgiving

Realistically, they should have seen it coming. Things had been going too well. Maddie and Chim were doing well. Hen and Karen were solid, with Karen fully healed up after the accident in the lab. Chris was growing way too fast. Eddie was in a good place mentally. It had been years since Buck had been hurt. Best of all, they were together; not only were they together, but they had beautiful platinum wedding bands to prove it. The universe finally let them cross that bridge.

So naturally, that's when the shit needs to hit the fan, and the shit didn't just hit the fan; it was like a Mack truck full of shit crashed into one of those giant wind turbines, and well, you get the picture.

The alarm on Buck's phone goes off promptly at 8 am. They had gotten in just before 2 am. Buck rolls over and shakes Eddie. "Eddie, we need to get up. We need to shower and head to Maddie's. I need to stop at the loft for clothes. They are already going to be up waiting for us." No sooner does Buck finish the sentence when his phone rings. "Make it stop." Eddie says and pulls the pillow over his head.

"Morning Maddie, yes, we are up. No, we weren't out too late. Actually, I'm not sure what time Albert went home. Yeah, I'm with Eddie. He's jumping in the shower now. I need to stop at the loft to change on my way to you. We will be there in about an hour. Yes, I'll make breakfast for everyone when I get there. Love you too.

"Come on, Eds, we need to get a move on. If you get up right now, we can shower together." That's just the motivation Eddie needs to get himself moving. Finally, Eddie is up and walking down the hallway to the bathroom. "If l I knew all I had to do to get you out of bed was promise to shower together, I would have offered it years ago." Buck jokes as he joins Eddie in the bathroom. Eddie strips as soon as Buck enters," Right, shutting up now." They reluctantly dry off, not having had much time to do much more than actually clean themselves.

Eddie is dressed to impress with gray slacks and a navy blue button-down. He makes sure to tuck his ring under his shirt.

Twenty minutes later, they are pulling into the loft's parking garage. Buck promises not to be long and leaves Eddie in the Jeep. He texts Adriana, Sophia, and Pepa, wishing them a Happy Thanksgiving to pass the time. Then, taking a moment to himself, he loads up his Spotify account, searching for the song from last night. Finally, he finds the song and pairs his phone with the Jeep's stereo to listen to it again. He is surprised to find a whole first verse to the song they didn't hear last night. This first verse hits Eddie differently. The lyrics last night made Eddie think of himself and then both of them together. This first verse makes Eddie think solely of Buck. He replays the song a few times while waiting for Buck.

Motion catches Eddie's eye in the mirror of the Jeep, and he sees Buck walking toward him. Buck is dressed in khaki pants, a green sweater over a light blue button-down, and his famous white sneakers. Buck opens the driver's side door to join Eddie in the Jeep. Buck sits next to Eddie, and a smile brightens his face as soon as he recognizes the song. "You really did like the song, huh?" Not able to find his words for a moment, Eddie nods in agreement. "Well, let's get a move on. Superman needs his breakfast."

Just before they arrive at Maddie's, a call rings out through the Jeep's sound system. Eddie picks up the phone to see who is calling, and they both smile.

"Hola, Pepa. Happy Thanksgiving." Eddie says out loud.

"Hola Nieto" says Abuela.

"Hola, Abuela, Happy Thanksgiving!"

"How are you, Eddito? Pepa said you messaged her. I wanted to check in and see how you and my angel are?"

"I am very good Abuela. Chris is good too. We are on our way to him now. Chris and I are spending the day with Buck's sister, Chimney, and their family."