Chosen Family (Buddie)

Chapter 5

Buck goes to his loft to pack with Quinton. He checks the mail and heads inside. He places Quinton into the playpen. He opens the mail and it's an invite to TK Strand's wedding to Carlos Reyes in Austin, Texas.

Buck met TK a few years ago during some wild fires in San Antonio, Texas. They hit it off instantly and at a barbecue at Judd and Grace Ryder's, he and Carlos helped Buck realize he was bisexual and in love with Eddie. He and TK have been in touch ever since then and they've become close friends. They talk every single day, sometimes once every other day. Carlos was jealous at first but then he messaged Buck and then they became friends.

Buck grabs his phone and he calls TK. While the phone rings, he grabs the baby monitor and goes upstairs.

"Hey, man!" TK greets excitedly as he plops down on a couch at the station.

Buck drops his phone onto his bed beside the monitor once it's on speaker. "I got your wedding invite," he says. "I have two weddings in two months. My sister and you."

"Does that mean you're coming?" TK asks excitedly. "You can bring Quinton. Eddie can be your plus one. But I could put plus two, for Quinton."

"That'd be great," Buck replies and he starts packing. "Who proposed to who?"

"I did it," TK admits.

"Who's that?" Owen Strand, TK's father, asks.

"It's Buck! From the 118 in Los Angeles," TK replies. "He's RSVP'ing."

"Hi, Buckley!" Paul and Judd yell at the same time.

"O woke Carlos up in the middle of the night and I proposed," TK informs his friend. "He said Yes, obviously."

"Clearly," Buck replies. "Quinton and I are moving in with Eddie and his son. His place is safer for a baby."

"Awe, you're moving in with your future lover?" TK teases.
~~~

"Buck?" TK frowns. He pulls the phone away and he scoffs. "Asshole. He hung up on me."

"What did you expect?" Paul muses. "He was scared enough to admit to himself he loved Diaz. Imagine telling him in person."

"It's been years!" TK exclaims. "But he's bringing Eddie as his plus one to the wedding. And Quinton."

"Who's Quinton?" Marjan asks.

"Buck's son," TK replies. "He was a sperm donor for some friends, and they both changed their minds. It was him or put him into the system. Buck's taking him in. He's a good guy. Eddie will be a lucky man if he ever nuts up and sees what's right in front of him."

"You're feisty," Carlos comments.

"Buck called," TK says. "He's coming to the wedding."

"Your friendship with him makes me worry about that," Carlos says and TK frowns. "You two planned to steal a firetruck together."

TK grins. "He's just as bad as I am," he says.

"And it's gonna make for a fun wedding," Judd comments. "My Gracie adores Buck."

"Who doesn't?" TK asks. "He's hot, and he's funny. I'm not ashamed to say that."

"I agree," Carlos says with a shrug.

Everyone cackles.