Dandelions

Evan Buckley

Edited 27/10/2025

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Buck leaned back, soaking in the sun's warmth on his face, eyes shut tight as a smile danced across his lips. The breeze tousled his hair, and he couldn't help but let out a quiet, delighted hum, reveling in the simple pleasure of the moment.

His recent escapade to Italy had been just what the doctor ordered after a rough patch. Italy was a haven where he could eat his fill of pizza, indulge in gelato until he was practically floating, and—oh—the men. Italian men had a way about them that was downright intoxicating. Buck couldn't help but grin at the memory of their charming antics, their flirty whispers of tesoro still echoing in his mind.

A shiver ran down his spine at the recollection, almost drawing a moan from him. Since he'd moved to LA, his romantic life had been rather lackluster. As much as he enjoyed the company of women, nothing quite compared to the allure of a tall, dark, and devilishly handsome Italian man.

Sue him—he had a type.

Speaking of tall, dark, handsome devils, Buck chuckled as he checked his ringing cell.
"Hi, Eddie! How's LA?"

"Crowded, damp, still as crazy as the day you left," Eddie joked, making Buck laugh. "How's Rome?"

"Oh, I'm in Venice right now," Buck corrected. "Rome was beautiful though! I saw the Vatican, the Trevi Fountain, the Colosseum, and all those museums open to the public."

"Since when are you interested in museums?" Eddie barked a laugh. Buck had always preferred something more hands-on—zoos, aquariums, or anything involving movement.

"Since there's a Giovanni showing them to me," Buck replied, wiggling his eyebrows even though Eddie couldn't see him.

"Oh, it's Giovanni now? Last week it was Arthur," Eddie teased, and Buck smiled at how easy it was to joke about this stuff with him.

"Well, Arthur was at a conference in Rome and had to go back to London," Buck said, his smirk widening. "Though, he did give me his contact info in case I ever find myself in London."

"Are you planning to?" Eddie asked, clearly amused.

Buck laughed again. "Maybe I'll take a detour on my way back. You know I love a good accent on my men."

"Right," Eddie chuckled. "I'm glad you're enjoying yourself. God knows you've earned a vacation. Though I have to ask—why the sudden interest in men?"

"It's not sudden," Buck sighed, leaning back in his chair and smiling at the waitress as she placed an espresso in front of him on the café's patio. "It's just been a coincidence that I've only dated girls since moving to LA. Even Buck 1.0 had his fair share of both the female and male population of Los Angeles."

He huffed a laugh and took a sip of his coffee, practically moaning at the taste. There was nothing like freshly brewed Italian espresso.

"But lately dating's been hard," he admitted. "Abby, Ali, Valerie, Taylor, and now Natalia—it's like I'm cursed. So, I decided to take a little break from women and try my luck with men."

"Dios, this Natalia chick must have been una loca," Eddie hissed emphatically. "Not only did she make you run away to Italy, but she made you swear off women!"

Buck threw his head back and laughed, tension easing off his body in a way only Eddie was capable of managing. "Natalia was not that bad."

Eddie snorted in disbelief. "Are you kidding me, Buck? She's a Death Doula!"

"Okay, okay! So maybe she was a bit eccentric, but—" Buck chuckled as Eddie muttered "a bit?" under his breath before continuing. "But many people find her aid helpful... just not me."