fuck buddies

6

Eddie stood frozen in the doorway, staring at Shannon in disbelief. His mind raced, trying to make sense of her sudden appearance.

"What are you doing here, Shannon?" Eddie sighed as he let her inside. He glanced past her, half-expecting to see Buck standing there. When he wasn't, he quickly shut the door and turned around to lean against it as he crossed his arms.

"I, um, I wanted to talk to you," Shannon replied, shifting nervously on her feet.

Eddie's heart sank at her words. He knew from experience that Shannon showing up unannounced usually meant trouble. Despite the years that had passed since their divorce, their relationship remained strained, marked by unresolved issues and lingering resentment.

Eddie had full custody of Christopher after the divorce, Shannon not wanting to be a part of his life. In fact, Eddie has barely heard from Shannon over the last 3 years. Sometimes here and there she would reach out and ask how Chris was doing, but those texts got more and more rare as the years passed.

"Can it wait? I'm kind of in the middle of something," Eddie said, gesturing vaguely back into the apartment.

Shannon's gaze followed his gesture, and her eyes narrowed slightly as she noticed the disheveled state of the living room. She noticed two half empty glasses of wine sitting on the table.

"Is someone here?" she asked, her voice taking on an accusatory edge.

Eddie hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal. He and Buck had agreed to keep their arrangement discreet, especially given the complexities of their dynamic. The last thing he wanted was to involve Shannon in their complicated mess. Hell, Shannon didn't even know he was into guys.

"It's not important," Eddie deflected, stepping back slightly to block her view.

Shannon's brow furrowed in frustration, but she didn't press the issue further. Instead, she took a deep breath, steeling herself for whatever conversation she had come to have.

"Eddie.. I miss you. I miss Christopher."

Eddie's eyes narrowed as he listened to Shannon's words, skepticism bubbling up within him. He had heard similar sentiments from her before, each time followed by disappointment and frustration. Yet, a small part of him couldn't help but soften at the mention of Christopher.

"You know the arrangement we have. I have full custody."

Shannon's expression faltered, a flicker of disappointment crossing her features before she quickly masked it with a forced smile. "I know, Eddie. And I respect that. But that doesn't mean I can't miss him, can't miss you."

Eddie sighed, feeling a pang of guilt tug at his heartstrings. Despite their history, Shannon was still Christopher's mother, and Eddie couldn't deny her the right to miss their son. But at the same time, he couldn't ignore the bitterness that lingered between them, a constant reminder of their failed marriage.

"I know things haven't been easy between us," Eddie started, his voice heavy with regret. "But we have to put Christopher first. We owe him that much."

Shannon nodded, her expression somber. "You're right, Eddie. I just... I would love if you'd give me a chance and let me see my son sometimes."

Eddie regarded her silently, weighing her words carefully. Despite his reservations, he couldn't deny the sincerity in Shannon's voice, the desperation to mend their fractured relationship. He also knew Christopher missed his mom.

"I don't know Shannon," Eddie sighed, his tone guarded. "I can think about it."

Shannon's face lit up with hope as she reached out and placed a hand on Eddie's arm. "Thank you, Eddie. That's all I ask."