Technical Foul

Untitled Part 1

Eds: What are you up to today?

Buck: Sitting here being miserable.

Eds: No, you're not. You're going to come to the park with me and Chris.

Buck: I'm gonna pass, Eddie. I'm just going to hit the gym and then wallow in my loneliness.

Eds: Stop being so dramatic. If you want a workout, I'll give you one.

Buck: Not sure you're willing to give me the kind of workout I'm looking for, Eddie.

Eds: How do you know unless you ask? 😉

Eds: I bet I can get you all hot and sweaty...😏

Buck: Um... Eds... you do realize who you are talking to, right...

Eds: I know exactly who I am talking to, Buck.

Eds: Come on, Buck... let's go for the title once and for all. 😈

Buck: Are you fucking with me right now?

Eds: First to 21... 🏀

Buck: Basketball... you want to fucking play basketball?

Eds: There are other ways we can go for the title...

Eds: Chris is supposed to hang out with his friends at the park. I figured you and I could get a workout in and talk. I know you're a little in your head after Natalia up and moved to New York out of nowhere.

Buck: Eds, I'm not really up to it. You're right; I'm kind of stuck in my head.

Eds: Ev, I miss you. We haven't hung out in a few weeks, not since the cemetery. After everything with Natalia and then things with Marisol crashed and burned, I think we could use some quality Buck and Eddie time.

Buck: Let me shower, and I'll scoop you both in the jeep.

Eds: Fuck yeah! See you soon!

Forty-five minutes later, Buck is pulling in beside Eddie's truck in front of his house on South Bedford Street. He doesn't even need to honk; just as he comes to a complete stop, the door flies open, and his favorite pre-teen walks out dressed in navy blue shorts and a red polo shirt.

Buck stops the engine, gets out, walks around the passenger side, and meets Christopher just as he gets to the jeep.

"Hey Buddy!" Buck says as he leans down and hugs Christopher. He takes a moment to enjoy this as he knows the days of Christopher openly accepting this type of affection are numbered. Sooner than later, Christopher will place Buck in the same box as Eddie and Pepa, and he will be too cool to hug him.

"Hey Buck! Dad said you weren't really up for hanging out today. Are you okay?" Christopher asks.

"Yeah, buddy. I've just been a little sad." Buck answers.

"Well, you should be here with us then. Family is always there for each other. Are you sad because your girlfriend left?" Christopher asks.

"Yeah, I mean, it was starting to feel like it wasn't working anyway, so I'm not surprised she left, too."

"Well, you'll always have me and Dad. You know that, right Buck?" Christopher asks.

If you would have asked Buck that question last year, he would have agreed. Eddie was the one stable thing in his life. With the exception of the lawsuit, he's always been there for Buck. But now, Buck isn't so sure. There has been something off between them for the last few months.