Crash and Burn

Thursday

"You can do this!" Eddie thinks to himself as he sits in the driver's seat of his truck, trying to hype himself for his first date in years. Well, maybe not his first date in years; there was that poker night with Buck. But Buck is not an option. Nope. Get over it, Eddie. Not now, for that's for shit, sure. Maybe he never was. Eddie had clearly been reading things wrong.

But that poker night... Damn, that night. Eddie struggles to shake the thought off. He centers his breathing and calms himself once he feels more settled. He looks up and checks himself in the mirror, opens the door, and steps out of his truck, closing the door and locking it with his fob as he walks toward the front door of the restaurant.

Buck was moving on, and it was time for Eddie to do the same. Could Eddie sit by and shoot heart eyes at his best friend for the rest of his life, hoping he finally catches up? Sure, he could. And Marisol was nice. Sure, they don't really know anything about each other. Eddie knows her name, she likes to fix things (that sounds familiar), and the relationship she has with her brother seems kind of creepy.

Eddie's mind is still all over the place as he opens the door to the restaurant. Sure, this night with Marisol may be great. As long as it's not Ana all over again, part of the interactions already feels like an Eddie/Ana copy-paste. Eddie wants something great, not something "nice". He wants the chemistry and connection he has with Buck but with someone who actually wants him back.

Eddie has spent the last few weeks coming to terms with things. Pepa may not have been 100% right; Eddie isn't lonely. Not while he has Buck. Buck has filled that role in his life for so long. Maybe that's really why Ana and Taylor didn't work. Neither Buck nor Eddie was ready to give their whole heart to someone else when it, or part of it, already belonged to the other. But while Eddie is not exactly lonely. He is alone. It takes a lot for him to trust and let people in. Realistically, he has only ever let two people all the way in, Shannon and Buck.

Eddie's thoughts are broken by a voice. "Excuse me, sir, how can I help you?" Hostess asks.

"Um, we have a reservation for two at 8 pm," Eddie answers.

"Well, it's a little early. It's only ten, too. What is the name on the reservation?" The hostess asks.

Fuck. Eddie thinks to himself. I really am bad at this. I didn't even think to ask what Marisol's last name was. She made the reservation. "It's a first date. I'm not sure what her last name is. She made the reservation." Eddie answers, and the hostess raises her eyebrow at him.

"Well, I have three two top reservations for 8 pm. Lopez, a Smith, and a Flores."

Flores.... Nope... Eddie hears, and he feels a nervous flutter in his stomach. Ana is not here, and Marisol does not have the same last name. Nope. The Universe is not that cruel. It can't be. It's just a coincidence. "Can I just wait for her at the bar?" Eddie asks.

"You do that." The hostess says in a tone Eddie doesn't like.

Eddie steps over to the bar, pulls out a stool, and orders himself a club soda. He is driving tonight. So, even though he would love to have a drink to calm his nerves, he is not taking that chance. The 118 has had to clean up too many drunk driving calls, and Eddie will not be that guy.

He no sooner finishes his club soda when Marisol walks in, wearing a sundress that reminds Eddie way too much of Ana. He pays his tab and walks over to her to say hi. Not being sure how to greet her, he gets caught in a weird hug and handshake with her.

"Sorry," Eddie says as he rubs the back of his neck nervously.

"You're fine, Eddie." She answers, and they head over to the hostess.