training wheels. // evan 'buck' buckley

vi. late night connection

i could feel the welcoming atmosphere the moment i stepped into eddie’s backyard. the space was filled with the scent of grilling meat, the sound of laughter, and the warmth of friendship. eddie had invited the entire 118 crew for a small barbecue, a chance for them all to unwind together with their families, and i had arrived early to help out.

"hey, charlie!" eddie called out from the grill, his smile wide and welcoming. he was dressed casually in a t-shirt and jeans, flipping burgers like a pro. christopher was nearby, carefully setting out plates and condiments on a table. he looked up and beamed when he saw me.

"hey, chris!" i greeted him with a wave before turning to eddie. "what can i do to help?"

eddie gestured to the cooler full of drinks. "could you help chris with the drinks? and maybe keep an eye on him while i finish up here?"

"absolutely," i replied with a smile. i walked over to the cooler and started arranging the sodas and beers, making sure everything was within easy reach. me and christopher chatted as we worked, sharing jokes and stories about school and life in general.

as the rest of the crew started to arrive, the backyard quickly filled with the familiar faces of the 118 family. bobby and athena arrived with plates of homemade food, hen and karen brought their son, denny, and chimney was there, as always, cracking jokes and keeping everyone entertained. the atmosphere was light, the mood easy, and i felt myself relax into the warmth of it all.

after a while, eddie joined me at the table where i was helping karen arrange some side dishes. he grabbed a drink from the cooler and sat down beside me, taking a moment to enjoy the view of christopher playing with the other kids in the yard.

“how are you doing?” eddie asked, his tone casual but his eyes full of concern.

i paused, looking around at the happy scene before us. “honestly, i'm good. this feels like… home. more than i expected it to, you know?”

eddie nodded, his expression thoughtful. “i get that. moving to LA wasn’t easy for me either. it took me a long time to feel like i belonged.”

i looked at him, sensing there was more he wanted to say. “what was it like for you? moving here, i mean.”

eddie took a sip of his drink, his gaze distant as he recalled the past. “it was tough. i came here after shannon… after she left. i was still trying to figure out how to be a single dad, how to balance everything. i didn’t know anyone, didn’t have any family here except for chris.”

i listened, my heart aching for him. i knew bits and pieces of eddie’s past, but hearing it directly from him added weight to the story.

“how did you do it?” i asked softly, genuinely curious. “how did you make it work?”

eddie sighed, his eyes still fixed on the kids playing in the yard. “honestly, i don’t know. there were days when i felt like i was drowning, like i was failing chris and myself. but then i met bobby and the crew, and they became my support system. they were there for me when i needed them most.”

i nodded, understanding more than ever just how much this group meant to him. “they’re like family, huh?”

“yeah,” eddie said, finally turning to look at me. “they are. and so are you now, charlie. you’re part of this crazy, dysfunctional family, whether you like it or not.”

i laughed, the tension breaking with his words. “i think i like it,” i said with a smile.

eddie grinned, leaning back in his chair. “good. because we’re not letting you go.”