Sideways

Chapter 41 Diaz V. Mackey

Monday, July 10 th

"DAD!" Christopher exclaims. "I am going to robotics camp for three weeks. I'm not moving back to Texas!"

"Yeah, but..." Eddie's voice trails off as he tries to think how to explain how he is feeling about this. Putting his feelings into words is still something he struggles with, and realistically, Christopher knows how loved he is. He has to, right? By now, Christopher must know that Eddie would move heaven and earth for him. Right? His son had to know that Eddie would do anything, give up anything to make him happy and give him the tools he needed to succeed.

Realistically, this is Eddie's issue to work through, not his son's. Christopher is growing up, and Eddie needs to learn how to deal with him doing things independently. He looks around quickly, and from the sad looks on Buck, Cole, and Wes' faces, he is happy to notice that he's not the only one having separation anxiety and struggling with his son going off on his own for three fucking weeks!

Christopher playfully huffs an annoyed breath and eyes Buck, "Buck, get your husband under control." The preteen says, his voice dripping with enough sass to pass a DNA test proving he is, in fact, Eddie Diaz's son.

"Chris, you need to understand..." Buck starts to say as he turns his hands, palms up in a pleading gesture.

"Oh, Jesus, not you, too!" Chris exclaims, now huffing in annoyance before turning to face Cole and then to Wes. His voice is filled with despair as he realizes he is in a no-win situation. He shakes his mopey-haired head from side to side, rolls his eyes, and finally gives in, "Fine, but you only get one hug each, and that's it! My friends will see!" He holds his pointer finger up, waving in front of each of the adults, reinforcing the one-hug limit.

Eddie smiles, knowing they have won this round. He takes a knee and immediately pulls his son into an embrace. "Are you sure you have everything you need?"

"Yes, Dad." Christopher huffs in his now patented and copyrighted, annoyed, preteen voice.

"Don't forget; we aren't leaving for our trip for a while. If you need anything..."

"You and Buck will show up at camp and embarrass me." Chris deadpans, tilting his head. "Yeah, I know. I have been trying to forget."

Eddie pushes back from their embrace; he knows his son is pushing him for a reaction. Father and son look at each other with matching dirty looks, a Diaz standoff. Eddie raises an eyebrow, and Chris mirrors him, like father, like son. Eddie crosses his arms, rolls his eyes, and huffs in annoyance, forcing Christopher to laugh genuinely.

Christopher's annoyed voice softens, him now knowing it was time to actually say goodbye. "I'm good, Dad. I promise I will call if I need anything." He steps in, dropping his crutches, wrapping his arms around his father's midsection, squeezing as hard as he can, giving Eddie a real hug this time, ignoring his one hug each limit. "And if I need anything while you are away, I will call Tia Maddie or Tia Pepa; I got it." He says, looking at Buck as Eddie releases him, and he steps closer to Buck, the taller man wrapping his arms around the pre-teen's mid-section, lifting him off his feet while Eddie picks up Chris' crutches off the ground.

"You stay safe, Superman. Please promise me you will stay safe; no crazy science projects without me." Buck pleads, putting their son back down.

"I promise. I would never do that without you. I mean, who will I blame for the mess if you are not there." Christopher crosses his heart playfully and teases, smiling genuinely at Buck.

Buck's mouth falls open, shocked at what he just heard, and then he snaps it shut, "Keep it up, you little shit. We will see who talks your dad into letting you go to camp next year."