call your therapist. // eddie diaz

vi. you're losing me

eddie wasn’t trying to eavesdrop. he had just come back from a supply run, passing through the locker room when he heard familiar voices coming from the kitchen. hen’s distinct laugh caught his attention, followed by buck’s voice and then mine.

he hadn’t meant to stop walking, but the light-hearted banter made him pause just out of sight. hen asked me how things were going with “him,” and eddie’s brow furrowed. him? who were we talking about?

i replied, sounding relaxed. “he's good. things are really good, actually. it’s still pretty new, but we’ve been getting along great.”

eddie felt a strange twist in his stomach. who was i talking about?

buck chimed in, teasing, “you deserve it, especially after how chaotic things were with your last relationship.”

hen agreed, noting that it was nice to see me with someone good for me. eddie’s mind raced. i had a boyfriend? and he didn’t know?

the pieces began to fall into place. i was seeing someone - serious enough to go on trips with - and everyone else seemed to know. his grip on the paper bag tightened as buck asked about a trip i had planned, and i casually mentioned a weekend getaway with my boyfriend.

eddie’s heart sank as the reality set in. i had a boyfriend. buck and hen had known. and eddie, who had been working so closely with me, hadn’t.

before he could fully comprehend the rush of emotions - disappointment, confusion, and jealousy - his legs carried him into the kitchen.

“hey, guys,” eddie greeted, trying to sound casual despite the weight in his chest.

hen smiled warmly. “we were just catching up with veronica about her weekend plans.”

i looked at him, my smile soft. “yeah, just talking about a trip i’m taking.” eddie caught the slight pause, but he wasn’t sure if he was imagining it.

“oh, sounds fun,” eddie said, leaning against the counter as his eyes flicked between me and buck. “what’s the occasion?”

i shrugged. “no real occasion, just a little break.”

eddie’s heart tightened further. we'd been planning this trip for weeks, and he hadn’t known. buck chimed in with a joke, and hen teased me about needing time off, but eddie barely registered their words. he was stuck on how he had been left out of something so important.

“so, where are you headed?” buck asked.

“just a nice little cabin,” i replied, smiling over my cup of coffee. “nothing fancy, but it’ll be nice.”

eddie forced a smile. “i didn’t know you were seeing someone.”

i hesitated for only a second before responding, “yeah, we’ve been seeing each other for a little while now. it’s still pretty new.”

eddie nodded, though inside, everything felt wrong. “well, i hope it goes well,” he said, the words tasting bitter.

“thanks,” i said softly, the conversation shifting to lighter topics after that.

eddie remained quiet, his mind stuck on everything he had overheard. he hadn’t known i was seeing someone. and it wasn’t just that. he hadn’t known how serious it had become. he didn’t know why, but the fact that buck and hen knew and he didn’t, left a hollow feeling in his chest.

later, eddie found himself sitting alone outside on the station’s back steps, the cool breeze doing little to clear his thoughts. why did it bother him so much that i hadn’t told him? we weren’t dating. he had no claim over my personal life. but somehow, the fact that everyone else knew about this guy - this boyfriend - stung more than he cared to admit.