Buddie: Partners in Fire

Chapter 129

Scene: Eddie’s Room

Eddie stood in front of the full-length mirror, taking a deep breath as he adjusted his cuffs for the third time. His navy suit, tailored perfectly to his broad frame, felt like armor—strong, reliable, the kind of suit that made him feel grounded. But underneath, his heart was racing. He stared at his reflection, trying to calm the flurry of emotions running through him. This wasn’t a battlefield, but somehow, he felt more nervous than he had before any mission.

Across the room, Chimney lounged on the edge of the bed, watching Eddie with a grin. He had been there to offer moral support, though mostly it had consisted of teasing jabs and bad jokes in an effort to keep the mood light. Eddie appreciated it, though. The last thing he needed was to spiral into his own thoughts.

Chimney (grinning): “Man, you clean up nice. Buck’s gonna lose it when he sees you.”

Eddie glanced over his shoulder, a half-smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. He couldn’t help but think about Buck and how he might look right now, in his own room, probably fussing over something small like his hair or his tie. The image of Buck, all nerves and excitement, made Eddie’s stomach flip in the best way possible.

Eddie (smiling, his voice a bit quieter): “I hope so.”

He turned back to the mirror, smoothing his hands down the front of his jacket. His fingers lingered on the lapel, thinking about what this day meant—not just for him, but for Christopher, for the family they had built together. He felt the weight of the moment, heavy and meaningful, but also the lightness of knowing this was exactly where he was supposed to be.

Chimney stood up, moving closer to Eddie, his grin softening into something more sincere. He could sense the gravity of the moment, the way Eddie’s usual calm exterior was faltering just a little, revealing the depth of what today truly meant to him.

Chimney (teasing, but with warmth): “Oh, he will. Trust me. Buck’s probably just as nervous as you are right now, if not more.”

Eddie chuckled, shaking his head as he adjusted his tie, trying to focus on the small task rather than the knot forming in his stomach. Nerves bubbled up inside him again, but they were a different kind of nerves—excited, anticipatory. He wasn’t afraid. He was just… ready.

Eddie (laughing, a bit sheepishly): “I think we’re both nervous wrecks.”

Chimney nodded, stepping up beside him and leaning against the dresser, crossing his arms over his chest as he looked at Eddie through the mirror.

Chimney (more seriously): “You’ve got every right to be. This is a big day, man. But if there’s one thing I know about you and Buck, it’s that you’re solid. You’ve always had each other’s backs, no matter what. Today? It’s just making that official.”

Eddie looked down for a moment, absorbing Chimney’s words. He felt the truth of them sink into his bones. He and Buck had been through so much together—fires, rescues, raising Christopher, almost losing each other more times than he cared to count. And through it all, there had always been Buck. Solid, steady, right there by his side.

He smiled, this time wider, the nerves softening into something warm and sure. He didn’t need to be afraid of today. He didn’t need to worry about whether things would go perfectly. He just needed to get out there and see Buck. Because when they were together, everything always made sense.

Eddie (taking a deep breath, his voice steady now): “I just want to get out there and see him. Make it real.”

Chimney straightened, sensing the shift in Eddie’s demeanor, the way his friend had gone from nervous to resolute in a matter of seconds. He clapped Eddie on the back, the sound loud and reassuring in the quiet room.

Chimney (grinning, with a twinkle in his eye): “Then let’s go. It’s showtime.”

Eddie paused, glancing at Chimney with a small smile. But instead of immediately heading for the door, he took one last moment to stand in front of the mirror, his eyes trailing over the image staring back at him. It wasn’t just about looking good for Buck—though that was part of it. It was about what this day meant. The culmination of years of friendship, partnership, love, and trust.

He thought about Christopher, how his son would be sitting in the front row, watching him and Buck make this promise to each other. He thought about how much Buck had done for their little family, how he had stepped into their lives and filled a space Eddie hadn’t even known was empty until Buck was there.

Chimney (gently, sensing Eddie’s thoughts): “Christopher is gonna be proud of you, you know. He already is.”

Eddie’s throat tightened at that. He glanced over at Chimney, his eyes soft with emotion.

Eddie (quietly, nodding): “Yeah. I know.”

The two stood there for a moment in comfortable silence, the weight of the day settling over them like a soft blanket. Eddie felt a rush of gratitude for Chimney’s presence, for the way he managed to be both the comic relief and the emotional anchor when it was needed most.

Finally, Eddie took a deep breath, rolling his shoulders back as he turned toward the door.

Eddie (with a calm smile): “Let’s do this.”

Chimney laughed, opening the door with a flourish as he led the way out into the hallway.

Chimney (grinning over his shoulder): “You’re gonna knock Buck off his feet, man.”

Eddie laughed, shaking his head but feeling the excitement build again. He could picture Buck now, standing at the altar, looking so handsome and a little bit anxious, just like Eddie felt. But the second they saw each other, Eddie knew all the nerves would melt away. It would just be them—like it always had been.

As they walked down the corridor, heading toward the biggest moment of his life, Eddie felt a calmness wash over him. Everything was going to be okay. More than okay. Today, he was going to marry the man he loved, the man who had become his partner in every way that mattered.

And that was all he needed.