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“You clean up nice.” Buck gave Theo’s miniature sky blue tie one last playful tug and sat back on his heels.
Theo wrinkled his nose in confusion. “I didn’t clean anything, I just got dressed.” He pulled on the starched collar of his white shirt, tie immediately askew. “How long do I have to wear this? It’s itchy.”
Buck started to ruffle his hair, then realized he was undoing the half hour of hard work he’d put in to get it to stay in place. “Just for a little while, kiddo. Then you can take it off, I promise.”
Theo rolled his eyes and clambered up onto Buck’s bed, flopping down dramatically. His pants were wrinkling already. “Don’t call me kiddo! I’m not four anymore.”
“Oh, sorry. ‘Mr. Big Five Year Old,’ is that better?”
“Bu-uck!”
“Okay, okay. I just meant you look great. You can take off the jacket until we have to go out-”
It was pointless to say, because Theo was already shedding his little gray suit jacket and starting to run away.
“Hey, hold on a second! I wanna talk to you!”
He grabbed Theo by the waist as he tried to leap out the door, wrestling him to the ground. Theo dissolved into giggles, hair and tie already done for. It would be a miracle if he made it through the afternoon without staining his shirt, but Buck was laughing too. He couldn’t bring himself to care much about stains and scuffs and messy hair on a day like this.
“Wait, okay, wait!” He released the boy, and they both sat on the floor, backs against the foot of the bed, gray trouser-clad legs stretched out in front of them, feet flopping out to the sides. One pair of sneakers, and a much larger pair of shiny dress shoes. Buck nudged Theo’s shoulder with his elbow.
“I wanted to talk to you. I know this is a big day. There are lots of people out there who love you, and want to celebrate with us, and it’s gonna be great. But if you start to feel like it’s too much, and you need a break, just tell me, okay?”
“Okay.”
“This first part might feel a little long and boring, but it’ll be over soon. And I need you up there with me, you have an important job to do.”
Theo looked dubious. “Just standing, right?”
“Yeah, but really important standing.”
“And then party!” Theo’s face lit up.
“Yes, then party.”
“And cake!” Theo jumped up and started for the door again, as if the cake were already waiting for him on the other side.
“And cake. Love you, kiddo.”
“Not kiddo!”
Buck grabbed him by the ankle. “Love you, man. Dude. Bro. Buddy. Pal.”
Theo fell down onto the plush rug, cackling. “Bu-uuck!”
A soft knock on the door interrupted their roughhousing. “Everything okay in there?”
And then the door opened, and Buck forgot to breathe for a moment, because Eddie was standing above him.
Eddie, in a warm tan suit jacket, hair perfectly arranged, pale blue tie matching Buck’s and Theo’s but neatly knotted around his neck, glowing with happiness. “I thought you guys were getting ready? Christopher’s waiting in the kitchen. Even the teenager is faster than you guys.”
And oops, Buck realized he was only half dressed, still in his undershirt, curls going wild from their wrestling match. Theo, pristine a few minutes ago, was already rumpled and somehow missing one shoe. He sprang to his feet, barely able to take his eyes off Eddie.
“We were. Are. Almost ready.” Buck grabbed his dress shirt off the bed and pulled it on.
“Hey, hi. Come here.” Eddie stopped him in his tracks, pulling Buck into a kiss and starting to fasten his buttons for him.
“Hi.” Buck’s thoughts went hazy momentarily before he came back to himself. “Not that I’m complaining, but isn’t this bad luck or something?”
Eddie laughed, a soft exhale Buck could feel on his neck. It made him shiver.
“I don’t think we need luck. It’s never really been our thing, anyway.” He finished with the buttons and smoothed Buck’s collar down. “I wanted to see you.”
Buck couldn’t argue with that. He leaned back in to kiss Eddie again, intertwining their fingers. He could feel Eddie’s smile against his lips.
“I should get out there. Everyone’s in the backyard already. Maddie’s coming to get you in a few minutes.” Eddie swiveled at the waist, but kept his lower body pinned against Buck’s like he couldn’t bear to part yet. “Come on, Theo.”
Theo was at the dresser, building pyramids out of rolled up socks, used to Buck and Eddie’s mushiness. He was now missing both shoes. “Coming.” He didn’t move.
“Grab your shoes, kiddo. We have to go.”
Theo finally gave up on his project and retrieved his sneakers from under the bed.
“What, so Eddie can call you kiddo but I can’t?”
Theo shrugged. “Yep.” He ran out the door, finally freed.
Eddie picked up Theo’s suit jacket with one hand, the other one still firmly clasped around Buck’s. He turned back to give Buck a parting kiss, grinning so wide their teeth knocked together. Buck didn’t mind in the slightest. “See you out there.” One more kiss. “You’re gonna be stuck with me now, Buckley.”
Buck squeezed his hand one last time before letting it drop. “Can’t wait.”