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The clanging noise makes her frown as she walks through the open bay doors of the 118. The only one who ever used the heavy weights that made that noise were Buck. The last thing she wanted was to deal with a sweaty Buck. Unless he’d just finished making her come, he was disgusting when he was covered in sweat-- smelly and gross and too slick.
She lets out a sigh and starts towards the gym, stumbling over her feet when she sees the handsome, dark-haired, young man working with the weights. He’s got a slightly smaller build than Buck and she can’t help but lick her lips. He’s beautiful, more so than she’d ever thought Buck was. No birthmarks maring a perfect face. And when he lifts his shirt to wipe off his face, she sees what she swears is an eight pack-- minimum.
“Abby!”
Abby jolts from her staring session and turns towards the sound of Buck stampeding down the stairs. For a moment, she wonders what face she must’ve made at the sound of his voice, because he falters at the bottom of the steps before he continues towards her. “You’re home! It’s so good to see you! I’ve missed you!”
And she’s being swept off her feet into strong arms, but every part of her wants to be swept up by the other man instead, regardless of how sweaty he is. She’d bet her last dollar that even sweaty, that man smells wonderful and is just the right amount of slick. She pushes away from Buck, forcing a smile on her face. “I missed you too. I notice you have a new teammate. Introduce me.”
Buck’s grin falters and he sets her down, pulling back a little. “Eddie, come meet my girlfriend.”
‘Eddie,’ she thinks to herself, watching the man push off the weight bench and start for them. She smiles, her most seductive look-- the one that brought the men in Europe to their knees. Not that she’ll share that tidbit with Buck, but it’s a good smile and she’s sure that Eddie will fall for it too.
He glances at her, looking her over, then focuses on Buck, giving him the smile she’d been sure she’d receive. “So, she’s not invisible after all, huh?”
Buck gives Eddie a little smirk, sliding his arm around her waist and she pulls away a little. Eddie’s reached them by now, so Abby pulls away completely and holds her hand out, shivering a little when Eddie reaches out to take her hand. He nods at her, then focuses back on Buck. “You gonna spot me now, or what?”
“Abby’s here, Eds.” He claps Eddie on the shoulder. “Abby, you hungry? Cap and I made lunch for everyone and there’s enough for you too.”
“Sure. Are you joining us, Eddie?” Abby can’t help giving him another once over. He’s as sexy as any man she’d run into during her trip in Europe. And she’d had plenty of men. Grown men who made Buck look like an immature child.
Eddie looks back at her again. “I already ate. I was Bobby’s taste tester.” He doesn’t even smile. Abby isn’t deterred though. She’ll just have to invite the man over to her apartment for dinner. After all, she should get to know Buck’s new teammate.
“Liar,” Buck says. Abby looks up at Buck, frowning at the soft look the two share. If she didn’t know Buck was straight, she’d think he had a crush on Eddie. Not to mention, there was no way any man as sexy as Eddie would be gay. “We’re having corned beef and cabbage and you hate cooked cabbage.”
“I had some corned beef and potatoes and carrots.” Eddie grins. “I’m good. I’m going to hop in the shower and stock the ambo.”
Buck bites his lip and nods. “‘Kay. Want me to save you some dessert?”
“Did you make it?”
“Yeah,” Buck says, cheeks flushing. He shifts from foot to foot and Abby can’t help but wonder when he started cooking. “I made cream puffs. Bobby helped me perfect the pâte à choux finally. They’re pretty good. Light and fluffy.”
“I will definitely be up to eat your cream puffs.” Eddie’s smile widens and he reaches out, squeezing Buck’s shoulder. “Now, let me go shower in peace.”
Buck nods and leads Abby up the stairs. She continues watching Eddie as he makes his way to the locker room. She’s never been more thankful for glass than she is as she watches him strip off his shirt. She makes a noise and Buck stops. “You okay, Abby?”
“Yeah, just… I forgot how many stairs there are in here.” She forces a smile up at him and pats his arm.
“Right.” He leads her the rest of the way up the stairs.
She says hi to the rest of the crew, sitting down at the counter when Bobby offers her a bite of the corned beef. They’re just finishing the main part of the meal when Buck bounds to his feet. Abby rolls her eyes a little. She’d forgotten about his endless energy; another mark against him in her opinion. She wants a man, not a child. Which means she’ll have to find a way to break up with him eventually. Maybe before she gets Eddie in her bed. She turns to watch Buck, biting her bottom lip when she sees Eddie join him in the kitchen. She licks her lips a little, mostly ignoring the rest of the team. She misses the way Bobby looks over at Hen and Chimney, misses the murmured “what the fuck,” from Hen and the “do we tell him” from Chimney. She’s too focused on watching her soon-to-be ex-boyfriend handing over a plate of what look like professionally made pastries to the handsome new member of the 118.
Eddie glances her way, taking a deep breath before he focuses back on Buck. “So, that’s the girlfriend, huh?”
“Yeah. I’m so happy she’s back. I think, if we get off work on time, I’ll show off my new cooking skills and make her dinner tonight.” Buck beams at his best friend. “I might even have to skip out on Friday movie night if she wants to go out or something.”
Eddie nods. “Well, you’ll have to tell Chris if that’s what happens.” He looks over at Abby again. “These look incredible, Buck.”
“Try one!” Buck grabs a second plate, heading for the table. “And here, we have cream puffs for dessert. Bobby said they’re halfway decent, so I figure I did pretty good,” he adds, setting the plate in front of Abby. He beams at her and she gives him a half smile, taking one of the cream puffs.
She sets it aside, then serves herself some of the dinner, glancing at Eddie as frequently as she can. She licks her lips and smiles, batting her eyelashes when she catches Eddie looking her way. She looks away and when she looks back, he’s already focused on something else.
After dinner, which somehow isn’t interrupted, Abby helps clear the dishes, offering to help Eddie wash. He raises an eyebrow and shakes his head. “You can help Chim. It’s his turn to wash the dishes.” He sets the plate in his hands down then grabs another cream puff, going to Buck’s side. “Buck, these are phenomenal. You have to come make these for Chris, Abuela, and Pepa.”
“You think Abuela and Pepa would enjoy them?”
“They’d love them,” he says, glancing back at Abby. “I’m gonna go read for a while until we get called out.”
“Cool. I’m gonna go help Abby and Chim with dishes.” He claps Eddie on the shoulder with a laugh, bouncing off to the kitchen. Eddie sighs and makes his way downstairs.
Abby smiles half-heartedly at Chim as she loads up the dishwasher. “Is dinner around here usually so…”
“Do not use the Q word,” Chimney snaps. “Just… don’t.”
“I was going to say fancy. Corned beef and cabbage, with carrots and potatoes.”
“Don’t forget Buck’s cream puffs,” Chimney says, glancing over at her. “But yeah. If we have the time, Bobby usually spoils us pretty good. With Buck’s assistance most of the time.”
“Since when does Buck cook?” Abby glances over when she hears Buck laugh. “He was still pretty immature a few months ago.”
“He’s a different man now. Not so much a kid anymore.” Chimney leans against the counter, raising an eyebrow at her. “Why are you back, Abby? We were all pretty sure that you were done with him. It’s been over a year.”
“What’s it your business? I’m back and Buck is obviously happy to see me.”
“Yeah, but you’re not happy to see him,” Chimney says, crossing his arms across his chest. “You’ve spent more time watching Eddie and trying to flirt with Eddie than you have even speaking to Buck. So what gives?”
“None of your business,” she snaps. She smiles brightly-- fakely but Chimeny can’t know that-- when Buck approaches. “Hi.”
“Here to… Well, I was here to help with dishes but you’re apparently done,” Buck says, moving to Abby’s side and sliding his arm around her waist. “Wanna go cuddle on the couch?”
Abby pats his chest. “I need to get going. But I’d love it if you could swing by my new place after you’re done today. I have to call dispatch and see if I can get my old job back.”
“Yeah. I should be getting off work around 6 tonight. I can make you dinner. I know how much you love chicken parmigiana and Bobby’s taught me how to make it.”
Abby continues smiling, wondering how quickly she can get away from him to go ask Eddie out. “Sure. Sounds good.” As Buck moves to walk her out, Hen calls him over. “I’ll see you tonight,” she says. She hurries down the stairs, finding Eddie in the gym. She moves over to him, giving him another coy smile. “So, when are you free to take me to dinner?”
“Uh…” He shakes his head, frowning at her as she moves closer and starts stroking his chest. He pushes her hand away and steps back. “Don’t touch me.”
“Eddie, I’m breaking up with Buck. He’s too immature for me. I saw you looking at me.”
“No, you didn’t. You’re with Buck. And even if you weren’t, you’re too old for me. Also, what the fuck is wrong with you? You have Buck, who is handsome and sweet and funny and caring and you’re standing here groping me and hitting on me. Lady, you’re a fucking mess. Stay the fuck away from me, because it’s not happening.” Eddie turns his back on Abby who narrows her eyes. She can’t believe this little punk is turning her down and calling her old.
“How dare you?” she yells, turning him back to face her. She grabs his hand, putting it on her breast. “You sick fuck! I told you no! I’m with Buck!” She slaps Eddie as hard as possible.
When she hears thundering steps down the stairs, she turns, breath heaving as she spots Buck running up. “Oh, Buck! Thank God!”
Buck pulls away from her, scowling. “Seriously? I saw the whole thing, Abby. You were groping his chest, he turned you down and then suddenly, he’s touching you, even though you’re the one who put his hand on your breast? Get out of my firehouse, Abby. I can’t… Oh my God, I can’t believe you.” He pushes past her, reaching for Eddie. “You okay? She slapped you pretty hard.”
“Yeah.” Eddie smiles softly at Buck. “Could use some ice, I think. And maybe another cream puff?”
Buck laughs a little, leading Eddie away. “Let’s get you some ice, a cream puff, and a cup of hot cocoa.”
Abby lets out a little scream, turning to stomp off and running into Bobby. “What?”
“Things have changed, as you can see. Buck doesn’t need you anymore. He would’ve given you everything he gave before and more. But he has the team. And more importantly, he has Eddie.” Bobby points to where Buck and Eddie are standing too close, Buck holding an ice pack to Eddie’s jaw and fussing over him. “You could’ve had him again, but he’ll never choose you above everyone else he has now. But you didn’t even come back for him, did you? You came back to “take” him back, but he would’ve been second to everything, because… what? Did you find some guy who was perfect for you, but that guy dumped you?”
At Abby’s scowl Bobby can’t help but grin brightly. “Yeah. That’s what happened. You found someone to replace Buck and when you got left behind the way you left Buck behind, you came back to get him back. Biggest mistake was thinking Buck would believe you over Eddie.”
“Actually, Cap, I think her biggest mistake was thinking that Eddie would want anything to do with her, given the way she treated our Buckaroo,” Chimney says, smirking at her. “I knew something was suspicious the way you kept ignoring Buck.”
“Of course she’s sus. She’s been gone over a year and just suddenly shows up? Then she’s flirting with Eddie over her own ex-boyfriend? Please.” Hen shakes her head. “Usually, I’d be on your side, Abby. I’m pretty secure when it comes to backing women, but you’re the worst sort of woman. You need to move on.”
“Who are you to tell me to move on?”
“How about I tell you to move on?” Buck says, rejoining them. “You left me in the dust, forgotten. I was so excited to see you, but the second you laid eyes on Eddie, you’ve all but ignored me. You think I didn’t notice that you were eyeing him up the whole time? I mean, I get it. He’s the worlds’ most beautiful man, but he’s also way out of your league. Out of most people’s leagues. So, you can go.”
“Why don’t we let Eddie decide if he’s out of my league?”
Eddie joins them, sliding his hand over Buck’s shoulder. “You want me to tell you I’m not interested? I’m not interested in you. In case you missed it, which obviously you did, I’ve only shown interest in one person in this building and that is this man right here.” He squeezes Buck’s shoulder. “So, bye.” He walks away, Buck blushing and following Eddie up to the kitchen.
Abby scoffs, but stomps out of the firehouse. She glances back, knowing that Eddie and Buck both lost the best thing they ever could’ve had.