Work Text:
Wednesday 09:32 pm
Sal: I had a great time last night
Eddie: Me too
Sal: Can’t stop smiling
Eddie: ❤️
Thursday 10:38 pm
Sal: When can I see you?
Eddie: Can’t tonight
Eddie: You know I have Chris
Sal: I miss you
Eddie: I know
Eddie: I miss you too
Sal: Are you alone?
Eddie: Yeah, why?
Sal: Are you in bed?
Eddie: Yes
Sal: What are you wearing 😏
Eddie: You serious
Sal: Damn right I am
Sal: Horny out of my mind and can’t stop thinking about your sweet ass
Sal grinned when he saw Eddie’s profile picture show up on the video call screen, and admired his face for a second before he picked up.
“Hey, gorgeous,” Sal said as he held up his phone to show his face and bare chest. He could only see Eddie’s face, however, his phone was held too close. “Show me your body.”
“You’re impossible,” Eddie said, shaking his head fondly but obliging him. Sal devoured every inch of tan skin that appeared on his small phone screen, his cock springing up at the sight of Eddie’s naked body. He took his length in hand, stroking lazily as he switched to his rear camera to show Eddie how hard he was.
“Wish you were here, baby,” Sal muttered, keeping his focus on Eddie’s perfectly defined body, how Eddie’s hand was stroking his smooth chest, playing with his nipples. Sal turned his front camera back on, holding his phone back to show Eddie his own body
“Fuck, Daddy,” Eddie moaned as he bit his lower lip, closing his eyes for a second before he looked at him again. “You’re so hot.”
Eddie's hand went to the waistband of his briefs, pulling them down slowly, and Sal's breath hitched as he caught a glimpse of his erection outlined under the fabric. Sal’s eyes were riveted while Eddie lowered his phone and pulled his briefs down all the way. He took his cock in hand, stroking himself as his eyes were fixated on Sal's face.
“You’re a tease,” Sal said, watching Eddie’s movements. “Don’t stop.”
“Then don’t stop either,” Eddie shot back, the low tone of his voice sending shivers down Sal’s spine.
Sal grinned and continued to stroke himself, the image of Eddie’s body fuelling his lust. He shifted his hips, feeling his own erection throb in his hand, and moaned, “Fuck, baby, you’d be so good under me.”
“Wish you were here, Daddy,” Eddie said, moving his hand lower to tease his hole. “Wish you could fill me with your cock.”
“Soon, baby,” Sal promised, letting out a groan when he saw Eddie’s finger slip inside his tight hole. “I’m going to fill you full of my come.”
Eddie slipped a second finger inside and started to fuck himself hard and fast, his moans and their ragged breaths the only sounds that filled his room for a while. They both came at the same time, their groans echoing in the stillness of the night. Sal slumped against his pillow, his phone still in his hand, his breathing heavy. He looked at Eddie, who was also panting, his eyes closed.
“I miss you so much,” Sal said, his voice raspy.
Eddie opened his eyes, showing him how he yearned for his touch. “I wish you were here, too,” he said, a sad smile on his face. He glanced at the time on his phone, then back at Sal. “I should go to sleep.”
“Yeah, you should,” Sal said, his voice softer. “Talk to you later?”
“Yeah,” Eddie said, returning his smile. “Good night, Sal.”
“Good night, sweetheart,” Sal said, his heartbeat spiking up at the sight of Eddie’s eyes lighting up, and then the screen went black. Sal laid his phone on his chest, staring at the ceiling, a bitter taste in his mouth. Part of him feared this couldn’t last. He knew Eddie had a son, and a girlfriend that might become Chris’s stepmother in the future, but the thought of not being able to see him again felt like a knife twisting in his gut. He was falling for Eddie, and he didn’t know how to stop.
Sal picked up his phone again, scrolling through the hidden album he had created a while back, where he had compiled all the pictures he had taken of Eddie, stolen moments of their time together. He opened up their chat again, typing one last message.
Thursday 11:16 pm
Sal: Good night, baby 😘
Eddie: Night ❤️
Friday 11:47 pm
Sal: Hey
Eddie: Hi 😗
Sal: You going to Tommy’s tomorrow, right?
Eddie: Yeah, you?
Sal: Yeah
Can’t wait to see you
Been too long
Eddie: You sap 💕
I’m coming with Ana tho
Sal: Why
Eddie: Sal…
Sal: nvm
Forget I said anything
Eddie: Sal
Can’t wait to see you too
Good night 😘
Sal: Good night Eddie
Sal’s face felt hot, his heart thudding steadily and hard in his chest as he stared at the happy couple on the other side of the room. He balled his hands into tight fists, jaw clenched as he tried to swallow the lump in his throat.
“Hey, you alright?” Tommy’s voice and hand on his shoulder startled him. He turned to look at his old friend, meeting his concerned gaze.
“Yeah,” he muttered, looking away from the face that had occupied his mind for weeks.
“You know Eddie?” Tommy asked as he glanced in the direction Sal was staring just a few seconds ago.
“No,” Sal lied without missing a beat. “Who’s Eddie?”
“The guy you were staring at with your murder eyes,” Tommy said with a chuckle.
“I was not,” Sal protested, but was only met with Tommy’s amused look. He decided to change the subject. “Where’s your boy toy?”
“Don’t call him that,” Tommy said as he looked around the living room, looking for Buckley. When he found him, he called him over, and Sal watched Tommy’s boyfriend run over like an excited puppy. He felt a pang of longing when Buckley hugged Tommy and kissed him, their eyes sparkling with joy.
“Hey, Sal,” Buckley greeted him once he let go of his boyfriend’s lips. “Glad you made it. When did you get here?”
“About 30 minutes ago,” he answered, unable to stop himself from looking at Eddie when the latter burst into laughter. It sounded fake and rehearsed to Sal, not as carefree and natural as he remembered.
“Where’s Grant?” Tommy asked, wrapping an arm around Buckley’s waist.
“In New York,” Sal answered, pinching his lips in a thin line. His boyfriend was always away somewhere for work, and never bothered to offer Sal to come along—not that Sal could, with his own work schedule.
“I heard you two were thinking of moving in together,” Tommy said, to which Sal simply nodded, the lie feeling like a heavy stone in his gut. There was no way he and Grant would ever live together. Their relationship had been a slow, quiet death for months, and now Sal was just waiting for the final nail in the coffin. He couldn’t be bothered to even try anymore, not with his mind and heart so preoccupied with Eddie.
He excused himself to get another drink from the kitchen, needing to get away from the nauseating display of affection from his best friend and Buckly. He was tired of pretending. He felt like a fraud. As he poured himself a glass of whiskey, a small, quiet voice called his name from the doorway.
“Sal.”
His heart leaped into his throat. He turned around, and Eddie stood there, alone, with a small, shy smile on his face.
“Hey,” Sal said, his voice a little hoarse, his lips pulling up in a small smile despite himself. He couldn’t help himself, looking Eddie up and down. His lover looked scrumptious, wearing a dark green wool sweater so tight it highlighted his toned body, over beige khakis, equally tight. Sal’s eyes had been glued to Eddie’s ass from the moment he saw him. “You look good.”
“So do you,” Eddie said, stepping into the kitchen and closing the door behind him. The air instantly felt charged, thick with unspoken words and undeniable tension. “Ana went to the backyard to chat with the others.”
Sal nodded, taking a long sip of his whiskey. He couldn’t bring himself to look at Eddie, so he turned his back to him, afraid of what his body might do if he lost himself in those soulful brown eyes. He felt Eddie’s presence drawing closer, could feel his warm body behind him before his hand rested on his arm.
“Are you okay?” Eddie asked, his hot breath caressing his ear, his voice soft, full of concern.
Sal swallowed hard, finally looking at him. “No,” he admitted, the word a whisper. “I’m not.” He hated the lie he had to tell everyone, hated the way Eddie was with Ana, hated that he had to see them together.
Eddie’s thumb stroked his arm gently, the familiar gesture comforting. “What’s wrong?”
“I hate seeing you with her,” Sal blurted out, the words tumbling out before he could stop them. “I hate pretending we don’t know each other. I can’t pretend I don’t want you.” He turned around to face the other man, and took a step closer, their bodies almost touching.
Eddie’s eyes widened, and he bit his lip. “Sal,” he breathed, his hand leaving Sal’s arm to cup his face. Sal leaned into the touch, his eyes fluttering shut. “I know,” Eddie whispered. “I don’t like this any more than you do.”
Their lips met in a slow, desperate kiss, a culmination of all their combined pent-up desire, all the texts, the jerk-off sessions over video calls late at night. It was a kiss that tasted of whiskey and longing, of hidden desires and a forbidden sweetness. Sal wrapped his arms around Eddie’s waist, pulling him in close, deepening the kiss as if his life depended on it. He could feel Eddie's fingers digging into his hair, his body pressed against his. At last, with Eddie in his arms, Sal’s nerves dissipated, peace settling in his chest.
A loud laugh startled them, pulling them apart faster than they could blink. They moved to stand on opposite sides of the kitchen island, hearts beating fast as they stared at each other, before the kitchen door opened and Tommy stepped in.
“Hey, two of my favourite people,” Tommy said, holding an empty platter and a couple of glasses. “Sorry, I didn’t introduce you two earlier.”
“No worries, Tom, we just did,” Sal said, meeting Eddie’s gaze for a brief second before he turned to his friend.
“You guys good?” Tommy asked, cocking an eyebrow while he looked back and forth between them. “You look like you've seen a ghost.”
“We're fine,” Eddie said quickly, his voice a little strained. “Just getting to know each other.” He added as he shot Sal a nervous look.
“Right,” Tommy said, his eyes narrowing slightly as he glanced between them. “Well, I’m bringing out more appetisers. You guys need anything?”
“I'm good, thanks,” Sal said, picking up his glass and taking another long swallow of whiskey. The alcohol didn't taste as good now that they had almost been caught.
“I'm fine too, thanks, Tommy,” Eddie said, and before Tommy could say anything else, he added, “I think I'm going to get some fresh air, see you around.”
He gave them a quick smile and slipped out the door, a little too fast to be casual. Tommy watched him go, then turned to Sal, his amused look from earlier replaced with a serious one. “Okay, what just happened between you two?”
“Nothing,” Sal lied, trying to sound as nonchalant as possible. “I just met the guy, we were talking.”
“Right. You just met the guy you've been staring at all afternoon since you got here, and he came in here as soon as you walked in, looking for you,” Tommy said, his voice low. “And now he's running away like he's on fire. Don't lie to me, Sal. We've been friends for too long for that.”
Sal sighed, running a hand through his hair. He knew he couldn't lie to Tommy’s face. Tommy was one of his oldest friends. He trusted him with everything. It was a miracle he had been able to keep this a secret for as long as he had. Sal didn’t know what to say, how to explain the mess he had fallen himself into. He took a deep breath, and decided to tell the partial truth.
“I know Eddie from the boxing club,” he said, which was true. That was where they met. Where they first started their affair. He hoped this would satisfy Tommy.
“Why lie about it?” Tommy pressed.
“I don’t know, it’s complicated,” Sal shrugged, not knowing what to say. He wasn’t ready to reveal he was a cheater, to see the disappointment in Tommy’s face.
“Complicated how?” Tommy continued, crossing his arms over his chest. “Did you guys fight or something?”
“Yeah, sort of,” he said, clearing his throat.
Tommy looked at him for a long moment, and Sal braced himself for more questions, but thankfully, they never came. Instead, Tommy’s face softened. “Look, Sal, Eddie’s a good guy, he’s Evan’s best friend. I'm not going to tell you what to do, but I hope you two can at least be cordial ‘cause you are going to run into each other more now that Evan and I moved in together.”
Tommy clasped his shoulder and levelled him with a smile before he left. Sal nodded, the words echoing in his mind. They would need to be more careful. He knew he was playing a dangerous game. But at that moment, all he could think about was Eddie and the feel of his lips on his. He had to talk to him, had to figure out what they were going to do.
He finished his whiskey, put the glass in the sink, and walked out of the kitchen, ready to find Eddie, to talk, to sort out the mess they had created together.
Sal walked out into the backyard, a cool breeze hitting his face. The loud chatter and music of the party were in full swing, but he barely registered it. His eyes scanned the crowd, searching for a flash of that dark green sweater. He saw Buckley laughing with some people by the bonfire, but Eddie was nowhere in sight. He walked around the perimeter of the yard, his mind racing. Where could he have gone?
He found him finally, tucked away in a quiet corner of the yard, near the back fence. Eddie was staring up at the sky, his arms crossed over his chest, his shoulders hunched. He looked small, and for a fleeting moment, Sal felt a pang of guilt. He had pushed them into this.
Sal approached him slowly, his footsteps muffled by the soft grass as he wiped his sweaty palms over his jeans. Eddie didn't turn around until Sal was right beside him, as if sensing his presence.
“Hey,” Sal said, his voice low.
Eddie flinched and turned to him, his eyes wide. “Hey.”
“I've been looking for you,” Sal said, his gaze searching Eddie's face.
“I know,” Eddie said, looking away. “I just... I needed a minute.”
Sal nodded, leaning against the fence beside him. A comfortable silence stretched between them for a moment. Sal took the opportunity to just look at Eddie, at the soft line of his jaw, the way the warm setting sun rays caught the curve of his neck.
“We need to talk,” Sal finally said, breaking the silence.
“I know,” Eddie said again, his voice barely a whisper. “What are we doing, Sal? This is crazy.”
“I don't know,” Sal admitted, the words raw with emotion. “I just know I can't stop thinking about you.”
Eddie heaved a sigh and finally looked at him, his brown eyes filled with a conflict Sal knew he was feeling too. “I know. It's the same for me. It’s just…I feel like I'm betraying Chris.”
The mention of Chris felt like a bucket of cold water. Sal’s mind instantly replayed the conversation they had over text. He had forgotten, just for a moment, the son that was the reason he couldn’t have Eddie. Sal ran a hand over his face, feeling the weight of the reality they were in. Eddie had confessed, one night, how he felt like it was his responsibility to someday find someone to fill in as Chris’s mom. Sal had no say in that, he was no one to Chris.
“I know,” Sal said, his voice heavy. “I feel like a monster. But I can't... I can't stay away from you.”
Eddie took a shaky breath. “I can't either.” He paused, looking back at the sky. “Ana… she’s been hinting at us moving in together. Buying a house.”
Sal’s heart sank. He had feared it, but hearing it out loud was different. It felt like a final blow, a sign that their affair’s expiration date was coming up.
“I don't know what to do,” Eddie said, his voice cracking. “I love Chris more than anything, but... I'm not in love with Ana. I never was.”
“Then end things with her,” Sal said, his words a desperate and hopeful plea.
“What about you and Grant?” Eddie shot back, his tone bitter as he brought up Sal’s boyfriend.
“What would I even say to her?” Eddie wondered out loud, shaking his head. “She's been good to me. She's great with Chris. How can I hurt them like that?”
“What about you? You’re hurting yourself by staying with her,” Sal argued, his voice a little louder now, his own desperation bleeding through. “You deserve to be happy, Eddie. You deserve to be with someone you love.”
Eddie looked at him, and for a brief second, Sal felt like he was going to faint from the intensity in that gaze. A small, sad smile touched Eddie’s lips. “And you think that's you?”
The question hung in the air between them, charged with a mixture of hope and fear. Sal’s heart hammered against his ribs, and he knew there was no going back now. He couldn't lie, not to himself, not to Eddie.
“Yes,” Sal said, his voice firm and unwavering. “I do, and I know you know it.”
“EDDIE! Come over here, 118 group photo!” Buckley’s voice burst their bubble, bringing them back to reality. Their eyes met for a second, Eddie’s full of regret, before he walked past him.
Sal leaned back against the fence, closing his eyes as he took deep breaths to calm down. He brought up his texts with Eddie, seeking comfort in the words they had been exchanging for weeks, reminiscing about the fond memories each message held. As he looked at Eddie’s bright smile, posing for the pictures Tommy was taking, he couldn’t help but write what he felt.
Saturday 06:12 pm
Sal: I wish we could be back at my folks’ cabin.
Sal: I wish I could hold you in my arms right now, kiss you as much as I want to
Sal walked back inside, going to the bathroom to freshen up. He splashed water on his face, the cold on his skin helping clear his mind while he took deep breaths, leaning on the sink. His heart jumped in his throat when he found himself face-to-face with Tommy waiting for him when he stepped out of the bathroom.
“What the hell, Sal?” Tommy said, frowning at him.
“What?” Sal said, bracing himself for the worst. What had he done to piss Tommy off? He couldn’t remember the last time he saw Tommy so riled up.
“You and Eddie? Please don’t tell me you’re actually having an affair,” Tommy said.
“What?” Sal repeated, dumbstruck. How did Tommy find out? He and Eddie had stood a couple of feet apart when they were talking in the yard earlier; he had made sure of that. They had kept their voices low so as to not be overheard.
“I saw your texts,” Tommy added, stepping closer until Sal’s back hit the bathroom door behind him. He was cornered, he had nowhere to go. “Not very smart of you to text him right here, right now.”
“H…How?” Sal’s voice trembled, his legs threatening to give out under him. His world was crumbling down.
“I took the pictures with Eddie’s phone,” Tommy explained, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Saw the text notifications. Sal, that was so stupid of you.”
“Fuck,” Sal muttered, feeling a wave of panic surging up. He had messed up. His mom had been right; affairs could never remain secret forever. He just hadn’t expected his secret to be exposed so soon.
“My God. So you admit it. You are cheating on Grant. With Eddie," Tommy said, his voice hard as he shook his head. “And Eddie's cheating on Ana. With you.”
Sal could only nod, his head hanging in shame. The silence was deafening, broken only by the distant murmurs of the party outside. He couldn't bring himself to look at Tommy, not after the disappointment he had seen in his eyes earlier. He felt sick to his stomach.
“Why?” Tommy asked, his voice softer now, but with an edge of pain. “Why would you do this? You're my best friend, Sal. You know what cheating did to me. I thought you were better than that.”
The words hit Sal like a punch to the gut. He knew Tommy’s devastating dating history, knew how much he despised infidelity. It had destroyed him, Sal remembered picking up the pieces after one too many failed relationships. He had betrayed one of the most important people in his life, and it hadn’t occurred to him before now.
“I didn't mean for it to happen,” Sal said, his voice cracking. “It just... did. We hit it off, we were just friends, and then…things got out of hand and we weren't just friends anymore. I fell for him, Tommy. Hard.”
“Did you ever stop to think about Ana? Or about Chris?” Tommy's voice was sharp again. “What about Grant? Do you have any idea how much you're hurting everyone involved?”
“I know,” Sal said, so overwhelmed a tear slipped down his cheek. “I know I messed up. I'm going to break up with Grant. I swear. Our relationship…it's been dying for a while. I was just too much of a coward to admit it.”
Tommy was quiet for a long moment, his expression unreadable. “And Eddie?” he finally asked. “He going to break up with Ana, too?”
“He said he's not in love with her,” Sal said, wiping the stray tears away with the back of his hand. “He's just... scared. He doesn't want to hurt her or Chris, he’s putting so much pressure on himself with that relationship.”
Tommy sighed, running his hand through his hair in a frustrated gesture. “I don't know what to say, man. I can’t believe it. This is a huge mess. I love you, you're my best friend, but this is a lot to deal with. And I don’t want to see Evan get hurt.”
“I know,” Sal whispered, his head still bowed. “I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, Tommy.”
“Sorry doesn't fix this, Sal,” Tommy said, and Sal’s heart sank even further. “I’m not the one you should apologise to. But... I'm not going to tell anyone. This is your and Eddie's mess to clean up.”
Sal swallowed, burying his face in his hands and letting out a groan at the thought of confronting Grant.
“But you need to do it. You need to tell Grant, and Eddie needs to tell Ana sooner rather than later. Before things get even more complicated.”
Tommy squeezed his shoulders before stepping away, giving Sal the space he so desperately needed. Sal watched him go, his body shaking with a mix of relief and fear. He found solace in the fact that at least Tommy was the one to intercept in his texts, and not Buckley—or worse, Ana. Tommy was right, of course, Sal knew it. He had known all this time, but it was easier to bury his head in the sand.
He stepped out onto Tommy’s front porch and sat down on the stairs, needing a moment to compose himself before leaving. His hands were still trembling despite his breathing exercises.
“Sal.”
He turned to his left and looked up to see Eddie standing above him. His back was rigid, his forearms tense, and his gaze hard. Eddie knew their secret relationship had been exposed.
“What are we going to do?” Eddie mumbled as he sat beside him, taking his hand in his, their fingers threading together instinctively.
“I don’t know,” Sal replied, taking a deep breath. “I don’t want to give this up.”
“Me neither,” Eddie said, letting silence stretch between them while they sought comfort in each other’s touch, where anyone could see them. He lost himself in Eddie’s eyes for a moment, then cupped Eddie’s cheek with his free hand to bring their lips together, allowing himself this moment of weakness. He wanted to enjoy this peaceful moment with Eddie, and tried to picture, even for a moment, that they could have this forever.