idk if he's included but i'm going to shoot my shot anyways. what's something ex-husband!eddie does for ex-wife!reader, that others would think nothing of, that turns her on & has her second guessing the divorce solely bc of how hot he is? if that makes any sense at all lolll
shoot it bc i love him lmao. he's so hot. and there's honestly nothing hotter than him just being a dad sorry!!!! he's hot at it!!!!!
contains: a little smut but nothing graphic. they're fighting ofc lol.
"Luce, where's your tap shoes?" You frown, looking around the three year old's messy room, cluttered with toys and clothes that you hadn't got a chance to clean, or supervise her cleaning.
"I dunno," Lucy hummed, dragging her stuffed elephant along her sheets towards the other stuffed animals. "I thinks Daddy has them."
"You left them at dad's?" You swallow back a huff of irritation, eyes pinching closed.
You and Eddie weren't exactly on speaking terms at the moment. After a few weeks of bliss, of you nearly caving and letting him move back in, agreeing to work it out in therapy and give it another shot, he'd done what he always had- pissed you off. A bickering that turned into a fight, that led you both back to your separate spaces. Over what? You weren't exactly sure you even remembered.
It had been four days exactly that you had managed to avoid Eddie. Not speaking at the exchanging of the kids, you'd flat out ignored his greeting to you, and now, because of a stupid pair of tap shoes, you'd have to give in and speak to him.
"Hello?" He picked up on the third ring.
"Hey, it's me." You quipped, lips rolling around your snippy tone. "Lucy said she left her tap shoes at your house."
"Yeah, she did." Eddie's tone was just as biting, matching your lack of amusement.
You huffed. "Well, she needs them. She has dance in thirty minutes."
"So come get them?" Eddie scoffed.
"Nice. Sure, Ed, I'll just go out of my way to come get them because you couldn't remember to pack them. Way to go." You snapped sarcastically, venom dripping in your tone. You hoped he could feel your glare.
"Oh? This is my- of course, it's my fuckin' fault."
"It is your fuck-" You turned, looking to make sure Lucy was still in front of the television eating her snack. "It is your fuckin' fault, you ass. You want to act like you're dad of the year, and you don't even know her dance schedule?"
"I'm not doin' this with you, alright? I'm gonna hang up if you're just going to be a bitch." Eddie snapped. You could picture him, that tone too familiar. His jaw clenched tight, nostrils flaring the way they did when he was pissed. Maybe his fists clenched, forearm veins popping out.
"Just- Can you just bring them to the dance studio by four please?" You rolled your eyes. "I'm already running late. I have to get gas and get Lucy dressed."
"Fine." Eddie snapped. You didn't get a chance to reply, the other line ending with a harsh click.
Twenty-six minutes later, you were pulling into the dance studio. Between a three year old who refused to get dressed, waiting for pumps, and the unusual traffic in Hawkins, your nerves were shot and you were cutting it close. You were glad Jude was at a sleepover at the Harrington's for the night.
Eddie was there when you pulled in, standing outside his car, smoking a cigarette. You grit your teeth at the sight of him, lips wrapped around the stick, blowing smoke. You hated how your stomach flipped with excitement.
"Do you have them?" You stepped out of the car, moving to the backseat, barely glancing over at him.
"Hello to you too, Sunshine." Eddie huffed sarcastically, flicking his cigarette to the ground and stepping on it.
You rolled your eyes, trying to soften your face when you opened the back car door to get Lucy out. "Daddy brought your shoes, so let's put them on so you'll be ready to go." You cooed gently, unstrapping her out, hoisting her on your hip.
"Eddie, can you hurry-" You stopped when he emerged, little tiny tap shoes hooked on his pinky, Lucy's pink dance bag slung over his shoulder.
"I got it, Mama." Eddie's tone was light but more of a snarl. You didn't respond, eyes rolling down his frame instead.
Your tongue rolled over your bottom lip, watching him put her little shoes on, fastening the tiny buckles. You lingered behind them when he walked her in, her little hand in his, the pink bag slung over his shoulder. You hated how weak in the knees it made you, seeing him be a dad- be a good dad. And dammit, he might have been a shit husband at times, but he was a good dad.
"Thank you." Your arms stayed folded over your chest but your tone was lighter when he came back out from dropping Lucy off. "That really saved me a lot of time."
"Don't mention it." Eddie's tone was still tight, nerves rattled with built up tension from the past days.
He started towards his car, you followed close behind him. "What are you doing now?"
Eddie turned at your tone, carefully. "What?"
You huffed, eyes rolling big and dramatic. "What are you doing now?" You repeated.
"Nothing." Eddie was cautious, unsure- even if he was sure, he was always a little unsure with you these days.
"Well, I mean, do you want to wait with me? Then maybe we can go get dinner. Me, you, and Luce? It's just us girls tonight." Your eyes rolled over his frame, his tight band tee.
Eddie squinted lightly. "Yeah? Sure. That'd be nice."
"Good." You hummed, opening the back seat. "Could you help me out? I can't get this back seat to lay down again. I think it might be stuck." It was not nearly as smooth as you wanted it to be, you never really were, but Eddie didn't mind. He swallowed back his smirk, scanning the parking lot. Good thing he'd picked the back spot, away from everyone.
He had you pinned against the seats, rutting into you mercilessly while you clawed at him, hands tangling in his hair pulling him closer and close. It was quick then, fulfilling but quick. You both had a giddy glow when you picked up Lucy, hoping the other parents wouldn't notice your tousled hair.
Later that night, after the dinner invitation had turned into an invite over, Eddie got to have you the way he wanted. Face buried between your thighs, his way of apologizing, while you shoved your face into a pillow- his pillow, trying to muffle your moans.
I was thinking about what you said about dry humping and Janitor!Eddie. Then I started thinking about straddling him on the couch while he sucks on his girl’s tiddies and she begins to grind on him until they both cum in their pants 🫣
oh helllllllll yeah. lfg janitor!eddie girlies nows your time!!!! smut ahead minors dni.
Eddie groaned beneath you, his head tipping back onto the cushioned back of the couch, eyes screwed shut, lips vibrating with the moan he tried to swallow. He looked so pretty, you decided, a hand caressing his cheek for a moment before your lips were back on his.
A bottle and a half of chardonnay, the excitement of spring break and being off for the week, and Cross My Heart playing on the screen; you'd blame that triple threat as the reason you both were here. Stripped down to just your underwear, hips rocking against his.
"Please," Eddie gasped, a straggled breath caught in his throat, fingertips sinking into the flesh of your hips. "Sweetheart, you- I'm gonna bust if you keep do-doing that."
Your toothy grin had his stomach lurching with a rush of excited heat, eyes widening in excitement, maybe fear. You had a tendency to get a little bold when you'd had a drink or two, not that Eddie minded. Oh no, it was quite the opposite, it's the exact reason why his body was fidgeting under yours, hips wiggling for friction.
"Mmm," You let out a soft moan, your hands squeezing around his shoulders, head tipping back. Your own hips swiveled, rocking gently. You could feel the wet patch already forming at the front of your cotton panties.
"Baby, you- you gotta stop." Eddie's voice cracked, embarrassingly high pitched in a way he hadn't heard since middle school.
"I don't wanna stop." You purred, hips moving agonizingly slow, your clothed clit rocking against his tented boxers. "I like how this feels."
"Fuck," Eddie whispered, the combination of your words and the way he could feel your wetness starting to seep through your underwear to his, had his hands beginning to shake with blinding pleasure.
"Don't you like how this feels?" You hummed, so sweetly it had Eddie blushing. "Doesn't it feel good?"
"Jesus- Yeah, it feels really fuckin' good, baby." Eddie nodded, eyes rounded and wide when they met yours, only for a moment, before his gaze shifted to your boobs, nearly inches from him.
His hands slid up your body, slowly, leaving you shivering, a small whine leaving your lips, grinding harder and harder when Eddie's thumbs slid over your nipples.
Eddie's hands lingered there for a moment, before his face was buried between them, kissing your left boob, lips wrapped around your nipple.
His hands slid back down your body, over your ribcage, the swell of your hips, anchoring on your ass. Squeezing handfuls of each of your cheeks between his calloused hands, your thighs were beginning to shake at the sensation, rocking harder and harder.
"Eddie, that feels so, sooo good." You whimpered, his face pressing further into your chest, tongue swirling around your nipple.
A gasp tore from your throat, eyes opening with a start at the sudden shift. Eddie's hands still held your ass, pressing you further and further into him, his own hips meeting yours with a furiously needy rhythm.
"E-Ed," You gasped, your orgasm creeping closer and closer, Eddie's hands pressing you further and further into him. So close you thought you might fuse together.
Eddie's body moved with yours, a symphony of both your breathy moans and gasps mixing with the squeak and groan of the couch springs, until you finished, a flood of wetness that soaked and darkened the front of your panties. Eddie's followed shortly after, a sticky, whiny mess of an orgasm, his face still buried between your breasts.
He pulled you on top of him, your warm cheek pressed against his chest, both your eyes shining from the wine and your own releases. "I don't think I've dry humped someone since freshman year of high school." Eddie admitted, mind still swimming, slowly reeling. "I forgot how good it feels."
You giggled, turning to him, chin pressed to his chest. "It did feel pretty good, didn't it?"
"Felt more than pretty good." Eddie muttered.
"More than pretty good, hm? So you liked it?" There it was again- that sneaky, wide smile that had Eddie's heart lurching. Eddie nodded, his hand smoothing down your back gently.
"Yeah? You liked it when I did this?" Your grin widened, pressing your hips into his, your wet underwear pressing together.
"Yes." Eddie jumped at the sensation, a smile tugging on your lips when you giggled, silly and love sick, his arms wrapping around you.
"Good to know." You hummed, leaning in gently, lips barely brushing. "I'll keep that in mind." You muttered, your lips enveloping his, hands sliding over his jaw, pulling him into you.
what was older!eddies reaction to the first time reader came home from going out with friends? just drunk and clingy
this is my favorite genre and activity is getting drunk and then being clingy and silly. need to do it with my fave of all faves!!! contains silly drunk reader and sweet older!eddie. no smut. just fluff. and tw- gina.
The doorbell sounded once, twice, three times before it was going off in short, annoying successions. Eddie groaned in annoyance, standing from his recliner.
"Easy! Alright? The fuck-" He looked out the peephole, half expecting to see Gina, furious about something. He was pleased to find you there instead.
"Open the dooooorrrrrr!" You whined, half swaying, leaning against the brick. "I need to pee, Ed, hurry."
Eddie fought back a smirk, twisting the lock and opening the front door. "Hey, bunny,"
"Hi," Your face melted, oozing with a drunk smile, eyes glassy from the countess beers you'd had. "Can I come pee?"
"Of course you can." Eddie said around a laugh, holding the door open with his foot, offering his hand to you. "Watch your step, baby." He muttered, nodding towards the step under the doorframe. You crossed it dramatically, taking a big, wide legged step in.
"I didn't know you were coming over." Eddie shut the door, watching you stumble down the hall towards the guest bathroom. "I thought you were out with your friends."
"I was," You muttered, behind the cracked door of the bathroom, the room already beginning to spin as you sat. "But I wanted to come see you. I knew Brielle was gone."
"Yeah? What'd you want to come see me for?" Eddie grinned teasingly, walking down the hall towards you.
"I wanted to sleep over." You admitted, staggering against the doorway, holding the frame for balance. "I wanted you to rub my back."
Eddie barked out a laugh, your bottom lip jutting in a pout. "Rub your back?"
"Yes, Ed." You whined. "You always do it good an-and it- hic!- it always puts me right to sleep." Your words were beginning to jumble, the effects of too much alcohol starting to take over.
"Alright. I can do that for ya, I suppose." Eddie sighed dramatically, holding his arm out for you, placing an anchoring hand on your back as he guided you to his bedroom.
"Lemme get you a shirt to sleep in. I've got-" He turned around, finding you already naked. That had to be a record, he was convinced. Drunk and that coordinated?
You were already crawling into the bed, shoes and clothes kicked off, climbing under the cool sheets that smelled just like Eddie.
"Hold on, bunny, you want a shirt?" Eddie grabbed the sheet before you pulled it up, earning a huffy whine from you.
"No," You whined. "Want you to rub my back, Ed, already told you."
Eddie fought back a grin. "Demanding little thing, aren't ya?" He shook his head playfully. You didn't reply, your cheek smushed to the pillow, already beginning to drift off.
Eddie slipped beside you anyways, snorting lightly when you rolled over on him, leg hiked up over his waist, arm slapped over his chest, face in his shoulder. Still, he rubbed your back, calloused hands gliding over the bare skin, up and down your spine in small circles, the way you liked until you were snoring lightly.
He knew you'd be sick tomorrow, hungover and hurting with a headache, with the spins you always got. And he'd do the same thing then, coddling you, rubbing your head to soothe the ache away. Content in his care.
truly nothing more eddie munson loves than just feeling the weight of you on him.
loves it at night, especially, before bed when you’ll hike your leg up, sling it over his waist. lying on your stomach, one leg kicked out in front of you, the other across him so he can rub your hip.
“helps me fall asleep.” you told him once, lashes fluttering closed.
his hand would rub up and down, over the swell of your hip, down your lower back and over your thigh. sometimes he’d get lazy- caught up in his tv show or starting to nod off himself. you’d wiggle, a sharp pop of your hip up, always followed by a whiny huff that had him grinning lazily.
“sorry, baby.” eddie muttered, pulling your leg closer over his torso, rubbing your hip again.
when you’d finally go to sleep, body slack and heavy over his, he’d feel you settle, start to pull away only for him to pull you closer. arm over his chest, snoring lightly in his ear. sometimes you’d roll, half your body slotted over his, and he’d have to fight the urge not to wrap his arms around you and pull you more into him. he knew you’d wake up, whine and wiggle away, batting his hands away sleepily and muttering you were “too hot” to cuddle. so he’d let his hand rest on you instead, feeling safe and content with the weight of you over him.
it’s been so fucking hot outside and i am plagued with the fact that i know eddie is the type that has to touch you when he sleeps. it’s not even really something he knows he does, he just does it.
goes to sleep (and he is a hard sleeper, never wakes up) and is mouth open snoring, and it’ll start with lifting his leg so his shin is touching you, or a foot touching your leg. then he’ll roll and his side is pressed up to your body, sometimes an arm thrown over you. it’s kinda nice in the winter when you’re freezing and enjoy the extra body heat, but in the dead of summer, it’s misery.
you try to push him off, shove him only for him to roll away and come back stronger like a tidal wave, nearly laying entirely on top of you. he’ll grab at you sometimes, try to pull you in while you’re pushing him away.
the room is too stuffy, the ac not working hard enough and the fans not cutting it. you end up fighting eddie until you wake him up with a tired, frustrated huff.
“what? what?” his voice is groggy, sleep ridden and spacey.
“scoot over.” you huff, pushing him with your foot for emphasis. “you’re smothering me.”
“‘m sorry, baby.” eddie mutters, lids already pulling closed with sleep, rolling over towards the edge and away.
you’d have time to try and wedge a pillow between the two of you, hopeful that it would keep him away for a little while. he always ends up rolled over on the pillow, hand on your head or your hip, just to feel you- even when you keep shoving him off.
damn you guys loved the soft eddie thoughts ok here’s more
eddie’s favorite thing is when you’re soft to him. he loves pampering you, fawning over you, but when you do it to him? his heart nearly goes out every time.
specifically before he gets in the shower, you detangle his hair. it started after you heard him ripping his brush through his hair, yanking out clumps of tangled hair, cringing at the sound of it caught in the brush’s bristles.
“here, let me do it. you’re gonna rip all your hair out.” you flipped down the toilet seat, nodding at eddie to sit on the cover.
his shoulder’s slumped, curved at the tenderness you used to detangle each frizzed, fused curl. staring from the bottom, the brush’s bristles would rub against the bare skin of his shoulders when you’d work through each one. holding the top so you didn’t pull as much, you were an expert.
your nails would scratch over the top of his scalp when you were done, palms smoothing over his wild hair, detangled but frizzy and puffy.
“your hair is huge, ed.” you giggle, gathering it in your hands to make a ponytail. “maybe you should wear it like this.”
eddie would roll his eyes with a half amused snort, standing to slap on the shower’s faucet. always turning to you with a dopey, love sick grin. always giving you a quick kiss that lingered and left you both jittery with excitement. always following with a teasing smile and a, “you can join me if ya want. wash my hair f’me, baby, you’re so good at it.”
sometimes you’d roll your eyes, sometimes you’d join him. shampoo his hair extra good just so you could hear his heavy sighs of content.
eddie munson who had to have his head shaved bc his curls were matted so bad when he was younger. as soon as he got taken in to wayne’s care, after spending nearly a year with his dad, his hair was beyond gone. barely brushed, just neglected.
wayne, bless his heart, tried to detangle it. he knew how eddie liked his long hair, he didn’t want to shave it. he even took him to the beauty salon, the beauty school up the road, tried to get them to detangle it. two deep conditions and an hour later, the instructor told him the best they could do was shave it, send him with some product on how to care for it in the future.
eddie was devastated, wayne was guilt ridden, and eddie’s locks were now shaven off right before he had to start at the middle school.
from that point on, eddie was nearly neurotic about brushing his hair every night. getting every single tangle out. ripping through the curls until it’s smooth. frizzy and slightly damaged from the tension, sure, but smooth.
at first, it’s something you try to talk him out of. “you’re ripping your hair out.”
“it’s fine.” eddie grunts, paddle brush tearing through the base of his neck, the most matted and tough curls. “rather lose a little than have to shave it all off again.”
he tells you the story, once, after that. one that leaves your heart aching, despite how he tries to shrug it off. insist it’s not a big deal, that it didn’t bother him- how his father’s neglect hurt him yet again, even after he was taken in with wayne. you know better.
you don’t try to fight him on it anymore. instead, every night, it becomes a ritual that you brush his hair for him. a far gentler touch, more patience to work out each curl and tangled strand. grasping at the base of his head to keep it from tugging and hurting so much.
it’s soft and intimate. leaves eddie’s chest with a warm, gooey thick feeling, and his eyelids fluttering with sleep. trying to keep his head up while you brush his hair, scratching at the scalp, always pressing a kiss to his part when you’re finished.
“So,” Heather leaned over, chin propped in her hands dramatically slumped over the counter. “What’re you doing this weekend?”
“Nothing,” You hummed, fingers flicking through the crinkled bills. “Why? You know something fun going on?”
“It’s your birthday.” Heather gawked playfully. “You’re not doing anything for your birthday?”
You rolled your eyes lightly, pushing the cash drawer closed. “No.” You shook your head, voice tight.
“Eddie isn’t taking you out?” Heather’s brows furrowed. “Or you’re not going home? Going out? Are you getting a cake?”
Your heart sank, a familiar burn rising in your chest. You didn’t speak about your birthday much, not much of an occasion for celebration to you, more of one that was dreadful. Another year closer to death, you’d grumble cynically. Still, when Eddie hadn’t even acknowledged it, when your friends had all blown you off for other plans, a new kind of ache formed in your chest. The sting of being forgotten, of being unimportant and discarded- on your birthday.
It left a bitter taste on your tongue, sardonic and painful when you spoke about your impending birthdate. “No,” You shook your head, chin ducked to your chest. You had never wanted a customer to come in so badly, save you from this painful conversation with your co-worker. “They’re all busy.”
“Oh.” Heather quipped, face falling at your tone.
“I mean, it’s my fault.” You added quickly- defensively. Why you were so defensive over the people who had discarded you so easily, you weren’t sure. “I should have planned something earlier, but… I dunno, I got busy and life got super hectic and it just slipped past me-”
“-No,” Heather shook her head, curls unmoving with the abundance of Aquanet she used, still. “That’s really shitty of them, all of them. It’s your birthday.”
You stayed silent, wiping the counter half heartedly, swallowing back the familiar burn in your throat that choked you. “I mean, if it was my girlfriend or my friend, I would be buggin’ about their birthday.” Heather shrugged.
“Yeah, me too.” You muttered. Bouts of memories pouring back into your mind. How you’d planned a party for Eddie, baked him some stupid cake from scratch that was in the Lord of the Rings. You’d gone to countless second hand stores trying to find the ancient recipe, and it took you a day to perfect. Now, he couldn’t even be bothered to take you out? Get you a cheap store bought cake?
“I’m sorry.” Heather muttered, a solemn, nearly guilty pout on her lips. “Well, you’re off tomorrow, right?”
“Yeah.”
“I get off at three. What if we go out? We can go to the bar- oh, there’s this new band playing in Franklin. Tommy could drive us.” Heather, ever the bubbly optimist, grinned, eyes shining with pride. It was endearing, made your heart squeeze with an ache you weren’t quite sure how to describe.
“I’ll even get you a cupcake. A good one, from Nadia’s.” Heather added.
“You don’t have to do that.” You shook your head lightly. You and Heather were work friends, hung out on the rare occasion after work to bitch about work, about the other coworkers, the pain-in-the-ass customers of the day over glasses of Pinot. Selfishly, it felt nice to have someone excited for your birthday.
You hated that you wished it was Eddie, your own friends.
“What’s your flavor, hm? Chocolate?” Heather pressed, brushing you off cheerily.
“Don’t get me a cupcake. I’ll throw it up if we’re drinking. All the icing and liquor.” You snarled your nose playfully.
“Fine. I’m buying you a drink then.” Heather nodded. She paused, nails drumming on the counter too. “And, I mean, if you want Eddie to come too, of course he’s invited.” Her eyes cut to yours carefully. “I didn’t know if you wanted him to come.”
“I mean, I don’t know if he’d even be able to.” Your lips pursed, a cutting edge of annoyance in your tone. “He’s so busy.”
Heather cringed, shooting you an apologetic look. “Yeah, that… I’m sorry, that sucks.” She mumbled.
A stiff silence fell between the two of you over the whirr of the air conditioning blowing through the vents. “Since it’s so dead, why don’t you go early?” Heather suggested. “I can cover closing.”
“Heather, Mel will be pissed-”
“-Mel will be pissed if she has to pay both of us for standing around.” Heather gave you a pointed look. “And you came in before me. I got it.”
“Are you sure?” You hesitated. “I don’t care to stay in case there’s a rush-”
“Thank you.” You smiled softly. “I’ll see you tomorrow?”
“Yeah. I’ll call you when I’m on my way, ‘kay?” Heather chirped.
“See you then.” You waved, cringing at the sing-songy Happy birthday! Heather shouted at you.
You pulled open your cubby, gathering your purse, your umbrella. You wrote your time on the clipboard, the phone taunting you on the hook next to it. Any other day, you’d call Eddie- call home or the shop, wherever he was, just to let him know you’d be home early. He’d always reply with a silly comment that had your cheeks rushing with heat, warmth swelling in your chest.
Tonight, you decided against it. He was too busy, anyway. Too busy at the shop, with his friends, at band practice. You tried not to dwell on it, let your mind spiral and spin down a damning dark hole of what ifs. It consumed you anyways, on your drive home, the radio playing on a static filled station that you didn’t bother to change. Background noise drowned out by your own hammering heart.
Eddie’s van was parked in the gravel of his driveway, leaving just enough space for you to slide in under the covering attached to the trailer. He always let you have that spot, closer to the door, protected from the elements- so considerate.
It was hard to fathom that it was the same boy who had forgotten your birthday, brushed it off like it was just another day.
Your throat tightened around the ever growing lump, hands tight from the white knuckled grip you had on the wheel when you turned the keys out of the ignition. The stairs squeaked under your weight, the screen door hissing with the familiar soft screech when you pulled it open.
“No- Henderson, what the fuck is the matter with you?” Eddie huffed, his voice trailing in from the living room.
You paused, hand catching the door as it fell, quieting it as it latched. The air was thick, warm with a sticky, sweet smell. Music playing in a low hum from Eddie’s beloved boom box he kept in the living room.
“You said to hang it!” Dustin’s shrill tone cut through the air.
“Yeah, hang it high- Jesus Christ, I shoulda just waited until Robin got off.” Eddie was hidden by the wall, but you could practically see him pinching his nose, hand running over his curly bangs. “Can you- Can you go see if we can ice the cake yet?”
“Yeah, what do I do?” Dustin questioned, a silence falling between the two of them. Your lips curled, swallowing a giggle. “What? I’m not a master chef or something. You act like I should know this. There wasn’t a cake making class-”
“-There was, you moron. Home Ec, which clearly, you failed.” Eddie huffed in annoyance. You froze at his heavy footsteps, voice carrying closer and closer.“Whatever, can you- just make it look nice in here? Put the rest of the streamers up and- shit!” Eddie flinched, jumping at the sight of you in the doorway. Wide eyed and still, like you’d been caught.
“Baby,” Eddie’s breath startled. “Hey, uh, what are you- you said you didn’t get- you’re home already?” His voice lifted, carried high in a squeak of surprise.
“Yeah, I got off early. I thought you were working late.” Your brows furrowed at the tear of plastic, leaning to look around the corner. “What are you doing-”
“-Don’t look in there.” Eddie snapped, his hand falling on the doorframe, arm blocking your vision. You jumped, glaring at him with annoyance. “I thought you closed tonight?”
“I thought you closed tonight.” You huffed, arms crossing over your chest. “Clearly that’s not true. What is this? Another campaign night?” You rolled your eyes, body burning with irritation, jaw wound tight with it.
“What? N-No, I-I thought you wouldn’t be home until later, and I’d have more time-” Eddie rambled, side stepping to block your view behind him.
“-Ed, I don’t care if that’s what it is.” Your shoulders deflated, a wave of painful exhaustion, disappointment falling over you. “I just wish you would’ve let me know before you invite all these people over to play your game, so I could-” A shimmering glimmer of multicolored sequins caught your eyes, shining in the yellowed light of the kitchen, iridescent hued droplets cast over the cabinets. There, draped over the chair in bright, glittering letters, a small sash that read Happy Birthday! in obnoxiously big letters.
You paused, eyes scanning towards the cake, cooling on the rack next to the mixing bowl of icing, the icing spatula still in it. Paper mache streamers taped to the ceiling, hung in swooping bouts mixed with the shiny streamers and balloons all the way to the living room. Eddie had brought out the folding table from the crawl space, even put a plastic tablecloth from the store over it to hide the yellowing stains that would never fade.
Dustin’s eyes met yours, wide and darting between you and Eddie, still holding the roll of streamers he’d yet to hang. “Uh, Happy Birthday?” Dustin shrugged.
Eddie huffed, shaking his head at him. “Fuck, I-I’m sorry, it was supposed to be a surprise.” Eddie’s foot bounced with anxious adrenaline. “I thought you didn’t get off until eight, and-and I had it all planned, sweetheart, I really did. Steve’s getting the pizza, and everyone’s coming over at seven thirty-ish, and I- I was even going to have them park at Wayne’s in the back so you wouldn’t see.”
Your chest felt deflated, void of any air, words, anything. Eddie chewed on his lip, hands twitching next to his jeans. “It was going to be this whole thing, fuck!” He huffed. “It was going to be a whole big thing, and…”
Eddie’s heart leapt when your eyes finally met his. His fingers still drummed against the rough material of his jeans, veins filled with icy excitement, fear, anticipation? He wasn’t sure.
“I’m sorry.” Eddie whispered, stepping to hover over you, voice dropping to a soft coo, hands sliding over your cheeks. “I’m- I wanted it to be a surprise.”
You swallowed thickly. Eddie’s touch was soft, but it left you with a tingling burn when his thumb delicately traced your cheek bone. “You- This is for me?” You squeaked.
Eddie’s lips curled in a half smile, brows creasing. “Well, yeah.” He said playfully. “Who else would it be for?”
Your brain was deafeningly silent, stunned at every new detail you’d discover. “You said you were busy.” Was all you could muster out, blinking up at Eddie. “You said you had to work late.”
“I might have fibbed a little.” Eddie tilted his head sillily. “Told a little lie so I could get this set up.” He nodded towards the living room, a balloon floating near the doorway.
“I just really wanted to surprise you.” Eddie’s shoulders fell. “I was trying to outdo you. Tryna out do what you did for mine. I called all your friends- even Alexandra,” You rolled your eyes at the mention, she was Eddie’s least favorite friend of yours.
“And I… I just wanted to surprise you.” Eddie blinked down at you. “Just wanted your day to be special.”
Your day, the phrase wrapped around you, swirled through your veins like a warm hug, squeezing your heart.
“I’m sorry, it… I didn’t think about work.” Eddie shook his head, running a hand over his forehead. “I didn’t even think about it, and I-”
“-Eddie,” Your voice caught in your throat.
Eddie tensed, cringing with expectant dread. He’d ruined it, blew it, the tears were coming and they were deserved. You’d done so well on his, surprised the hell out of him with the cake, decorated for his birthday campaign with lanterns and candles you’d thrifted. Gone all out for him, and he couldn’t even pull off a simple surprise party.
“I’m sorry.” Eddie whispered, head pressing to yours. His eyes cut around the room, making sure a certain Henderson pest was lurking.
“Sorry?” You repeated. “Eddie, I-I am surprised.” You choked out, looking around the room with gleaming eyes.
Eddie paused. “You are?”
You nodded. “Yeah, I thought you’d forgotten.” You admitted. “I thought everyone had forgotten.”
Eddie’s brows pinched in a confused scowl. “You thought I’d forget?” He muttered.
A watery laugh fell from your lips before you could stop it. “Yeah.” You admitted. “You were really convincing.”
Eddie’s chest boasted playfully. “Oscar worthy?”
“You’d sweep the competition.” You jested back, arms sliding over his forearms. His hands found home on the small of your waist, pulling you into him.
“I didn’t forget your birthday.” Eddie said softly. “Just… for the record.”
“I can see that.” You giggled. “Thank you. It’s-It’s really sweet.”
“Yeah? I’m glad you like it.” Eddie’s hands rubbed down your spine. “It would look better but… Robin and Nancy didn’t get off until later, and it’s just me and Henderson.”
“It looks great. Perfect.” Your cheek pressed to the soft cotton of his t-shirt. His nice shirt, Eddie always called it. Broke it out for special occasions.
“Not perfect. Fucked up the main part.” Eddie grumbled. “I can call everyone, let them know that they can park out front since there’s no surprise anymore.”
“No, don’t do that.” You shook your head lightly, chin propping against his chest to look up at him. “I’ll leave and come back, and you can still do it. I can pretend to be surprised.”
Eddie’s lips curled, pulling back to look down at you. “You’re gonna pretend?” He tilted his head.
“My turn to act.” You teased, brow lifting gently. “Give you some competition.” You poked his tummy playfully.
Eddie grinned, pulling you back into him, lips sliding over yours in a soft kiss you savored. Melting into each other, fusing into a gooey puddle- it was corny, a cliche. One you’d roll your eyes at if it was anyone else.
“Happy birthday.” Eddie muttered, lips brushing and tickling your own.
“Thank you.” You whispered back, hands finding the base of his neck, pushing him back into you. Eddie’s hand fell against the wooden door frame, steadying himself in a rapidly heating makeout.
“Uh,” Dustin’s voice interrupted the two of you, just as Eddie’s hands were sliding under your work blouse. “Yeah, I-I finished with the streamers.”
Eddie glared at him, jaw ticking in annoyance when you pulled away. “I’m just going to grab my makeup bag, and I’ll go.” You whispered, cheeks flooding with heat.
Eddie huffed, rolling his eyes at Dustin when you left. “What? What did I do?” Dustin threw his hands out.
“Such a fuckin’ cock block, Henderson.” Eddie muttered, stomping into the kitchen. “Put the plates and shit out, will ya?”
Your performance was Oscar worthy, Eddie decided later, when you stepped through the door of the now darkened trailer, gasping when the lights flickered on and everyone jumped out. You looked positively radiant, glowing with excitement at the small crowd of friends crammed into the doorway. Eddie kissed you, sloppier than he should have, especially in front of everyone, but he didn’t care. Overwhelmed with affection for you.
He couldn’t tell if you were still pretending when he brought out the cake, the room singing in a harmonious tone to you, candles lit and glowing in the dim light. Eddie didn’t miss the way your eyes sparkled, fingers pressed to your lips at the now iced cake. When your fingers curled under his chin, sharing a fork-full of cake with him, kissing him after so quickly it left his head spinning.
His birthday girl, it was your day. Eddie never thought he’d love a random day as much as he did. He had no idea how important that day would become when he’d first met you, how it would engrave itself in his mind forever.
He was glad it did. Looking at you, giggling with your friends on the couch, then again, the next night, singing with Heather at the crowded bar- Eddie’s chest heart swelled. Proud that he’d surprised you, hopeful that he’d get to for the rest of his life.
Next year, he’d do it right. Really pull off the party you deserved. He’d start saving now, planning too. He decided it that night, tucked between the sheets, your head still on his sweat soaked chest. He could still taste you on his tongue, lips numb from the time he’d spent between your legs. Lashes fluttering in sleep, curled into him, Eddie pulled you closer. He’d get it right next year, you deserved it.
