Chapter Four
“Late night last night, Barnes?” A young man remarked as Bucky came onto the construction site.
“Not a late one,” Bucky responded with an amused smile. “You ought to know better than anyone that I stick to a strict routine, Cody,” he reminded his younger coworker. Cody was a few years younger than Bucky and was drafted into the war. The two men had bonded quickly and Bucky was grateful to have someone at work.
“Well, that smile on your face suggests that you were with a girl,” Cody grinned. “What happened to the man who refused to go out dancing?” he asked as Bucky shook his head.
“We didn’t go dancing,” Bucky raised an eyebrow as he started to work. “We preferred to go somewhere else. A little quieter,” he responded with a small laugh. Cody smirked slightly as he walked over to pick up a small bag.
“Quieter?” Cody asked, which earned an eye roll from Bucky.
“Shut up.”
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The day was pretty hot and it was a typical day for Bucky. Routine. That was until Cody came over and dropped an armful of supplies and looked at Bucky. “There’s someone here to see you. She’s very pretty too,” Cody remarked with a small smirk.
Bucky frowned. “She?” he asked before looking past Cody to see the familiar face. “I’ll be right back,” he said before walking over to her and smiling a little. “I see you haven’t grown tired of me.”
“Seeing your face is the highlight of my day,” Angie remarked with a small smirk. She glanced past Bucky before her attention went back to his eyes. “Who do you think they’re talking about?”
“Well, they’re probably talking about how I was able to get a pretty girl like you to see me, even at work,” Bucky responded with a small smile. “What brings you around?”
Angie smiled, holding a small bag. “I brought lunch. I figured you’d want something to eat,” she responded, which earned a few gasps and whispers from some of the men.
Bucky turned around and rolled his eyes. “Oh come on, don’t you guys have work to do?” he asked. “There’s nothing to see here,” he waved them off and smiled a little at Angie. “You brought me lunch? You didn’t have to…” he started before Angie shook her head.
“It’s the least I could do. Especially since you took care of… everything last night,” Angie laughed.
Bucky smiled and hesitated before taking the bag. “Now, did you just come to make sure I had lunch or were you planning to stick around and enjoy an afternoon lunch with me?”
Angie bit her bottom lip and smiled slightly. “Well, I was hoping you wouldn’t mind some company. Unless you have plans with your buddies,” she chuckled as Bucky looked at her.
“Actually, Ang… I…” he started as a woman came over. Angie observed the woman and raised an eyebrow before she did a double take and looked at Bucky.
“You didn’t forget, now did you?” the woman smiled at Bucky and looked at Angie, raising an eyebrow. “And who might you be?”
Angie’s eyes widened in surprise and she let out a slow breath. “I… um, I’m Angie,” she introduced. “And you are?”
“Rebecca,” the woman introduced before turning back to Bucky. “So, did you really forget?”
Bucky thought for a minute and his eyes widened in shock. “Is it really that time? Oh god, I’m so sorry Rebecca…”
Rebecca shook her head and folded her arms. “Bucky, I know you’ve had a lot going on since the war ended but you never make time for me anymore!” she complained with a slight pout and Bucky shook his head.
“Hey, let’s reschedule. I’m free next Tuesday,” Bucky offered with a small smile. “I’ll get off early and we can go to the museum…. Alright?”
Rebecca smiled. “Alright, alright,” she agreed with a laugh. “I can’t believe I was about to stay mad at you.”
Bucky smiled and shook his head. “You can’t stay mad at me, just like I can’t stay mad at you; we’re both aware of this fact,” he remarked as Angie pursed her lips.
“Well… it was… it was nice to meet you, Rebecca but I just realized… I have to meet my friend,” Angie said and turned to leave, not even allowing Bucky to say a word. Angie’s sudden change in mood had left Bucky in shock and he almost left to catch her. He glanced down at his hand where had been clutching the lunch that Angie had brought him. Bucky glanced in the direction where Angie had left.
“So… you gonna tell me about this girl?” Rebecca asked, looking at Bucky with a raised eyebrow. “Starting with… oh, I don’t know, how did you meet Angie?”
Bucky looked at Rebecca and shook his head. “Oh… she serves my coffee almost every morning before I come to the site,” he admitted with a sigh. “We went out last night and I think it went well… Well, up until-” he started when Cody came over and folded his arms.
“Wow Barnes, scaring your lady off already?” Cody remarked with a slight smirk as he looked at Rebecca. “Or did Becky here scare her off?”
“Cody, we’ve been over this. My name is Rebecca,” Rebecca rolled her eyes and looked at Bucky. “Not sure what happened with Angie so I’ll find out what her problem was.”
“Rebecca…” Bucky started and she shook her head.
“Bucky, it’s the least I could do. I don’t think I’ve seen you actually try to actually date since before the war. She could be good for you,” Rebecca smiled a little. “Besides, museum on Tuesday, right?”
Bucky laughed and shook his head. “Just… be nice, okay?” he asked and Rebecca smiled, turning to leave.
“I’ll do my best,” Rebecca decided. “See you guys later.”
Cody watched Rebecca leave then glanced at Bucky. “So… she single or…” he started and Bucky rolled his eyes.
“Get back to work.”