Chapter 16
Steve gets a text back from Sam a few days after he sent his.
It's fine. I'm probably making a trip home beginning of the year. We can meet and catch up then.
Then after a few minutes of Steve contemplating what he did wrong.
I'm not mad. Just busy. I promise! We'll talk again soon. Calls are more on a scheduled basis and I know how unpredictable your work one is.
Then another few minutes.
I'm sorry too.
Steve feels a sudden sadness. He misses his friend. It was hard not only dealing with their private practice falling through but then when Sam got that job in DC he not only had to say goodbye to his coworker/partner but also to his best friend. He wonders how that must've felt for Bucky too. Could that have caused a rift?
He gets a letter back from Bucky that day too and he writes him back. The end of the letter he asks.
So what's this idea you had?.
Bucky sends him something back a day later. This day it's a letter and a large mailing envelope. The letter has in bold letters READ ME FIRST. Steve follows the instructions.
Steve,
With your birthday coming up (Can't believe it really is July 4th. Does that make you Mr. America or something?) and the fact that we've been technically "dating" but haven't been on an official date I've decided to put something together that may or may not work. So basically I'll pick a day we both have off (in different years though of course, in case you forgot our situation) and we'll go on a little adventure together. I've already made the map and where I want you to be at which times we just need a day so I can prepare umm other things. Don't open the map (the big envelope) until we've decided. Really hope this work because planning for things is hard enough let alone in a 2 year gap haha. Keep me posted which day works!!
Love,
Bucky
P.S. I'm really not a great planner so if this falls flat I'm very sorry haha
Steve smiles to himself. He wants to write back Bucky right away for a confirmation date but he's not sure yet what or if his friends have anything planned for him and 4th of July alone is usually pretty busy (both personally and the hospital). Sure he can request to have his birthday off but he's not always guaranteed that.
Still he should write back if anything to let him know he's excited about this plan he has.
Bucky,
This sounds amazing!! I promise I wont open the envelope until you're ready :) I'm sure you're a better planner than you give yourself credit for. I remember the little treasure hunt you put me through when we first started writing each other. I'm not sure on my availability yet. Hospital gets super busy during holiday especially ones that require a fireworks display. I'm also not sure what my friends will be up to but they usually like doing something for it ,makes a good excuse for us to get together especially since I don't drink as much anymore. I just realized, with birthday's happening, I failed to ask when yours was! If I missed it I supposed I'd have to make it up to you.
Love,
Steve
P.s Nothing dirty
It's almost as if someone read his thoughts because then he gets a phone call from Dugan.
He picks up the phone "Hello-"
"Okay before I say anything further I just want to acknowledge that yes we know we are shit friends," Dugan says in a hurry.
"What?" Steve questions, he quickly looks at the caller ID to make sure it is Dugan and thinks for a moment if this was a continuation of a conversation he forgot they had.
"I also want to umm justify it further by saying we know your vacation time is limited and you usually don't like wasting it on a week long trip," He continues.
"Okay... What's this about?"
"I will also just like to further further say we wanted to take a very summer like vacation and what's a summer vacation without a firework show at ...at least one of the nights?"
"Mhmm…And what's a better night of fireworks than the 4th of July?" It comes together and Steve tries to hide his laughter at knowing he was giving Dugan a hard time. now. He can hear him groaning on the other end.
"I'm sorry, man. We really did book it months ago and we totally blanked on your birthday."
"It's-"
"Did I mention we're shit friends?"
"It's fine." Steve says.
"I can cancel!" Dugan offers. "Or one of us can cancel. I'm sure there's still time to-"
"Dugan it's fine," Steve stops him.
"Or you could come with for the day! Though booking a flight this late would be hard..."
"Dugan! It's fine, honestly."
"Steve..are you sure."
"I'm sure. I probably have to work anyway." Steve offers though he still didn't get that schedule.
"Right. ER. People and fireworks are never a good mixture."
"Got that right," Steve rubs his temples, a headache coming on from just thinking about it.
"You sure you're fine with this?"
"100%," Steve says and it's the truth. This way he can do Bucky's thing a lot earlier than planned. "Enjoy yourselves."
"We will."
"Where are you guys going anyway?" Steve asks.
"Uhh…" Dugan hesitates.
"What?"
"I feel like you're going to give us shit for this."
Steve laughs. "What? Why?"
"Ummm...Florida. We're going to Florida."
Steve stifles a laugh and a sound of disgust. He used to have to visit Florida in the summers to see his grandma. It was never fun and always insanely hot, not to mention the humidity. It was like your sweat was sweating on top of your sweat. He'd always warn his friends against it when they'd mention it or God forbid going to Disney. They'd claim he hates the "happiest place on earth" but really it was just the weather.
"Good luck!" Steve chuckles.
"Yeah yeah."
"If I have to be abandoned by my friends on my BIRTHDAY I'm glad it's to there," Steve jokes.
"You said you were fine with it Rogers!"
"I am. I really am. Just watch out for Montgomery. Florida's not England. He's gonna burn like a crisp."
Dugan laughs. "Figured you'd have a laugh out of that."
"And if you see an Alligator, run in a zig zag."
"Alright Mr. Floridian we'll do that."
"Enjooyyyy" Steve says in a long drawn out manner with a hint of an incoming of an evil laugh. He can sense Dugan roll his eyes on the other line.
Dugan laughs. "We'll see." Then turns genuine. "Thanks for being cool with it. Really am sorry."
"Don't even worry about it. I got to get going."
"Sure sure. And Happy very early birthday."
"Thanks. I'll see you guys later. If you survive." He ends the call with one final warning and gets a "Ha ha" from Dugan.
Steve gets ready for work and prays for an easy day.
Two days later and 5 hours of sleep shared between the two of them he forgot about getting back to Bucky (or even checking the mail for that matter). When he finally gets a day to go back to the Lakehouse he sees the flag up. Carrying his weekend bag and deciding to put that inside before he checks it he makes his way up the walkway. He smiles at the familiar pawprints no longer be annoyed with them from the one time he tried to scrub them off when he stayed at the house before.
When he's settled inside he goes back out to get the mail.
Steve,
My birthday is actually in March. We had only just started talking so I figured it'd be weird to mention and then therefore make you wish me a happy birthday when you didn't even know if I was real. I mostly stayed inside, watched Netflix, had very persistent friends convince me to go out. Okay yes I do have more friends than just Sam. They're mostly people I know from the bar. Old employees, current employees, people who owned other bars nearby, and some very dedicated, long term customers. Nothing too serious just some people to kid around with (or in this case convince me to go out on my birthday) Which maybe what was more Sam's concern, hard to trust people more than which bar has the best drinks or if that liquor before beer rhyme is actually true. My employee Alfie is probably the one I'm closest to out of those guys. He's been with me the longest and knows some of my struggles, but also knows not to contact me when I'm not working unless it's an emergency. He's sweet, sometimes makes very minor mistakes, plus it's just hard to get mad at him anyways. He knows enough about me to know why I might not answer the phone and knows the different tones when Sam calls but not enough to run away to treat me different. Although I'm sure he wouldn't be one of those that do anyways.
God now I'm rambling. But yes I had a birthday and yes I semi celebrated it. I did at least give myself the day off haha. Hope your friends give you the proper celebration you deserve. I'm sure Sam at least will, he's always good at that stuff. Which reminds me I never properly asked what he's up to in your time? Shows how good of a friend I am. Although I suppose you couldn't tell me anyways.
Also still no rush on giving me a date, though I am eagerly awaiting a confirmation :).
Love always,
Bucky
Ps. You don't need to make up for it. I just wanted to do a date like what real people do (It just so happened to fall on your birthday :p ) (( Although it is tempting what 'make it up to you' means exactly))
Steve makes a mental note that Bucky's birthday is in March and realizes Bucky never put the actual day. He supposes if he was really into astrology he'd look up Bucky's sign and see if they were compatible but knowing his birth month makes him happy nonetheless.
Then he gets to Bucky mentioning Sam again...
Bucky is right he really wouldn't be able to say anything but it's also not like he'd know what to say. It'd be different if Steve knew Sam was friends with Bucky and knew they had a falling out, or even if he knew Bucky when him and Sam were more in touch. Whatever it was Sam never came to him with it so it must've happened after he moved to DC or maybe it was something Sam felt he couldn't tell him when he was here either way he wouldn't be able to help Bucky out with that just that he moved to DC.
He pulls out his phone to look at his schedule for the next week and finds a paper to write Bucky back.
Bucky,
I see you didn't give me the day :) you're just going to have me forget again? Or is the whole month of March a celebration of you? I wouldn't mind that.
I'm glad you went out though and that you gave yourself the day off but I guess being the boss that's a lot easier to do ha! Glad you have a trusty employee and I think for the record a lot more people than you're willing to realize wouldn't run away from you if they knew everything. I do understand you've been hurt by a lot of people to see that but I promise there's better people out there that would not only not judge but would understand. We all have something that might make people running but in your case are those people worth it? I say no. They didn't deserve you and they don't deserve to be the reason you don't let others get to know the great person that you are.
I'm sorry I might be getting to sappy, I've only have about 2 hours of sleep last night...or was it 3?
Speaking of my friends...they're actually going away that week and therefore wont be home for my birthday. Sam is...well Sam moved away when the practice fell through so won't be in town either.
Steve figures he can say as much otherwise he'd have Bucky ask why not hang with Sam or something to that effect and he might as well give Bucky something. Plus he's not like he could tell him anything more. What was he going to say? Sam seemed REALLY pissed off when I mentioned you but besides that he's probably the same one you knew.
So it looks like I'll be alone that whole week. I do have to work the 4th but I'll be available the 5th and 6th if those work for you? If it's too soon we could always do the week after? I will have to wait for that schedule though.
I'm excited for what you have planned! Whether it's successful or a failure I'm sure it will be fun. Really need to close this letter as I'm about to crash but I love you and thank you.
Love,
Steven
He makes it to the mailbox and back before he pushes the pillows off the couch and passes out cold.