The Bet

Chapter 18: Date 21

"You're taking me to a bookstore?" You ask Bucky. He looks back at you. "Yep." He says.

He drags you by your hand into the bookstore. "This will either be the best date, or worst date of my life." You say.

"Hopefully the best." Bucky winks at you. You giggle and loop your arm through his.

"Why are we here?" You ask.

"You once told me, the best coffee you ever had, was inside this bookstore." Bucky says.

You stare at him in disbelief. "You remember that? I told you like... two years ago." You say.

"Of course I remember. It'd be hard to forget anything that comes outta your pretty little mouth." Bucky flirts.

A blush creeps up your cheeks as you look down. Bucky notices and chuckles softly.

"Okay, I'll get us coffee, you go look at books." Bucky says.

"Do you need my order?" You ask. Bucky raises an eyebrow at you. "Right." You softly say. Bucky chuckles and presses a kiss to your forehead. You smile and walk away as he goes to order.

"You and your girlfriend are cute together." The barista says to Bucky after he orders.

"Oh she's not my girlfriend." Bucky says as he hands him money.

"Oh so you wouldn't mind if I asked her out?" He asks Bucky.

Bucky thinks for a moment. You're not his girlfriend, but this crusty barista doesn't need to know that you're not his.

"She's me wife." Bucky says as he hands him cash. "Keep the change." He says before walking away.

You walk through the aisles of books. All the words pouring into your brain—crowding it. You trail your fingertips along some of them. Some old, some new. The maze of books traps you and you're lost. Lost in thoughts and feelings. Everything seems quiet, peaceful even. If only it could always be like this. If only you and Bucky were—

"Y/n?" A voice calls, snapping you out of your haze.

You look to your right and see a familiar man. "Oh my god. Henry?" You ask.

He steps closer to you. "The one and only." He says as he reaches to hug you. You awkwardly hug him back. "How have you been?" He asks.

"I've been good. How about you?" You ask.

"Same old same old. My fiancé actually just left me for a girl. Turns out she's gay. Which is... anyways, other than that I'm good." Henry says.

"I'm sorry to hear about that." You say.

"You look good. God I missed you. We should hang out sometime. Maybe go out to dinner or something." Henry says.

"Umm... sur—"

"There you are." You turn around and see Bucky walking towards you with two cups of coffee in his hands. He hands you one as he speaks, "This place is like a maze. Took forever to find you doll."

"Well, here I am." You say and take a sip of you coffee. Bucky smiles.

He looks up at Henry. Smile completely gone as he glares at him. "Henry." Bucky says coldly.

"Bucky." Henry coldly says back. "Why are you here?" He asks Bucky.

"Y/n and I are here, together, actually." Bucky says.

"Is that right?" Henry asks. Still glaring at Bucky. Bucky glares back at him.

"Okay Bucky, why don't you come help me find a book?" You suggest. Bucky looks at you and smiles sweetly. You loop your arm through his.

"I could help too." Henry says.

"She didn't ask you." Bucky snaps back.

"Okay let's go." You say.

"I'll call you y/n." Henry says.

"Okay." You say.

Bucky looks at you in disbelief. "Don't judge me. His fiancé just left him. I feel bad." You say.

"You mean his fiancé, aka the girl he left you for?" Bucky asks. You sheepishly nod. He scoffs, "You may have forgiven him for what he did to you, but I haven't. And I sure as hell don't plan to."

"Well, you don't have to like him. I can hang out with whoever I want." You say.

"I never said you couldn't. I'm just saying I don't like him." Bucky says.

"You don't have to. Whoever I hang out with, or date, doesn't revolve around if you like them or not. You're not my dad." You say.

"Your father doesn't even like you." Bucky says.

"Wow." You say.

"I didn't mean it like that y/n." Bucky quickly says.

"No no I get it. My father hates me. I know he does Bucky. But guess what? You don't have to remind me." You say.

"Y/n-"

"Let's just head back to the compound. This is the worst date I've ever been on." You say and walk away.

Bucky sighs deeply before following you.