Red

Part 22

Mallery

The next two weeks bring us into September, and while Bucky and I have spent several nights together, I spend every night sleeping in my own room ... alone. I think he might be a little offended, but he's much too nice to bring it up. He understands that for this, it's important for me to have my own space.

Our time is consumed with work, family, making sure I get as much training from Tash as possible, and getting familiar with the new bike that Steve bought for me. Bucky finally took me out for some street driving this past weekend, and I actually handled this ride far better than his bike or my brother's.

I'm waiting for him to get back from a board meeting so I can send him to lunch. Wanda's come into town to meet with him, and while I'm eager to hear what he thinks about her request to work from home, I have my own lunch plans.

Laura Barton wants to see me.

Sitting at my desk, going over his schedule for the next month, Bucky strides up to me grinning. "Let's play hooky for the rest of the day. It is unseasonably cool out, and there's no reason we shouldn't take advantage of it." His hands are shoved in his pockets, and he's grinning like a little boy.

"I'd like nothing more, but you are a busy man, which means I'm a busy woman." I lead him into his office. "You have a lunch date in thirty minutes at Morton's."

"No, I don't," he says as he slips his suit jacket off, draping it over the back of his desk chair.

"Yes, you do. I made the reservation this morning because I'm good at my job." I take a step closer to his desk. "Wanda's coming in to see you."

"I—" He sighs heavily. "Is she quitting?"

"I didn't tell you anything, but she wants to talk about her options," I say and smile before sitting on the couch in his office. "I think she wants to try working from home."

"But I didn't hear that from you, huh?" He winks before sitting down behind his desk. "Okay, when do you want to leave?"

I shift a little uncomfortably. "I have my own lunch plans."

It's so quiet inside his office that I can hear the clock on his desk ticking.

"Where are you going? Who are you meeting? How long are—"

"Whoa, I don't have to tell you where I'm going. You're not my keeper, Bucky." I roll my eyes, but he just continues to stare at me.

"So, two weeks ago, you sneak out and John attacks you, and suddenly, you think it's okay to go gallivanting off by yourself?" He huffs out an exasperated breath.

"Do you even hear yourself right now? I didn't sneak out. John is in jail, and I'm not 'gallivanting'. And even if I was, it's my prerogative, not yours. I told you that I needed my own space, that I had to make mistakes." I'm trying to keep my voice low because we agreed not to discuss this at work.

"Your mistakes are gonna get you killed one day, Mal." Bucky's eyes widen a little as soon as the words escape his mouth, and I sigh.

"You can't keep me like a princess locked in a tower." I rise and walk to the doorway. "That's just a different kind of control. I have to be my own person, with or without your support."

When I return to my desk, I glance across the room, but no one is paying me any attention. I busy myself so I don't start crying; I'm furious and hurt that Bucky would treat me this way. I know he's worried and scared; I am too. But this isn't the way to deal with it.

Five minutes later, he walks out of his office, jacket back in place, and stops by my desk. "I'm going to meet Wanda. Will you be here when I get back?"