Winter's Bride

2 - Invitation

The weeks flew by and you had only seen James occasionally in passing since you had first met in the foyer and you had managed to embarrass yourself within mere minutes, making it a new personal record. You had put it down to being so out of practice when it came to talking to men, having not bothered to date since you moved here, as well as down to the fact that James did not just look like any man, he was something else entirely. You had exchanged pleasantries, small talk here and there and he had occasionally borrowed milk or sugar. However, this was the first time you had seen him where you worked. You had wanted to shrink away as soon as you had seen him enter with Yori, a man who was somewhat of a regular at the establishment. You had even begged your manager to move you onto pot washing, something no one ever begged to do, but he liked you on the bar, where you always were. He was a sleaze who had openly stated that your presence there had increased his bar sales by 20 percent with absolutely no shame whatsoever. However, for the same reason the tips were good so you just accepted it as one of those things and took from it what you could. Judging from the surprised look on his face, James clearly didn't expect to see you either, as Yori made his way to his usual seat at the bar, one of the few decent men that ever sat there. James took up the bar stool next to him, his hulking presence hard to ignore.

"Hey" you greeted them as you wiped down the top of the bar after a drunken spillage had made it sticky, thanks to one of its patrons.

"Hey" he couldn't help but smile, giving his hand a small wave before he took his seat and grabbed two of the menus that were stacked on the end of the bar, passing one to Yori.

"Hey Yori, how are you?" You asked the elderly man, his thinning white hair windswept thanks to the blustery weather outside.

"I am good" he nodded as he messed with the newspaper he had brought in with him, before finding the page he was looking for. "Look" he gestured to the obituary and James peered over his shoulder at the paper, "Not one of them made it to 90".

"Such a shame, so young" James retorted sarcastically.

"I didn't expect to see you here on a Wednesday, not your usual day Yori?" you smiled as you prepared an order of drinks for one of the tables.

"The place we normally go to today was closed, refurbishments or something" he replied, his native accent still strong despite years of living in the US.

"Normally? You two go to dinner often?" You enquired; surprised by this odd friendship the two of them seemed to have as your filled the metal cocktail shaker with ice before proceeding to fill it with various types of alcohol.

"Once a week, without fail" James smiled, watching you over his menu as you worked, catching Yori's attention the man leaned over to him, and spoke in what he thought was a whisper.

"Why don't you ask her on a date?" he said, causing James to reel back on his chair with a shocked scowl etched onto his face. You couldn't help but overhear but said nothing, shaking the cocktail shaker to fill the empty silence before slowly pouring the old fashioned into the glass you had set out and garnished.

"I knew it from the first old fashioned we were cursed" you sang the Taylor Swift lyrics to yourself as you poured before Yori's voice interrupted your concentration.

"He would like to take you on a date." He announced matter of factly, "Maybe to Bingo or a night of Pinnacle?"

"I'm really sorry about him" James interjected immediately before lightly jabbing Yori in the side with his elbow.

"Why are you sorry? I'm game." You found yourself saying without stopping to think of the potential consequences of dating ones neighbour, not that they would have probably stopped you anyway. You expected your relationships to end badly at this point, surely there was no harm in having a bit of fun.

"Wow" James uttered, sitting back on his stool and nodding his head as though he was surprised that someone would agree to go on a date with him but before he had time to say anything else Yori was speaking again.

"Tomorrow night then?" Yori asked.

"Tomorrow night's great" You smiled, "Just maybe not Pinnacle."

"What's wrong with Pinnacle?" James asked, leaning forward onto the bar, his brow furrowing in fake offence, setting a deep line between his eyebrows.

"I have a shift, but if you want to come back here I should be done around 10" you smiled before setting all of the drinks you had made onto a tray and picking it up. You balanced it expertly on the flat of your palm before negotiating your way around the small bar, "I'll be back to take your order in a mo" you smiled, before making your way to the table whose order it was. James swivelled in his seat to watch you, the prying eyes of others who were inspecting you catching his attention as your body swayed skillfully while you made your way in and around the tables of busy diners before leaning over to set the tray of drinks down at the table farthest away in the corner. He turned back around to Yori.

"Yori" he scolded, placing his forehead in his hand as he leant on the top of the bar.

"What?" the old man shrugged innocently.

"She's my neighbour." James groaned.

"Even better" Yori smiled, "You could take her dancing."

"I haven't been dancing since 1943" Bucky found himself saying in response, "Feels like" he quickly added.