Your Ivy Grows

Chapter 46

My heart is hammering in my chest as my eyes swivel to the archway that led through to this secluded spot. I'm thankful we're hidden away enough that we can't see the entrance to the greenhouse from here, which means whoever came in can't see us either.

I look over to Bucky, ready to take my cue from him. His demeanour has changed completely from how it was seconds ago. The panic I saw on his face has cooled considerably and now he just looks annoyed.

"Stay here," he says gently, his voice working to soothe my nerves even further.

Then he leaves me standing by the table as he heads under the archway, turning the corner and heading towards the door. I listen to the sound of his footsteps on the wooden planks as they fade away from me. I strain, attempting to hear anything that's being said between Bucky and whoever walked in.

"It's my roof; I'll go where I like!" The sudden raised voice of a man echoes through the quiet of the greenhouse.

My panic subsides even more when I realise I don't recognise the voice. I'd honestly let my mind conjure up images of John storming in here and finding us together—an absolutely ridiculous fear given that at this very moment he's on a plane, flying out of the country.

There's the sound of two heavy sets of footsteps drawing closer and then a man, who is most definitely not Bucky, comes barrelling round the corner, coming to an abrupt stop when he sees me.

Bucky's close on his heels, reaching for his arm and attempting to keep him back. Bucky looks up, catches my eyes and mouths me a silent sorry. He doesn't look too alarmed by the sudden appearance of this stranger, which tells me I shouldn't be either.

The man shakes off Bucky's hand, muttering under his breath in what I'm almost positive is Japanese. He's a much older gentleman, his face lined with wrinkles and a silver moustache decorating his upper lip. Bucky seems to tower over him as he looks down at him in annoyance.

When the man looks at me, I get a much clearer view of his kind face. His eyes meet mine and they give me pause because they're so noticeably sad. Even when he gives me the briefest of smiles, they don't lose their haunted look.

"Ah, so you do exist," he says to me, giving Bucky a reproachful look as he comes towards me.

"Last time I checked."

I'm not really sure how I should act in this situation. I'd wanted to avoid seeing anyone while we were out, but it looks like that plan failed. Thankfully, this man seems harmless enough and there was no flicker of recognition when he saw me.

"I wasn't sure. This one," he pointedly motions to Bucky with the hook of his thumb, "isn't very talkative. I'm sure you've noticed. Thought he might have made you up to stop me meddling."

Bucky looks back and forth between us, looking as equally unsure on how to handle this as I am. But I've already decided I like this guy, whoever he is. It's in the no-nonsense way he shows he's not the least bit intimidated by Bucky or the way he's currently glowering at him.

"If he won't introduce me, I'll do it. I'm Yori Nakajima, you can call me Yori." He holds his hand out to me and I can't help but reach over and shake it, a bemused smile tugging at my lips.

"Nice to meet you, Yori. I'm Alexis," I say without stopping to consider if it's smart to tell him my real name. I'm not sure it matters as I don't get the sense Yori plans to run out of here and tell anyone.

"The pleasure's all mine. Especially if you're the reason he's been less miserable during our weekly lunches." Yori tells me, and I laugh at the way Bucky's scowl deepens.