It's Been A Long, Long Time // Steve Rogers

Chapter 8

A week went by and I hate to say that I've been avoiding Steve. I've gone as far as making one of the other bartenders or Maddy serve him his beer. She didn't mind. However, I also learned they had a date today. Saturday. 7pm. They were going dancing. And she wouldn't shut up about it. The thought of it made me angry and I huffed as I poured another beer. I sat the pint glass in front of the customer who passed me a crisp dollar bill and told me to keep the change. I stuffed the extra change into my apron and my eyes met Steve's.

I had taken up extra shifts to busy myself and he had come for every one. Drinking his beer. Sketching on a napkin or in his sketchbook. His eyes always finding mine somehow and pleading with me to just talk to him. But I didn't know what to say. I kissed him. He kissed back. I didn't know what to do.

"Earth to Becca?" My eyes snapped to the hand waving in front of my eyes. Lois. "Hi." I breathed out. "What were you staring at?" She looked around and I shook my head, "Nothing, Lo."

"Hey, Riley has been worried about you since you ran out of Howard's party last Saturday." I sighed and looked up at her. "I'm sorry, Lo..." "He wants to see you again. Make sure you're okay." Riley was a nice guy. I probably did owe him an apology for running out on him like I did. "What do you say we all go dancing?" She suggested. "Dancing. I can go dancing." I gave her a weak smile and her face lit up.

"When are you off?"

"Oh just a few hours. I'm only working the day shift." I replied.

"Great! Let's say 7pm. The Stork Club?" I nodded and gave her one last smile. "Yay!" She leaned over the bar and gave me a kiss on the cheek. "See you at 7!" She pranced out of the bar and I looked back at Steve.

"You know Grant and I are going to go to be at the Stork Club tonight too! Maybe we will see you there. A triple date." Maddy smiled wide and nudged my shoulder. "That's great, Maddy." I gave her a fake smile and we continued about our day. Though, I was silently dreading going dancing tonight. I would have to see them together. His left hand in hers while his right was placed delicately on her waist as they swayed to the music.

"Becca!" Maddy pulled me out of my trance and I saw my hand being covered with beer, the glass overflowing and creating a huge mess on the bartop and dripping onto the floor. "Oh..." I looked at the mess and immediately let go of the tap. "Bailey! We need towels...lots of them." She yelled into the back.

He came out quickly with towels and handed them to us both and we dropped them onto the floor and cleaned up the mess. "I'm sorry." I mumbled. "Don't be. It happens." Maddy brightly smiled at me and I gave her a small one in return.

7pm rolled around a lot quicker than I would have liked but I was dressed in a green off the shoulder cocktail dress with matching gloves and standing under the big marquee sign that read "Stork Club". I swallowed my nerves and stepped inside, letting my eyes scan across the crowd, looking for Lois. I spotted her perfectly curled blonde hair and made my way towards them. "Becca! You look stunning." She smiled. "So do you!" I greeted John as well and stood off to the side with a drink they ordered me. "Riley will be here soon. Some issue with the flying car and he's left late." Lois explained. I simply nodded and looked at the happy couples dancing the night away.

I hadn't seen Steve or Maddy though. Maybe they would change their mind? Though I doubt it if her excitement today was any indication. "There he is!" Lois pointed at Riley and waved him over to us. "Becca. So good to see you again." He gave me a kiss on the cheek accompanied with a hug. "You too, Riley. I'm sorry for running out on you last Saturday."

"Oh please! Don't apologize. I'm sorry for springing that on you. When I heard you were related to the late Sergeant Barnes...well, I got excited." He smiled lightly and I squeezed his arm reassuringly. "Please don't feel bad. It was just a lot for me. I could have handled it more lady-like."

He waved off my comment and we made our way towards the bar to get him a drink. "Until that moment, I was really enjoying getting to know you, Becca." He leaned against the bar with a smile. "I was enjoying getting to know you as well. Not so much the party. That's not really my scene." I laughed slightly. "Ah. Mine either, but Howie is a good friend." Riley accepted his drink and led me back towards Lois and John. His hand resting on my back, not too low.

"Ooo Becca! Isn't that Maddy, from the bar?" Lois pointed out Maddy from across the room who was in a beautiful black one shoulder satin evening gown. Steve was stood next to her in a nice gray suit. They looked good together.

It wasn't long before she spotted me and approached our group. "Becca, you look beautiful!" She smiled. God it was hard to be upset that he was on a date with her. She was so nice. "Me? You look like you stepped out of a fashion catalog." I stepped back and smiled at Steve. "Grant. Nice to see you again." "You too, Becca."

"Riley, John, Lois. This is Maddy, we work at the bar together, and her date Grant. An old friend of mine. I introduced them at the bar." They all greeted each other. "So Becca, how do you know Grant?" Riley asked. "Oh, Grant was a friend of my brothers." I said. It wasn't a lie.

Riley smiled and nodded as a lively song started playing. "Becca, we must dance, this is one of my favorites." Riley smiled and took my hand, pulling me towards the large floor. "Excuse us." I handed my unfinished martini to Lois and followed him out. He carefully took my hand in his and spun me around before pulling me in close, a hand resting on my waist.

"You know my brother taught me how to dance." I said. "He did?" "He was a great dancer. A great brother too."

"I can imagine." Riley smiled and spun me around again. "He taught you well." I smiled and we continued dancing to the song. "Your friend looks uncomfortable." He nodded in Steve's direction and I saw him staring at his feet and trying to dance. I laughed slightly, "Yea. He's never been much of a dancer." I smiled. Bucky tried to teach him too but Steve always just kind of tripped over himself. Never knew where to put his feet.

I looked back at Riley, focusing my attention on him. I was on a date with him. He was a genuinely nice guy and I wanted to enjoy my time with him. Steve was on a date with Maddy. I smiled at Riley as he lifted me and spun us around. I had to admit, I was having fun. I laughed as he made a silly face when the song ended, dipping me in the process.

He gave me another dazzling smile before the next song started. "Ready to get another drink? He asked but I shook my head. "One more song."