Chapter 15

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October 2014

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October 2014

My apartment was unusually silent when I got back from the bookstore. 9 times out of 10, Bucky would be here, either reading, or cooking, or writing in his little notebook, or just simply staring out the window. No matter what he was doing, he would still be here, and now he's not.

I placed my new copy of Pride and Prejudice that I bought just for him on my table and checked the kitchen to make sure there truly was no one there.

Huh. Weird.

I was probably overreacting. Maybe he wanted time alone, away from the person he was with almost every other moment. I mean, that's what my parents—overreacting, as I said. Instead of worrying, I snatched another book from the brand-new pile and tried to settle down with it on the couch.

The words swam in front of me, and I couldn't get past the first page. I abandoned my book, grabbing the keys from the counter, and left. I knocked on the door next to mine, careful to avoid the patches of red, peeling paint.

No answer.

Okay, I had to breathe. Bucky was a grown man who could handle himself. He was perfectly capable of going outside on his own. And I myself was completely able to spend time alone. I spent thirteen years by myself, for God's sake.

But I couldn't quite get my legs to move back into my apartment. Instead they followed the directions of that nagging seed of worry, and took the elevator down to the lobby, where I knew Lucy was on shift. Her kids (well, kid and a demon) was at school, so it was strangely quiet in the large area. It was only Lucy's voice and the whoosh of cars nearby that could be heard. And definitely no Bucky. I would have seen him on the way in, otherwise.

I walked up to the front desk with what was hopefully a casual smile. Lucy looked up from where she was scheduling a booking in her large calendar book and gave me a small grin back, holding up her hand in the universal gesture for "give me a moment."

Lucy finished up the call with a strained smile, then the second she slammed the phone back down on her stand she rolled her eyes. 'You and James watch your step next week, okay? Some bitch named Karen is staying in the apartment across from yours for a few days.'

'And here I was, relishing in having an entire floor to just the two of us,' I replied with a wane smile.

'Don't get used to it. Christmas is our busiest time,' Lucy wrinkled her nose. 'All sorts of interesting characters come in.'

'Not as interesting as us, I'm sure,' I pointed out, even though the Australian didn't even know the half-truth. I wondered whether Bucky wanted to stay here for the Christmas season, or whether the busy month would be too much for him. 'Luc, have you seen B—James anywhere? He's not in his apartment, and he didn't leave a note.'

'This is why you need a phone, mate,' Lucy sighed and shook her head, but her blue eyes were gleaming suspiciously, like she knew something I didn't. I narrowed my eyes at her, and suddenly it clicked. Was Bucky on a date? My stomach swooped strangely, and suddenly my skin was too tight and prickly. (I was not jealous, okay. It just hurt that he didn't tell me).

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