Recipe for Romance: A Bucky Barnes Story

15: S.O.S.

"...And that's how I knew I was going to get the promotion. You see, there's absolutely no one else in the office that..."

I find myself staring absently at the pasta on my plate. My head's taken on a constant nodding motion at the lengthy stories this asshole's been spewing for the past hour. We met at the restaurant at seven, and now at eight I'm about to stab myself from boredom. Not even the amazing Italian food is helping with my mood.

"...Two awards, actually. I've never been more honored than when the mayor himself presented me with..."

I can't believe this guy is still droning on! He hasn't stopped talking about himself all night! He told me I looked good when I arrived, but since then it's been nothing but an autobiography on Kody. The attorney may be handsome, smart, and successful—but he knows it. That makes all of it worthless, as long as he's talking about it constantly.

A flash of white light catches my eye. I turn my head and peer out of the windows of the Italian restaurant. There on the sidewalk is a small gathering of people excitedly snapping pictures and taking flash photography. I sit a bit taller to peer over my date's head while he continues to blabber away. Some of the crowd shifts to break away, revealing Captain America in his street clothes posing with some fans. A smile threatens to break on my face. The grin really only appears when I spot Bucky Barnes and Sharon Carter lingering just behind him.

I look to my date once again. He's still blabbering on, not even trying to make eye contact. He's struggling to twirl the cappelini noodles onto his fork. If I cared enough to show him how it's properly done, I would.

Slyly I tug my cell phone out of my purse. I keep it stealthily positioned on my lap under the table. After typing in my code, I open the texts and start a new one to someone I'm VERY happy to have seen out on the street.

Sadie: Bucky! SOS!

I pause, realizing this may come across as drastic to him. So I quickly type another.

Sadie: I can see you. I'm in the Italian restaurant. The date is a disaster. I need an extraction ASAP!

I slide my phone onto my lap and then impatiently stare out to the handsome man on the street. He blinks once or twice before feeling the phone vibrating from his pocket. Eyebrows gnarled, he reads the name on the screen then quickly opens it up. I watch as he reads the words then his eyes dart up to the restaurant where I'm seated inside of. It only takes him a millisecond to notice me there. I make a terribly unhappy face—even going as far as subtly angling my steak knife to my own throat for dramatic effect. I can see Bucky's amused grin from all the way out there beneath the street lamp. He holds up a "hold on" finger before typing out a response.

"...That's how I knew I was doing the right thing with my life. There's nothing like the thrill of sending someone to prison..."

My phone buzzes. Quickly I snatch it up. Reading the screen, I see that Bucky's responded in two texts.

James: What's wrong with him? Did he try something with you?

James: I can get you out of there. What do you want me to do?

I sigh.

Sadie: He's a self-obsessed douchebag. Do you know what a douchebag is, Bucky? I don't care how I get out—I just need to get away before I punch him.

I press send then wait for his reply. I see him laugh out there on the sidewalk. If I try hard enough, I can almost imagine what it sounds like.

James: Ah, I see. Don't worry. I'll get you out of there.