Steve continued giving Bucky rides home for the rest of the week, and expected it to continue but on Friday, Bucky told him that his car had been fixed and he could be fine driving himself again. Steve couldn't help but be disappointed, but he hoped it didn't show. He hadn't stopped thinking about his conversation with Tony, yet he had been content to ignore it in favour of enjoying the car rides.
The next day, Steve spent half the day thinking and convincing himself both to do it and talking himself out of it. In the end, however, he decided to go to Bucky's and tell him about his feelings. He wasn't sure he believed Tony, he still had this feeling that Bucky didn't really feel that way about him. But he was willing to try, he wanted to be proven wrong; just wanted Bucky to like him back.
After second, third, and fourth thoughts, a brief panic attack, and a shot of vodka, Steve was ready to go. He drove over to Bucky's apartment and punched in his room number to be buzzed in. It only took a few moments, but then he was walking up the stairs and arriving at Bucky's door. He'd only been up there once when Bucky had needed a hand bringing up some boxes for school a couple days ago.
He knocked before he could chicken out, and anxiously waited for Bucky to answer it. It took longer than he had expected, and just when he was about to leave, the door opened.
However, it wasn't Bucky who opened the door.
Instead, an attractive black man, still dripping from the shower, opened the door in a towel. It took Steve a moment to realize he was just staring, and the man was waiting for him to say something.
"Shit, sorry I think I have the wrong apartment. I thought this was Bucky Barnes apartment?" He said, softly, rubbing the back of his neck with his hand in a nervous gesture.
"Nah, man, this is the right one. Bucky lives here. Are you a friend of his?" The man asked, looking him up and down. Shit, this must be Bucky's boyfriend. Steve paled, and ignored the look of concerned that took over the man's face.
"Are you ok, you don't look so good?" He asked, moving like he was about to take a step forward. That snapped Steve out of his daze.
"I'm okay, I just- I need to go. Sorry." Steve rushed out, nodding to the man and walking towards the stairs as fast he could without tripping.
He made it to his car before the tears came, and he let them fall as he drove away as quick as possible. How could he have been so stupid? Of course Bucky had a boyfriend. Not to mention the man was beautiful, Bucky deserved someone like him.
Self-deprecating thoughts continued to plague him until he got home and stumbled into his apartment. He grabbed the earlier discarded bottle of vodka and flopped onto his couch. Eventually he fell asleep helped along by alcohol and emotional exhaustion.
Sorry this chapter was so short, unfortunately, I don't see them getting longer lol