Steve’s witty retort (about just trying to make sure that Bucky knows how to read and write more than just his name) dies on his lips. “Technically I’m still in class,” he says to Bucky, and to the phone itself, trying to persuade himself not to answer.

It doesn’t help. There’s virtually no way that Steve wouldn’t answer his phone for Becca and the girls. For the last year, they’ve been all he’s had of the person that’s always mattered the most in his life since his mom passed (and maybe before that too, though God won’t let him admit that).

Catholic guilt is strong in Steve and so he lifts a hand for Bucky to be quiet and puts the call on speaker. “Hey Bec. You missed me posing in naked in class today. It melted everyone’s faces, like the Ark in Indiana Jones. You okay?”