This Is Us

Chapter 14

In typical fashion words escape me. Seems to be happening often when this man is in near vicinity, except it's usually because Walker is too busy showing off with something brand new.

So, what do I blame my loss of words on this time?

I feel my mouth drop open, close and open once more while literally no sound comes out, not even a squeak.  Instead I panic, step back and shut the door in his face. 

  I stare at the closed door, hand reaching for the locks once more. 'Am I dreaming?' 

  I must be dreaming. I must have fallen asleep while listening about that deranged killer, dreamt that Chris was on the other side of the door and I'm sure that if I stood there long enough he'd probably toss the shield and it slice me in half, right?  I mean, this is a nightmare in the weirdest sense. 

  "AnnaBelle?" the voice calls out from the other side of the door.

  I shake my head, looking around the room before I'm walking away and into my bathroom. I splash cold water on my face, figuring that if I can feel the water hit my skin then surely I'm not asleep.

  But why the hell would Chris Evans be at my door if not for a dream?

  I splash insanely cold water on my face three times, completely unconvinced still even when I find my cheesecake still sitting on the tv tray, and my show on pause, too. 

  My cell now rings, making me jump.  The number is the same that Chris used from Monday when he called to check in on Walker. Seriously, how can my subconscious remember something like a phone number I've seen once in my life. 

  Or, it's not a dream at all.

  "AnnaBelle!" I hear the voice again, a little louder this time, maybe even a bit agitated.

  I answer the call, hesitantly saying a "Hello," at which point I hear his laugh in my ear and behind the door.

  "Open the door," he whines through his laughter.

  "What are you doing here?" I ask, still standing in the middle of my living room, phone up against my ear. I hear the exasperation in a sigh, "Are we really going to do this over the phone when I'm standing on your porch?"

  "How do I know this isn't a dream? Like a very vivid dream thanks to a slice of Death by Chocolate Cheesecake?" I ask, finally stepping closer to the front door again. 

  "I guess you'll just have to take my word for it."

  "That could be dangerous, Mr. Evans. I mean, is that really you on my porch? Maybe it's a look alike? Did you send your stunt double to my house? I knew you'd snitch on me to Marvel execs," I tease, my hand reaching for the locks again.

  I click one, two and then the one at the top of the door, opening it to find Chris standing with his phone up to his ear. "What are you doing here?"

  "That's the warmest welcome I could've imagined," he says, grinning back at me. "Well, maybe not entirely true. I had kind of hoped when you shut the door you were off to get my little buddy."

  I shake my head slowly, my arms crossing against my chest as I lean into the doorframe. "Your little buddy is not here tonight."

  His smile falters and I genuinely feel awful, and yet maybe a little relieved. He's obviously not here for me. My streak of not letting men in can continue. 

  Chris starts to slip the shield into some type of carrying case. "He with grandparents or something?"

  "Uh, no. My best friend actually. She and her husband are keeping him for the night."

  Chris kind of shuffles to the side a bit, looking over my shoulder at the straight shot to my little cheesecake platter. "Oh, so a night for you and your husband then. I am so sorry for interrupting." He starts walking backwards, carrier in hand. "Actually, no. I guess I should just leave this with you and you can give it to him tomorrow, or whenever."

  He's stuttering and rambling, and it's somewhat adorable. I quickly decide to put him at ease. "No, actually. It's just me tonight."

  "Husband out of town?" he asks, a genuine curiosity laced in his tone.

  I find myself biting back a laugh. "If you wanna call it that," I sigh, my head facing my bare feet, noticing now a very obvious chip in the burgundy polish. I tuck that foot behind the other.

  Chris raises a brow, questioning me without words. "You don't wanna hear about it, trust me."

  "I can be a good listener. I mean, I can also be a good talker according to my brother. If you want me to keep rambling, that's certainly something I can do. But, also I don't really want to interrupt your evening of," he pauses, his eyes looking up at the sky in wonder, "freedom, I guess."

  "You mean you don't want to interrupt my night of binge watching True Crime and stuffing my face with cheesecake?" I tease with a small smile.

  With a snap of his fingers he's speaking once more. "Ya know, I do seem to recall you saying something about a Death By Chocolate cake. Any chance you've got enough to share?"

  "Excuse me?" I laugh out. "Are you really inviting yourself into my home? And on second thought are you really thinking I'd be willing to share the most amazing three flavors of cheesecake to ever be made?"

  "Three?" he asks, eyes wide in merriment as his hands tuck into the pockets of his jeans. "My bad! Three is definitely not enough to share."

  I glance over my shoulder. The house isn't a complete disaster, but obviously isn't quite in tip top "Hollywood Heart Throb come sit on my couch" condition either.  "I can come back tomorrow instead. I'm staying at the Marriott, downtown. You can call me when Walker is back. I'll give him his gift, maybe hang with him for a few and then be on my way." I start to chew on my thumbnail, debating on which way to let this whole thing play out. "Forget I even made the joke about the cheesecake. I didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable."

  I straighten up a bit on the doorframe. "Downtown?" He nods. "About four blocks to the left is a restaurant, nothing fancy but good food. It's called August Sunflower. I'll be getting Walker there around lunchtime, say noon. You're welcome to join us, unless that's too much for you with being out and about."

  One corner of Chris' mouth pulls up, that same joy lighting up his eyes. "A guy's gotta eat, right?" He picks up the shield and starts to back up again. "I'll see you at noon. And Walker, too," he adds, giving me a sly wink before retreating to his car. 

*Unedited

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