Wrong Number 💙

Chapter 5

"Did you bring your guitar, Auntie?" Becca's innocent inquiry reached her ears just before the arrival of guests for James's party. She looked down at her niece with a warm smile.

"Yes, I did, little one. I can sing something later if James wants me to."

"I do!" James's enthusiastic agreement made her chuckle.

She laughed, seeing James step into the kitchen. He sported a Captain America t-shirt, his shaggy brown hair partially obscuring his bright blue eyes. "Did you comb your hair, James?"

An indignant groan escaped him as he ran his hands through his hair. "No. It's my birthday; I can do what I want."

Amusement danced in her eyes. "Alright, I'll make sure to inform your mom about your hair decision when she comes down here fussing about it." Her laughter accompanied his groan as he vanished briefly, only to return with his hair neatly combed. "Was that so difficult?"

With an eye-roll, he left the kitchen again, shouting "Ethan!" from somewhere else in the house. As the front doorbell rang, the sound of his excited voice calling for his friend drifted in. Meagan and James were engrossed in conversation with their arriving guests. Rising from her seat, she exchanged greetings with Ethan's mother, Carly.

"It's nice to meet you, Ethan," she greeted the boy, his response a half-hearted smile before he was whisked away by James, evoking a chuckle from her. Turning to Liam, she learned that Carly worked with Meagan at the local high school. 

Carly smiled and nodded. "I'm an English teacher at the high school. I also run the theater club. She said you're thinking about coming to run the Art department?"

Shaking her head while casting a glance at Meagan and Liam, she replied, "Considering it, yes. They want me to move to Concord, even though I live just 45 minutes away."

Liam's laughter filled the room. "45 minutes is too far away." He left the kitchen as more guests arrived, leaving her with Meagan and Carly.

Meagan playfully nudged Carly's arm. "Is your brother coming?"

Carly nodded, a fond smile on her lips. "He said he would. Ethan asked, and he can't say no to the kids."

Chuckling at the heartwarming sentiment, she was about to continue the conversation when her phone alerted her with a message from Chris. Her curiosity piqued, she glanced at her screen to read his words.

Chris: You haven't responded
That mean things are serious with Pete?
Maybe we could chat later? I have a thing now

She let out a frustrated groan, feeling overwhelmed by her thoughts. Shaking her head, she retreated into her bedroom, the messages from Chris occupying her mind. Uncertain how to respond, she paced back and forth, her gaze fixed on the screen as she contemplated her reply. Her situation with Pete was far from serious, and she knew it wouldn't develop into anything significant. Just as she was about to type out a response, the sound of the door opening caught her attention, and she looked up to find Liam standing in the doorway.

"Come on, little one. Quit hiding in your room," he urged, his voice gentle.

Exhaling a resigned sigh, she slipped her phone into her back pocket and followed him back to the living room. There, other parents were gathered, the children having disappeared downstairs. Liam took her to where Carly and Meagan were engaged in a conversation with a tall man. As he turned around, she immediately recognized him as Chris Evans. She couldn't help but release another sigh, her apprehension building as Liam positioned her in front of him. Stepping forward, she extended her hand to him, her brother introducing her to the actor.

"Chris, this is my sister, Lennon."

As he turned around, his gaze landed on a woman with long dark hair and striking blue eyes – Lennon. He couldn't help but berate himself internally. She had told him her name, and yet he had failed to piece it together. "What are the odds," he muttered, a mixture of surprise and embarrassment coloring his tone. Despite his self-reproach, a genuine smile tugged at the corners of his lips. "Of course it's Lennon," he added, the realization finally hitting him. As she withdrew her hand from his, he noticed her slight blush, which only made his smile widen.

"That's my name. It's nice to meet you," Lennon replied, her voice soft yet warm.

Allowing a chuckle to escape, he followed her as she retreated into the kitchen. Leaning casually against the doorframe, he couldn't help but engage in conversation. "Lennon, I take it your parents were Beatles fans? Really into pop culture."

Lennon groaned playfully, turning around to face him. "Yes, that's right. They were obsessed with John Lennon. My brother's middle name is Robert. Like Robert Smith, the lead singer of The Cure."

His laughter rang out naturally, the conversation flowing comfortably between them. "Well, I feel like an idiot," he admitted with a grin. "Do you know who I am?" He decided to address it, uncertain whether to reveal his identity. Lennon stood before him, an intriguing mystery.

Shaking her head, she answered his unspoken question. "Do I know who you are? The actor? Yeah. Little full of yourself?"

He chuckled again, shaking his head. His intended meaning hadn't come across quite as he'd hoped. "Not what I meant." Just as he was about to say more, Liam entered the kitchen, interrupting their conversation.

"The boys want to see you downstairs, Chris," Liam informed him.

"Sure," he replied with a nod. He spared one last glance at Lennon before making his way downstairs, pulling out his phone as he went.

Chris: Still no response?
I have an idea about your name
Needs to be in person though

As her phone emitted a series of dings, Liam observed her curiously from the kitchen. "What's going on?" he asked casually.

Shrugging nonchalantly, she replied, "I don't know. Just chatting with Chris here in the kitchen."

Liam arched an eyebrow playfully. "Chatting, huh? He seems nice."

Rolling her eyes, she dismissed his observation. "What do you mean? He's just being weird." With that, she retrieved her phone from her pocket, her focus shifting to the messages displayed on the screen.

L: Sorry. It's my nephew's birthday
Why does it have to be in person?

Before she could even place her phone back into her pocket, it began to ding with a response. 

Chris: Better in person
Back porch
5 minutes

Lennon glanced up from her phone, only to find Liam still observing her intently. She sighed, feeling a mix of amusement and exasperation. "Liam, do you know of any other Chrises at this party?" She quickly clarified, "Apart from Evans, of course..."

Liam shook his head, his curiosity growing. "No, I don't. Why do you ask?"

Handing him her phone, she gestured for him to read the conversation, her frustration palpable.

"Wait, are you implying that this Chris from your phone is here?" Liam's eyes widened in realization as he scanned the exchanged messages.

She shrugged, a mixture of uncertainty and excitement in her expression. "Just read the last messages, Liam."

As he absorbed the content, a chuckle escaped him. "Oh my god, Lennon." Standing up abruptly, he glanced out of the back window before turning back to her.

Startled, she questioned, "Is someone out there?" Her inquiry was met with another laugh from Liam, who then took her by the arm and guided her toward the back door.

Her protests were in vain as Liam, with his superior strength, pushed her onto the porch and swiftly closed the door behind her. She collided with what felt like a solid object, realizing she was about to stumble, only for Chris's grip on her hand to steady her.

"Lennon," he said with a mischievous grin.

She looked at his hands, her heart pounding with recognition. They were the same hands she had seen in the video of him playing the piano – a video she had watched countless times. "Chris," she said, his name escaping her lips as their eyes met.