Ruby 💙

12

"Please, won't you come?"

Evelyn groaned as she accepted a cup of coffee from Chris in the morning a few days before Thanksgiving. "You want to take me home to Boston?" She pulled the blanket up over her with one hand as Dodger came and jumped on the bed with them. "I don't think that's a good idea Chris."

"I think it's a great idea!" He laughed as Dodger licked her face, "and so does Dodge. Come on, we've been together for months. Please!"

She laughed as he laid with his head on her lap, looking up at her, "I don't know."

He sighed, "I'm not asking you to marry me. I'm just asking that you let me take you home to my family."

"That's the problem. The family." She groaned again, setting her coffee on the nightstand, "the judgmental and overprotective mother and sisters. I don't know if I can handle all of that Chris."

He sat up, facing her as he pulled her into his lap, making her straddle him. "You can. And I will be with you. Not like I'm throwing you to the wolves all alone. I love you Evie."

She wrapped her arms around his neck, "what did you just say?"

He laughed at her grin, "you heard me Evie."

She nodded, "I did. I love you too Chris." She squealed as he flipped her to her back, pinning her underneath him as they heard Dodger barking.

He laughed, "he wants us to get up to walk him. Come with me?"

"Really? What if someone sees us?"

Chris shrugged, "I don't care. I said I love you Evie. I don't care if anyone sees us."

"Okay. Let's go then."

💋💋💋

"Oh no..." Evelyn stood in the middle of Chris's living room in Boston a few days later with the tv on when she saw her face flash across the screen. There were pictures of them walking Dodger in Georgia and laughing and holding hands.

'Who is Evelyn Banks, the woman who apparently has captured the heart of our very own Captain America? I can tell you, but you won't believe it.'

"Turn that off Evie." Chris yanked the remote out of her hand as he shut off the tv. He grabbed her hand to make her face him, placing both hands on her arms, "look at me Evelyn." He sighed as she continued to look at the ground, tears streaking her cheeks already. He brought his hand to her chin, raising it to look at him, "it's fine. I knew this would happen. It's okay Evie. I love you, that's all that matters. You hear me?"

She only nodded as she felt him pull her to him as she cried.

"Come on, we have to go to my mother's house."

She groaned, pulling away from him. "Give me a few minutes." She went into the bathroom, washing her face before fixing her makeup as she took a few deep breaths. She finally left the bathroom to find Chris waiting for her with the pie she made to take over to his mother's house.

He smiled, "it'll be okay. I love you."

She nodded, grabbing the pie, "I love you too Chris." She didn't say anything the entire car ride to her house. She knew if she had seen the news, then his family already had too. She wouldn't even be given the chance to make a first impression first before they found out everything about her. She followed Chris timidly into the house, standing behind him as he introduced her to his sisters, brother and mother. She handed Lisa the pie, smiling, "it's nice to meet you Mrs. Evans."

Lisa nodded, giving her a small smile as she accepted the pie, "thank you dear."

Evelyn stood awkwardly until Chris placed his hand on her back.

"I'll get you a drink, why don't you go sit down."

She nodded, going to sit in the living room alone until his brother Scott came to sit next to her. "Hi."

Scott grinned, "it's nice to finally meet you. Chris hasn't shut up about you for months."

She chuckled, blushing, "it's nice to meet you too Scott."

He nodded, "don't be nervous. Just be yourself. You wouldn't be here if Chris wasn't serious about you."

She sighed, "thank you. That actually does make me feel slightly better."

He grinned, getting up to leave as Chris replaced him next to her, handing her a drink. He smiled as his niece Stella came up to them.

Stella played with Evelyn's hair, "I like your hair. You're very pretty. Are you Uncle Chris's girlfriend?"

Evelyn laughed, "I am. I think you're super pretty too. Sweet girl." She watched Stella blush as she ran away to play. She looked to see Chris watching her. "What?"

He shook his head, "nothing." He leaned in, kissing her softly before she stood up.

"I'm gonna go see if your mom wants any help." She saw Chris nod as she took her drink into the kitchen. She stopped in the doorway.

"Did you see the news earlier? Apparently she's a stripper. I assume that's how he met her. He will never grow up, bringing random girls home."

Evelyn felt the lump in her throat, slamming the glass down on the counter before rushing out of the kitchen to a bathroom.