Aftertaste - A Chris Evans Story

21

A/N - Warning! Spoiler for The Gray Man in this chapter! 

The Russo's are sat behind a desk with the casting agent as well as a few other people involved in the pre-production.  I'm back in LA and reading for the part of 'Suzanne' - a senior officer in the CIA who unfortunately has to oversee operations with Lloyd Hansen. 

At the moment I only know Ryan Gosling is in the leading role of 'Six' but that's about it, so I wonder whether anyone else has been casted yet but not announced. 

"Morning Ever!" Joe Russo grins as I come and sit down with them. 

"Morning, how goes the read throughs?" I ask. 

They nod. "Real good, we've got our Lloyd, Six and you know Ana right? She worked with you and Chris on Knives out? We cast her yesterday". 

I nod. "So who's our psychotic, torture loving spy?" 

The Russo's grin as they look at one another. "Well we know you and Chris worked well on Knives out, and so we wanted to up the anti with you two for this film". 

"Wait..." I stop them, "Chris?" 

Just then the door opens and Chris walks in with his script to hand, stopping as he sees me. "Didn't expect to see you here Ever After". He grins as I get up and we hug. 

Amicable. 

We have to be. 

"Great to see you again". He says quietly. 

"You too - looks like we could potentially be teaming back up again". 

He nods, "The Russo's pretty much want you anyway, consider this just a test for what's yet to come". 

For us? Or for our characters? Perhaps both at this rate. 

"Ok, shall we turn to paaaaaaaaage...105, quite a meaty argument here." Anthony now says and we find where they want us to be. "Take a couple of minutes and then we'll go from there". 

We begin after consulting one another of how we're going to do this and then nod to the brothers to start reading the stage directions. 

It's an intense exchange, my character slowly losing her faith in Lloyd and realising the allegiance is a very dangerous one. Most of the time she's losing her shit. 

"Why are you walking like that?" I now watch as Chris is pretty much hobbling around, trying not to laugh along with the Russos, who I can see are about to crack, out of the corner of my eye. 

"Because I got shot in the ass Suzanne!" Chris thunders back and we all end up laughing at just how he delivers it. 

Joe and Anthony clap as Chris comes over and gives me a hug, both of us still trying to stop laughing. "Ok, I think we're all in agreement that Ever is probably the best person for this role?" They look to the other people who nod and then turn back to me. "We've found our Suzanne!" 

I beam, feeling the excitement at bagging another role - and for the Russos? Chris worked with them on the Avengers. This is big. 

"Can we also go through 698? Just because I think we need to see Ev take Chris out with a water pistol" Joe grins as he produces the kids toy and passes it to me. I turn to where they want and see that I get to be the one taking him out in the film. 

How ironic. 

"I think this may be my favourite part already" I shoot Chris a devious look and then make a little 'pew, pew' sound as I pretend to shoot him. 

"Of course it is" Chris replies dryly.

Even now as he looks at me my tummy flips. 

This isn't going to be good...

**

Once the read through is over Chris catches up to me as I head out. "Ever...wait". I turn and wait until he stops next to me. "Can we go for a coffee? A drink? If you're not busy that is?" 

Something. Is. Not. Right. My mind tells me. 

"We could head to mine if you want?" I offer. 

"Will Scott mind?" 

"He's away filming, won't be back for another few weeks" I say, "Actually he's going to be filing with Jenny..." 

I see Chris's face change at the mention of her name. "Ok, yeah sure...I'll meet you at yours". He tells me. 

"See you there". I smile and then look at him. "You're not ok are you? I can read you from a mile off". 

He sighs. "I'll fill you in once we're at yours". 

In what way Christopher?  My mind now asks and I immediately tell it to shut the fuck up. I have a damn boyfriend, I can't be thinking shit like this still. 

I sit in the car and ponder on what exactly could be going on behind closed doors in Chris's life. I know Jenny is the major factor in all of this and it's obvious they've either split or are heading that way. 

But why? 

Guess once we're back at mine I'm about to find out...