Fated (A Chris Evans Series)

The Answer is Yes

Sebastian and Luca watched Chris and Denise at the dinner table. Smiles were often involuntary when observing the couple in their own little world. They were so in-love they were oblivious to their surroundings, they'd just continuously exchange looks of pure adoration and whispers of sweet nothings. It seemed senseless to expect otherwise from soul mates still caught up in the post-engagement glow. Other singles might've found Chris and Denise a little much but as singles who wanted to be something more together, Sebastian and Luca basked in the romantic air their friends were emitting. That was what Sebastian was doing anyway, with hope that Luca had a similar intention.

After months of conversing over text messages and phone calls, Sebastian and Luca were finally meeting in person. There were no devices, no screens- nothing between them anymore. He could actually hug her and brush thighs when they sat down, he could feel the heat radiating off her skin and memorize the tiny details on her face. When he closed his eyes, he could picture doing the whole nine yards with her. He saw a wholesome relationship, one with unconditional love and the kind of domestic simplicity that couldn't be forged. Marriage, kids- he could see it happening with Luca, he could see them making it like Chris and Denise had. All those feelings meant something. Sebastian knew and decided he wasn't going to leave Los Angeles without first taking Luca out on a proper date.

"Do you want some?" Chris asked Denise, scooping some of his tiramisu onto his spoon. He held it in front of her and she smiled as she ate off his spoon. Sebastian and Luca groaned simultaneously, almost instantly. "What?" Chris had an unshakeable smile, his hand slipped into Denise's under the table and their gazes met with a smile. "I didn't know it was a crime to share."

"She has the exact same dessert right in front of her!" Luca gestured to Denise's plate of uneaten tiramisu and everyone at the table laughed. "What is this, sheesh. I get that the two of you are very much so in-love but tone it down a little," she teased with a chuckle. "You have guests, you're not alone in your house." Chris and Denise rolled their eyes. "I thought I'd remind you before you have your way with her on the table."

"You're hilarious," Chris bit sarcastically.

"And you're only acting like that 'cause there's some truth behind it," Sebastian egged it on. Denise threw her napkin across the table at him which he dodged easily whilst laughing. "Is that makeup, or is that a natural tint that I see on your cheeks?" He teased and her hands flew to her cheeks; the heat scorched her cold hands. "It's cute how easy you are to embarrass," he said and she scoffed.

"Fuck you, Sebastian," Denise giggled, leaning into Chris as he wrapped an arm around her. She felt his lips press against her hair and heard him snicker. "You're just jealous you don't have what we have." Sebastian rolled his eyes at Denise then shared a cheeky smile with Luca. "You know what," Denise suddenly remembered she was trying to get the two together and smirked. "If the two of you find us so sickening, we'll just leave you alone then."

Luca's breath caught in her throat and she widened her eyes at Denise and Chris, shaking her head as subtly as she could. "What, no." She managed a shaky laugh, pretending like she wasn't on the verge of hyperventilating. "We're just teasing, you don't have to go anywhere." She was not ready to be alone with Sebastian Stan in person, she needed Denise and Chris to buff the situation. "We were just teasing. Right, Sebastian?"

"I wouldn't mind finishing the rest of my dessert without having to deal with a sickly sweet couple," Sebastian replied, discretely beckoning the couple out with his eyes and his head. "From the look on their faces, they're just using our mistreatment as an excuse to be alone anyway."

"Yes we are," Chris nodded, taking Denise's hand and pulling her to her feet as he got to his. "C'mon, sweetheart. Let's grab a blanket and have cake under the stars." He took his plate and she took hers, walking out to the backyard.