A Chance Meeting | Chris Evans

Chapter 61

Becca splashed some water on her face and surveyed the damage in the mirror.
Bloody hell, I look awful.
It really wasn't fair that some women still managed to look attractive when they cried. Not Becca. She was definitely an ugly crier. Her nose was red, her eyes were puffy and her skin was blotchy.
Spectacular.
But on the upside, she did feel much better. Talking to Chris about it and the good cry had been cathartic. He was a good listener.
He's such a sweet guy. How is possible that someone as handsome and famous as he is manages to remain so sweet?
She looked in the mirror again, wondering if there was anything that she could do to make herself look a little less like a trainwreck. But there really wasn't. She gave up and walked back through.
Chris looked up with a slightly concerned expression on his face.
He probably thinks that you're going to start blubbing again.
'Don't worry, there aren't going to be any more tears, I promise.' She said, sitting down.
'I didn't mind.' He replied.
'Well I did. It's your last night before you go away - you should be out having a great time, instead I've dragged you away from your friends to take me home early and blubbed all over you!'
'I am having a great time.' He insisted.
She raised her eyebrows at him.
'Well, okay, the crying bit wasn't great.' He joked. 'I don't like to see you sad.'
Becca smiled.
'That's the first proper smile I've seen from you since they played that song.' He added.
'I'm sorry though, about the crying and the generally being so depressing.'
'You never have to apologise to me for showing how you're feeling.' He said. 'To be honest, I just thought it was nice that you'd opened up a little.'
Becca reached for her cup of coffee.
'Oh, Joe brought you out a fresh coffee while you were in the bathroom.' Chris said.
'That's sweet of him.' Becca said, taking a sip.
She looked at the tiramisu that was sitting on the table, still virtually untouched.
And he made me this tiramisu.
She felt a bit bad suddenly for how ungrateful she'd been. She picked up her fork and took another bit of tiramisu. It really was very good.
'That is really good.' She said.
She took another bit. 'Mmmm. Okay, that decides it. I'm definitely marrying Joe and stealing him away so he can cook for me everyday.'
Chris laughed.
She looked over to the kitchen door, where she could see Joe bustling about doing things.
'I'll be right back.' She said to Chris as she stood. 'I just want to tell Joe that his tiramisu is amazing.'
She walked over to the kitchen and knocked on the open door. 'Joe?' She called.
'Hey.' She said and smiled as he came over. 'Sorry to interrupt you, but I just wanted to tell you that the tiramisu is amazing!'
'But my dear, what is wrong?' He asked, taking her hands in his.
'What?' She asked, forgetting for a second that she looked a mess. 'Oh, the face! Don't worry, I'm fine.'
'But you are not fine. Did that young man make you cry?' He asked, looking sternly over at Chris.
'No, not at all. It wasn't him.'
'Good.' He said vehemently. 'Because no one makes beautiful women cry in my cafe. I would ask him to leave!'
Oh that's too sweet - he's trying to look out for me.
'That's very chivalrous of you Joe, but Chris didn't do anything so there's no need to kick him out.'
'If you're certain.' He said.
'But you liked the tiramisu?' He added with a smile.
'Yes. Tell your wife that it's the best I've ever tasted. I'll be coming here whenever I want tiramisu from now on.'
'Anyway, I'd better get back to Chris.' Becca said.
'You tell that young man that I'm watching him.' Joe said.
Becca laughed, pretty sure that Joe was joking now.
'Okay, I'll tell him to be on his best behaviour.'

***

Chris watched the two of them together with curiosity.
'What was that all about?' He asked.
Becs laughed. 'Joe thought he needed to defend my honour - he was all ready to run you out of town for making me cry.'
'Ah, that makes sense.' He said with a smile. 'I wondered why he'd given me such a dirty look.'
'Don't worry, I told him it wasn't you, so you're safe.' She grinned. 'But he said to tell you he's watching you.'
So good to see her happy again.
He laughed. 'You seem to have made quite the impression on him.'
'It's because I'm so wonderful.' She said jokingly.
There's that British self-depreciating humour again.
'I know.' He said, with a smile that made her blush and look down.
'So what do you have planned for the next few weeks?' He asked, changing the subject.
'Umm...not sure really - Viv wants to see something at the cinema, don't know what but it's probably something mushy knowing Viv. We'll be going out in a couple of weeks to celebrate Ella's birthday, but other than that nothing's planned.' She said.
'I'll probably just read lots of books.' She added. 'What about you?'
I'll just be missing you.
'Doubt I'll have much free time.' He said.
'Doesn't it bother you?' She asked. 'I'd hate it - my time not being my own.'
He shrugged. 'I dunno, I guess I've just gotten used to it. Filming's always pretty intense.'
'I get more downtime in between films though.' He added. 'Once we've finished shooting it, it'll be in post-production for about a year or so before I have to do the publicity.'
'But then you're filming other stuff, right?' She asked.
'I'll usually take a few months off before I start working on the next thing. And that's when I get to really chill. I spend a lot of time with my family, I travel, I draw, just relaxing stuff.'
'You draw?' She asked with a surprised smile.
'Yeah.'
'What sort of thing do you draw?'
He shrugged. 'Whatever catches my eye - people, places, anything really.'
'Are you any good?'
'I'm okay.' He said, not wanting to boast.
'Wow. I'm impressed. Stickmen are about the limit of my artistic ability.' She said with a laugh.
He smiled back at her. 'Maybe I could draw you?'
'I'm not sure that I'd make a very good artist's model, I don't like being stared at.'
Pretty sure I could draw every curve of your face from memory.
He looked up as Joe came over.
'Hey Joe, are we outstaying our welcome?' He asked and looked at his watch. 'Oh damn, it's 11.30! Sorry, I had no idea it was that late.'
'There's no hurry.' Joe replied.
'Even so, we'd better be making a move.' He said and looked at Becs, who nodded in agreement.

***

'So how long's your flight tomorrow?' Becs asked later as they were driving back.
'Fourteen hours.' He said with a grimace.
'Not a fan of flying, huh?'
Understatement.
'No. I hate it.'
'It can be pretty monotonous.' She said. 'But I find if I watch lots of films and read a good book, then it passes quickly enough.'
Not for me.
'What about you?' She added when he didn't answer.
'I...umm... I have to take something or I stress.'
'Like a Xanax, you mean?'
'No, a Xanax wouldn't cut it - the doc gives me something to knock me out.'
'Like a sleeping pill?' She asked, sounding slightly shocked.
'Yeah. It's the only way I can get through the flight without panicking.'
'Gosh. I'm sorry, I'd never have brought it up if I'd known you were that bothered by flying.'
'It's okay.'
'Don't you have to fly a lot for your job?'
'Yep.'
'That sucks.'
'Yep.'

****

'Thanks very much for the lift.' Becs said as the car stopped in front of her place.
'You're welcome.'
'It's been a bit of an odd evening, but I've enjoyed it.' She added.
'Have a good time in Seoul.' She said, getting out of the car.
Wait! I don't want to leave yet.
He opened his door and got out too.
She looked over in surprise. 'You don't have to walk me to the door you know. It's just there.' She said pointing. 'I think I can find it without help.'
She smiled at him and then started walking away.
'Do you want to go for a walk?' He blurted out.
'A walk?' She echoed, turning back. 'Chris, it's freezing out here now.'
'You can have my coat.'
'Plus it's gone midnight. It's a little late for a stroll.'
'Or we could...err...'
Think of something!
Becs looked at him closely, and he had the uncomfortable feeling that he was being analysed.
'Are you trying to avoid going home, Chris?' She asked softly.
Yes.
'No.'
She looked at him for a moment. 'I think that maybe someone who really hated to fly would avoid doing things that made it happen sooner, like going home and going to sleep.'
'Is that what's happening?' She continued.
Yes.
'No.'
She raised her eyebrows at him.
'Maybe.' He admitted.
Please don't think I'm crazy. Or crazier.
She smiled. 'I was just going to go in and put on a movie - you can join me if you want.'
He smiled in relief. 'That'd be great.'
'I'll make you a cup of tea.' Becs said. 'Viv's got some chamomile tea in the cupboard - tastes absolutely disgusting, but it's supposed to be very relaxing.'
He laughed. 'How can I turn it down when you describe it like that?'
'Come on.' She said, indicating the door and he followed her in.
'I'll make the tea and you can pick a film. They're all in here.' She said, opening a cupboard. 'Just don't pick anything that requires too much brain power.'
'Wow, that's a lot of movies.' He said, looking in.
'You've got them all categorised.' He said with a laugh. 'The Marvel movies are all together and so are the Disney movies.'
'It's the librarian in me, I can't help it.'
After picking a movie, he couldn't resist opening a few of the other cupboards.
'Having a bit of a snoop, are we?' Becs said as she came back in with the tea.
'I'm sorry, I shouldn't have-'
She laughed. 'I was kidding! But you're not going to find anything interesting in there - it's all stationery.'
'There does seem to be a lot of it there.'
She laughed again. 'I know, right? You're probably wondering how many pencils, pens and notebooks does one person need?'
'Something like that.'
'I've got a bit of an addiction to stationery.'
'So I see.' He said with a grin. 'May I?' He asked, picking up a pad and a pencil.
'Sure, knock yourself out.' She replied. 'So what movie did you pick?'
'The Matrix - is that okay?'
'Great. Here's your tea.' She said, passing it over.
He took a sip and grimaced comically.
'Gross, right?' She said.
'No, it's not that bad.' He said with a grin. 'I've had it before.'
He drank the tea as the movie began, and then picked up the paper and pencil and began to sketch Becs.
She looked over. 'Why do you keep looking at me?' She asked suspiciously. 'Why aren't you watching the film?'
'I'm drawing you.'
'What? No!'
'Why not? You don't have to pose, just relax and watch the film.'
'Just relax? How am I supposed to do that? Now I know you're drawing me, I'm not relaxed. I can't even remember how I sit or hold my face!'
He laughed out loud. 'Okay, okay. I'll put it down.'

****

It was only twenty minutes or so into the movie when he noticed her eyes start to get heavy, and five minutes after that when she'd fallen asleep.
I should probably go.
But before he did, he picked up the pad of paper again and began to sketch. It didn't take him long at all to do the two pieces. One of which he left on the table for her along with a note, and one he placed in his pocket.
He turned off the tv and walked back to her sleeping form.
'Bye Becs.' He said. 'I'm going to really miss you.' And he leaned over and placed a kiss on her forehead.
After a moment's hesitation, he unzipped his hoody and placed it over her like a blanket. He found the idea that she'd have something of his while he was away, oddly comforting.
****