Desperate Lies

Chapter 12

March.

Chris would admit that he didn't quite know what he was walking into when he arrived home. Had anything changed? Had Eve changed? He'd kept in contact with her while he was gone, obviously, but Chris wondered what kind of impact living alone for the first time may have had on Eve. Eve had obviously told Chris that she was fine, but a part of him was still worried because he knew of Eve's problems with anxiety.

Chris walks into the house, dragging a suitcase behind him. Eve had been sitting in the living room, and she stands the minute she sees him. Chris is slightly taken by surprise at seeing her wearing hot pink leggings along with her usual black sweater, but his joy at seeing her overrides this as he brings her into his arms.

"Chris!" Eve exclaims happily, throwing her arms around him.

Chris chuckles and lifts Eve off her feet, "There's my girl." He kisses her cheek.

Chris sets Eve down and the two of them kiss for a long time, having missed this so much. As much as Chris loved touring, he couldn't believe how good it felt to have Eve in his arms again. Being apart for this long had been so hard, and Chris couldn't wait to spend this week with Eve.

They come apart and Eve smiles, "How are you? Are you jet lagged at all?"

"Extremely," Chris sighs, "But it's nothing I haven't dealt with before."

"Well, let me take your things for you and you can just sit down and relax."

"You don't have to do that - "

"Too late, I already am."

Eve grabs Chris's suitcase and takes it into the bedroom. Chris chuckles and follows her. Eve sets the suitcase on the bed and opens it, beginning to unpack. Chris watches her a moment. Her glasses, sweater, and curly mess of hair made her look like the same Eve he'd always known, but there was something about her wearing bright colors and pants that looked so foreign on her.

"You look...different," Chris says, "I mean, that's not a bad thing! You just..." He trails.

Eve laughs, "Well, I did do a little bit of shopping to get some 'normal' clothes. Plus I've been going to the gym and eating better; maybe I've lost a few pounds."

"Okay..." Chris says, walking up behind Eve and putting his hands on her hips, "You know I think you're perfect no matter how much you weigh or how you dress, right?"

Eve laughs and turns to face Chris, "Yes, of course. I'm not doing this for you, I want to be healthy for me. It helps with my anxiety, it gives me something to do when you're not here; I feel good."

Chris nods and sets his chin on her head, "Okay, I was just making sure."

Eve smiles, then leans back to look up at Chris, "So. What do you wanna do this week?"

"Well...I was actually wondering if I could introduce you to my family."

Eve's eyes widen, "Really?"

"They usually come see me when I'm home from tour, and seeing as they don't even know I have a girlfriend, let alone have her living with me, I figured now is as good of a time as ever."

Eve smiles, "So...I'm your girlfriend now?"

Chris smiles in return, "Aren't you?"

Eve smile grows and she nods, kissing Chris again. All of Chris's worries began to melt away; he had full confidence that he and Eve were in for some good things to come.

x

To say that Chris's family was a little bit confused at first when he explained his and Eve's situation to them would be an understatement. However, they still all welcomed her with open arms, and for the first time in her life, Eve was finally beginning to feel like she was sort of a part of a family. She barely knew Chris's family, and yet they'd become closer with her than her father ever had.