"So tell me about this girl."
Chris smirked as he slouched in his chair outside a Los Angeles restaurant. He'd been in California for almost three weeks now and to say he was getting restless for Boston (and Kyle) wouldn't be out of the question. But after this lunch, he'd be on his way to LAX and back to his city, and his girl.
"I dunno, man," he said with a grin. "What's to say?"
His lunch companion (and friend) Chris Pratt chuckled. "I don't know! Start from the top! Give me the run down! You're sitting there fucking glowing like a goddamn prick so spill."
Evans laughed."I don't know what say! We've only been seeing each other…well…like a week since I've been here for fucking ever."
"But you've been texting her fucking non-stop," Pratt retorted.
"How would you know who I've been texting non-stop? You haven't been with me non-stop."
"I've been with you enough to know," Pratt stated. "At least tell me what she looks like."
"I can do you…" Evans began as he dug his phone out of his pocket, "one better." He tapped the screen a few times before turning the screen toward his companion. It was a picture they had drunkenly taken Halloween night. It was, in fact, the only picture he had of her, but it was definitely a good one.
"Holy shit."
"Yeah."
"Nice work, bud."
Evans chuckled. "I can't really take much credit. Just got lucky."
"She's gorgeous. I'd say. If I wasn't a married man…"
"I'd hurt you," Evans stated, firmly. "I got a hard enough time getting her onboard."
"What the fuck does that mean?" Pratt questioned.
Evans waved his head back and forth a bit and shrugged. "She's…hesitant at best. She's very insistent that she doesn't do the whole "relationship" thing."
"Yet you keep trying?"
Evans shrugged. "She says it, but…I don't believe her. I mean…I'm not trying to sound like a fucking prick or anything, but I can tell I'm not the only one feeling things. I'm not fucking stupid."
"Matter of opinion."
"Fuck off," Evans laughed. He paused and shook his head. "I just… there's something about this girl and…I can't shake it. I don't even want to. Like…I remember having this huge crush on her when we were kids. I spent…basically every summer at her dad's house with Toby…and one night, she just…happens back into my life. I didn't even realize it was the same person until the day before I left and she showed me this picture of us as kids and now…Now it's just like, I have to try. For that nerdy little ten year old who thought the world of her."
"That's so cute. Did Nicholas Sparks write that?"
"You're a real fucking asshole," Evans chortled.
"I'm serious, man. That's some romantic, girly bullshit right there. I love it. I'll write the screenplay."
"Go fuck yourself."
"Why don't you cry a little? I'll find some tissues," Pratt continued. He just watched as his friend grinned and shook his head. "In all seriousness though, I hope it works out. It's been a long time since I've seen you this jazzed about a lady. I don't think I ever saw you like this with Mara."
Evans rolled his eyes. "Mara… Don't get me started on that."
"How'd lunch go?"
"Oh, you mean the one where I was simply supposed to sign over the house and be done with all this bullshit?" Evans asked. Pratt just nodded his head as their food was sat down in front of them. "Yeah, she pulled the whole wanting to try again thing. Same shit as last time. Same fucking promises, same fucking excuses."
"Tell me you told her to fuck off."
"Not in those exact words but yeah. I can't do it again. We've been doing the same shit off and on for four years and I can't fucking take it anymore. At this point I'd just be doing it to myself."
"Ya know, I never really understood what you saw in her," Pratt stated. "Sure, she was fucking hot but she had the personality of a goddamn wet mop."
"She's the classic party girl, man. All she gives a shit about his publicity and getting fucking wasted. She is the exact opposite of everything I want in a girl."
"And this one…this Kyle isn't?"
"Not at all," Evans answered. "She does not give a flying fuck about any of this Hollywood shit, which is one of the many things I like about her."
"So she won't be accompanying you to any red carpet events any time soon?'
"I think that would take an act of God," Evans snickered. "If the paparazzi fucks ever snap a shot of her, prepare for fucking war because she will not be happy. I will not be happy. She will make sure I am not happy."
Pratt laughed. "I like her already."
Kyle stood out the rear entrance of Nosh, cigarette to her lips. "Why does it have to be so fucking cold? Jesus Christ," she hissed, bouncing around as she took a drag.
"Um…maybe because it's almost December in the Northeast?" Margo asked with a laugh. "What d you expect?"
"Fuck off."
"Yeah. Fuck me and my rationality," Margo chuckled. She sighed. "When's Chris get home?"
Kyle took another drag. "Tonight, I think. Why?"
Margo shrugged. "I don't know. He's been gone a long time."
"Three weeks."
"You miss him?"
Kyle looked at her best friend disapprovingly. "How do you want me to answer that?"
"Honestly." Kyle chuckled, but only heaved a sigh. Margo shook her head. "You know, denying it doesn't make it not real, Ky. Just because you won't acknowledge them, doesn't mean you don't have feelings for him."
"I never said I didn't! Kyle exclaimed. "I've never once said I don't have feelings for him. It's pretty obvious I fucking do and he knows that. He's the only one that needs to know that."
"So do something about it."
"I am doing something about it," Kyle stated with a laugh. "What do you call what we're doing? We've only known each other a month. Am I supposed to be planning a wedding?"
"You may be doing a very little something, but you're still keeping him as far away as you can. I know how you work."
Kyle sighed and stamped out her cigarette on the dumpster next to her. "You think you do, but you really don't. Chris knows exactly how I feel about him and I know exactly how he feels about me. Neither of us have any desire to rush into anything so…we're just taking it day by day. Alright?"
"Okay," Margo said with a smirk. Unbeknownst to Kyle, there was a figure sneaking up behind her. A blue eyed, bearded figure with a finger to his lips.
"What are you grinning at?"
"Nothing," Margot said, shaking her head.
"You're full of shi…" Kyle's words turned into a shriek as a pair of arms wrapped around her waist and hoisted her in the air. "JESUS FUCKING CHRIST!" She spun around as she was sat down just to come face to face with a hysterically laughing Chris. "You asshole!" she cried, slapping his chest. "You scared the shit out of me!"
"I'm sorry!" Chris said, still laughing as she slapped him in the arm. "I'm really sorry. I didn't think I'd get you that bad."
"We're in an alley in Boston, you ass. How did you think I would react?"
"I was just trying to surprise you," Chris stated. "Don't glare at me like that. It's frightening."
"You're an asshole," Kyle laughed as he actually wrapped his arms around her and hugged her. "When did you get back?"
"Mmm about twenty minutes ago. Dropped off my luggage and here I am."
"Jackass."
Chris beamed. "I missed you too, babe."
"I did not miss you."
"Not even a little bit?" Chris asked.
"Nope."
"I don't even believe you," Chris smiled before pressing his lips into hers, firmly. "Hi."
Kyle's cheeks flushed as she laughed. "Hi, jerk."
Chris just chuckled and glanced over her shoulder at Margot. "What do ya say Mar? Alright if I steal her for the rest of the night?"
"Fine by me," Margot said with a shrug.
"Do I get a say in this?" Kyle asked.
"Not at all. Grab your stuff. Let's go," Chris commanded.
"Where are we going?" Kyle asked, heading toward the door.
"Wherever the night takes us."
The night took them to Kyle's, complete with pizza, beer and video games. It seemed to be their usual thing. Video games or Netflix. Hell they could've been playing CandyLand and either would've been happy. It was more in the company than the activity.
"I quit. I'm not playing anything with you anymore," Chris stated, tossing down the controller in his hand.
"Why?" Kyle asked with a laugh.
"Because you fucking beat me at goddamn everything!" Chris exclaimed. "If you weren't so hot I'd fucking hate you."
"Well that's just rude."
"What?" Chris chuckled. "I said you were hot."
"Glad to know that's all I am to you," Kyle stated.
"Stop it," Chris commanded, disapprovingly. "You know that is not it at all."
"How was LA?"
"Nice segue there. Didn't even notice the topic change."
"Fuck you," Kyle laughed as she rose from the couch. "Beer?"
"Yes, please." Chris answered. He sighed and decided to answer her question. "LA was okay, I guess. Finally got some shit taken care of, so that's good."
"What kind of shit?" Kyle asked, returning to the couch, beers in hand. She extended one to Chris while taking a sip of her own.
"Signed off on the house with Mara. End of the fucking line."
"I thought you guys were…"
"No, no. We are way passed broken up but…we bought the house together so I had to get my name off that shit before she sends it up in flames and I'm held responsible," Chris stated. "That girl is a fucking train wreck. You ever look back at a relationship and think what the fuck was I doing?"
"Like…all of them…" Kyle stated.
Chris laughed. "Well I'm not going to say that but this one is on that fucking list. I wasted four years of my life playing these fucking games with her. Four years. That's a long time. Especially considering a good portion of it, I knew I wasn't in the right place."
"I know that feeling," Kyle stated.
"Antonio?"
Kyle nodded. "He was a good guy. It wasn't him. I just…knew it was never going to be more than what it was. I'm not even sure I loved him. Just…didn't want to be alone. And that sounds horrible. I am a terrible person. Jesus Christ."
Chris smiled. "We've all done it. Can't say the last few years of my relationship with Mara wasn't the same."
"Why did you end it?"
"I, uh, found out she was banging pretty much everyone in LA," Chris answered.
"Ouch."
"Yeah…real shot to the balls that one. I actually walked in on her with some other dude, on my couch. Just full on going at it. Got an eyeful of another dude's ass as he pounded my girlfriend so…that was super fucking cool," Chris said with a sigh. He looked at Kyle who was quite obviously trying not to laugh. "And you're giggling. That's awesome."
"No, no. It's not funny. The way you said it though…" Kyle insisted.
"I'm glad we can laugh together about my suffering. Really solidifies a relationship," Chris said with a smirk. "You're like the sweetest person I know."
"Stop," Kyle grinned. "I'm not laughing at you."
"Oh but I think you are."
Chris sighed, simply staring at her. "It's alright. I'm a lot happier right now anyway."
"Is that so?"
"Mhmm," Chris nodded. "I would rather sit here and get my ass kicked by you all night than do…pretty much anything in LA. Pretty much anything anywhere actually."
"Aw," Kyle cooed. "You're cute."
"See I can't tell if that was sarcastic or…" Chris laughed.
Kyle chuckled in return, looking at the beer bottle in her hands. Her nails began peeling the label from the glass. "It was definitely not sarcasm, for once." She gulped and looked up at him. "I'm really glad you're back. It was really boring here without you. Even though I don't really like you all that much."
"That was a horrible cover."
Kyle laughed. "It's a really good thing I'm not an actress. I'd be fucking terrible."
"You obviously haven't met my ex. She will not be winning any awards any time soon…unless…it's like one of those adult entertainment awards. She'd be really stellar in that field."
"What field?"
"Whore."
Kyle snorted in laughter, nearly choking on the beer she'd just taken a drink of. "Oh my God…that came out my nose. Ouch."
Chris burst into laughter. "I'm sorry. Are you okay?"
Kyle laughed and coughed and spit and sputtered. "You just made me choke…ow."
"Oh, come here," Chris smiled, reaching for her face. His thumb wiped the tears running from her eyes. "I really wasn't trying to kill you."
"I don't even believe you," Kyle smirked, blinking back the water in her eyes. She looked up to the ceiling and sniffed. "I'm ok. I think I'm okay."
"I hope so."
"You're an ass."
"I did not do that on purpose. Who knew you'd find my ex being an a plus whore that amusing."
"I find the fact that you're saying this about a woman you owned a house with amusing. I mean, you obviously planned on this being a forever sort of deal. You were going to marry a girl you didn't even want to be with."
"I didn't say I was going to marry her…"
"I know you. I know…what you want out of life. If you moved in with her, the thought of settling down with her obviously crossed your mind," Kyle insisted. She cleared her throat. "So why…keep putting yourself through things that make you miserable?"
"Hey. I'm here, aren't I? You don't make me miserable."
"Yet."
Chris rolled his eyes. "Do you ever get tired of trying to discourage me?"
"Nope," Kyle laughed.
"You should. It doesn't do any good."
"I've noticed." Kyle took a deep breath. "Have you talk to Toby?"
"Nope. Not at all. Why? Have you?"
Kyle shook her head. "No. I'm kind of worried about him."
"Why?"
"I don't know. This whole thing is just really weird. He's never been like this. Not with me anyway and I get him being…wary…about you and I but…he's kind of taking it a bit far."
"I agree. I don't get it either."
"I don't like that I'm coming between the two of you. You've been friends way too long to let me ruin it."
"Hey. You're not ruining anything," Chris argued. "He's ruining it by being a douche. It's not your fault."
"It feels like it's my fault."
"Well it's not, so knock it off. If he decides to stop being a dick about it, then things will be fine. Until then, this is the way it is, I guess." Chris fell silent. He didn't like it any more than she did. If he could explain why Toby was acting the way he had been, their relationship would be in a much different place. But he knew one thing: he wasn't willing to give up Kyle just to satiate his friend's ego. That wasn't happening.