Characters: Actor Chris Evans, OFC Kayla Brooks

Warnings: Lots of language

Chapter 13

Kayla walked through Von’s pushing her cart slowly. It had been a long day and she was dead on her feet. All she could think about was a hot shower and her comfy bed. But she was out of milk and pop tarts. So she was making a quick run to the grocery store then home.

A familiar voice rang out from behind her. “Hey beautiful.” In her fog she knew she had to be hallucinating. She turned to see Chris standing in the exact spot where she had first turned him down. A look of confusion crossed her face. “What are you doing here?”

He gave her a lopsided grin and it was his turn to lay on the sass. “I’m glad to see you too.”

Shaking the cobwebs from her head she said, “No, I mean, I thought you had some kind of interviews or press or something today.”

“I did but I got out of it early and I figured you’d be here. It’s grocery shopping day.” He took the cart from her and pushed it down the aisle, walking side by side with her.

“Well you just got lucky finding me here. I only came in for a few things. I’m exhausted and I just want to go home and go to bed.”

He leered at her. “Hmmm. That sounds very appealing.” She pushed at his shoulder nearly steering the cart into the cereal shelves. Chris grabbed a box of strawberry pop tarts and tossed them in the basket. Kayla looked at him with a lifted eyebrow. He shrugged. “I assume that’s why you’re here. I saw the empty box in the trash yesterday.”

Letting out a deep breath she protested. “You already won me over Evans, no need to stalk me anymore. So quit going through my trash okay?”

“So you admit I won you over?” He puffed out his chest like a peacock and she rolled her eyes and kept walking, not saying another word.

At the checkout stand Kayla noticed Beth stealing glances at Chris. She thought it was cute. Beth had tried unsuccessfully to get information out of Kayla. But she had been a good sport about it and understood Kayla’s need for privacy.

Beth hadn’t seen Chris in the store since Kayla agreed to their first date so it was nice to see them together. Kayla had seemed much happier which Beth thought she very much deserved.

When Beth announced the total Kayla and Chris both pulled out their wallets at the same time. Kayla glared at Chris who shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows giving her a questioning look. She continued her stare down until he took a step back and put his wallet away. She almost always won their staring contests.

Beth looked amused at their interchange. She only knew Kayla from their interactions at the store and Kayla had always been very sweet and polite and quiet. Now Captain America was whipped by this seemingly mild mannered woman. It was so comical she wished she could share it with someone. But she would keep their secret because she liked them so much.

When they left the store he walked her to her car and put her canvass grocery bag in the trunk. He bent his head down and kissed her before she knew what was happening. Her eyes flew open wide. “I know I’m not supposed to but it was a quick kiss. I’m sure nobody was watching. You really are irresistible.” He winked at her. “I’ll follow you home. You sure it’s okay if I stay over tonight?”

“As long as you let me sleep. Eventually.” She waggled her eyebrows and bit her lip. He recognized that as a sign of desire. He was looking forward to the nights events.

---

The next day Kayla was doing her practicum with patients so her phone was off. During her lunch break she checked her messages and saw dozens of texts. She opened the first one from Jess.

Jess: OMG U R famous!

There was a picture embedded of Chris kissing Kayla in the parking lot of Von’s. FUCK.

Kayla was livid. She opened her browser and googled Chris’ name and more pictures of them popped up. She was only identified as his mystery woman. Goddammit he knew how she felt about the tabloids. She was gonna kill him.

Kayla returned to the office and looked around the waiting room at the patients, hoping none of them had seen the internet pictures. Then she thought of her mentor and panicked. This was so bad for her education, for her career, for her life.

When Kayla left work later that day she called Jess. “Are you home?”

“I’m still at work. Omigod, you are famous. And so fucked. What did Chris say?” Jess was a little breathless and talking low so nobody could hear her.

“I haven’t called him yet. And he hasn’t called me either. The chicken shit motherfucker. I got one text from him. One fucking text that said ‘We have to talk. I’ll call you.’ What kind of bullshit is that?” Kayla blew through a barely yellow light.

“Wow. You’re really pissed. Maybe you should calm down and do some yoga or meditate before you call him.” Jess was genuinely worried for Chris.

“No fucking way. I knew this was a bad idea. What the fuck was I thinking dating Captain America?” Kayla suddenly felt like she could burst into tears. “Shit Jess, what am I gonna do? I don’t want to be in the magazines. I don’t want to be Captain America’s girlfriend. That’s a lot of freaking pressure.”

“Sweetie, we’ll figure it out. You know Chris wouldn’t do anything to hurt you. Just the opposite he would do everything in his power to protect you. I know he’ll figure this out. Just trust him okay? And there’s a new bottle of wine in the fridge. Start without me.”

As soon as Kayla was home she called Chris but it went straight to voicemail. “Chris what is this shit? You said nobody would know about us. I’m the fucking flavor of the week thanks to your little kiss in the parking lot you asshole. What the fuck am I supposed to do at work tomorrow? The entire hospital will be talking about it. I’ll  have to hide in an on-call room on my lunch break. I told you I didn’t want to be on a magazine cover and that’s exactly where this is going to end up. I didn’t need this motherfucking headache right now. Fuck. FUCK. FUCK!”

She hung up and threw her phone on the bed then picked up a book and launched it across the room as well. Shaking her head she swore under her breath and retrieved her phone, dialing Chris again and getting voicemail. “I’m sorry. That was harsh. I shouldn’t take it out on you. Well I should because you’re the one who started it by kissing me in public, but it’s not exactly your fault because you didn’t know those vultures would be there. And what I said was mean. Very mean. So I apologize.” She sighed deeply. “Just tell me what to do next. Please. I have zero experience with this. Please call me. It doesn’t matter what time.”

Twenty minutes later Jess came bounding through the door with a bottle of tequila and a bag of limes. “I thought this might be better than wine.”

Kayla put her face in her hands and laughed. “Jess I love you so much.”

They were well into the bottle when the doorbell rang followed by a loud pounding on the door. They looked at each other and burst into laughter.

Chris was talking before Kayla had the door opened all the way. “Why didn’t you pick up your phone? I’m so sorry. It was all my fault. I should have known better than to kiss you in public. I have no idea how they knew I was there. I was tied up all day and I couldn’t call you. I know that’s not a good excuse. I should have called. I’m so sorry Kayla. I know you’re freaking out but I’m going to take care of this. I promise you okay. My team is working on it. I’m working on it. Please don’t be mad at me. Okay? Kayla?” Throughout his long run-on sentence Kayla just smiled goofily at him. “Kayla you are still mad at me right?”

“Dju wanna shotta tequila?” Her words were slurred and Jess appeared behind her with the bottle of tequila held in her hand.

“Chrish! We’re celebrating. Kayla’s gonna be famoush. Waaaiiittt. Oooh she’sh piissseedd at you. Better go.” Jess tried winking at him then waved for him to leave. “There’s knives in there.” She motioned to the kitchen.

Chris looked in disbelief from Kayla to Jess and back to Kayla. He hung his head. This was his fault. He told Kayla he would protect her and he had let her down. Now she and Jess were drunk because of it. He had caused all of this. Then he felt Kayla’s arms wrap around his waist. “Ish okay Chris. We’ll figger it out.” She snuggled her head against his chest and sighed.

He hugged her tightly and kissed the top of her head. He knew the first time they met she would be trouble. But she was just the kind of trouble he needed. And he intended to do everything in his power to keep her in his life.