my favorite part • chris evans (bwwm)

• thirty nine •

"Hey! Have you seen Phoenix?"

"I'm sorry, Chris." Elizabeth apologized right away. "I thought she told you."

"Told me what?"

"She quit this morning..."

"She quit?!" Chris questioned. "I just talked to her yesterday and she seemed fine. Why would she quit? This was her dream!"

"She just said it was too hard for her to be around you."

His face dropped. "She quit because of me?"

"It's not your fault." Elizabeth assured. "Phoenix is complex, yes but she's also very new to this. She's never been in love before. Imagine the emotions that would surround her everyday knowing she'd be working with her first love who just so happened to also be her first true heartbreak."

"She broke up with me!"

"I know, I know." Elizabeth nodded. "But you gotta think about the fact that Tom isn't going to be here for weeks after today nor am I. That'd mean she'd be working closely with you and a few others DAILY. That's gotta be tough."

"Maybe I should just give up and leave her alone." Chris sighed, defeat all over his voice. "She didn't want to see me so much that she'd leave her dream job... if that isn't a sign, I don't know what is. She doesn't want to work it out and I'm not going to force her to."

"I don't mean to eavesdrop but she's just afraid." Tom chimed in. He had only been sitting a few feet away and as soon as Phoenix's name was mentioned, it was as if his ears couldn't help but to listen. "It's been a couple weeks now since the breakup, I think she's starting to realize that it wasn't the best decision."

"That's right." Lizzie agreed. "I think now's the time to make your move. I assume you have something in mind?"

"I do."

"Her flight isn't until tonight. You can still catch her if you go now." Tom spoke while looking down at his watch. "Your scene isn't until later this afternoon anyways, I'm sure you can sneak out."

"Before I go, can I ask you something Tom?"

"Of course!"

"Do you love Phoenix?"

"Of course I love her. She's one of my best friends." Tom answered.

"Are you in love with her?" Chris modified his previous question.

Tom furrowed his eyebrows, not quite sure how to answer. "Um I did have feelings for her at one point, yes."

"Does she know?"

Tom shook his head. "I doubt it. And if she does, she's been doing a great job of acting like she doesn't."

"I'm sorry I don't mean to bombard you with questions but I love Phoenix with my entire heart." Chris began. "The friendship you two share is beautiful and it's been something that I've enjoyed watching blossom since day one. I don't want you to think I'm asking you to stay away from her or anything. I just want to be sure that you're REALLY okay with me going after her? I don't want to have to deal with a whole love triangle scenario in the future."

"Go get her. That's your wife, mate."

With that, Chris headed straight to Phoenix's hotel. He went in knowing this would make or break their relationship. He had one last chance to get his girl back and if it failed, he didn't know what he was going to do. The thought of life without Phoenix scared the shit outta him and wasn't a life he was ready to live.

At the sound of a knock at the door, Phoenix jumped up. She wasn't surprised when she looked out the peep hole to find Chris standing there.

"Hi." She greeted timidly without making eye contact.