First Signs of Love ⇾ C. Evans ✓

077 ⇾ contingency plans & a blind date

PART 2 OF CHAPTER 76

. . . . . .

"Oh, Jesus! I am so sorry, I wasn't paying attention to where I was---Chris?"

Chris recognized that voice almost instantly because not only had he heard it one too many times but it belonged to a certain friend of his. "Eddie? My God, what are you---what are you doing here?" Chris exclaimed as he pulled Eddie in for a big hug.

"I could ask you the same thing! Though, not really because you live in this city," Eddie laughed, clapping his hand on Chris' shoulder. "How've you been?"

Sebastian breathed out a sigh of relief as soon as he noticed that Chris was very much engaged in the conversation he was having with Eddie, so much so that he was practically oblivious to Anthony sneaking off into the restaurant to talk to the receptionist. Paul silently thanked Eddie by sending him a grateful smile and a nod.

"Is that---?" Eddie gestured towards Paul as he looked back and forth between him and Chris. "Is that really Paul Rudd in the flesh?"

Chris chuckled at Eddie's sudden realization, nodding as he got them both acquainted with one another. He still hadn't realized that Anthony was nowhere in sight and that Sebastian was texting away on his phone.

"No way," Paul said incredulously. "You can't possibly be fangirling over me when you practically blew everyone, especially me, away with your performance in The Theory of Everything!"

"Yeah, but you're Ant-Man," Eddie said enthusiastically, his face now breaking out into a huge grin. "The Ant-Man!"

"Hey, hey! Look who I ran into," Robert cheered from a distance, causing Chris, Sebastian and Paul to look over.

Jeremy, Scarlett, Chadwick and Lizzie were all walking towards them and Chris couldn't bite back the smile that was fighting its way on to his lips. Not only were Paul and Sebastian's worries allayed but so was Chris' doubts.

Guess they really were running late, Chris thought to himself as he wrapped his arms around his friends.

As soon as everyone was well acquainted with one another, Chadwick piped up by mentioning that the Russo brothers were running a little late. "They're stuck in traffic," he explained.

Everyone nodded in understanding before Robert suggested they all head in to grab a seat and perhaps order some drinks while they waited. Just as Chris was about to ask Eddie to stay for dinner, the latter walked up to him and apologized.

"Sorry, brother. I'd love to stay for dinner but I've got somewhere else to be right now," Eddie said with an apologetic look in his eyes. "We really should find a day to catch up."

"We really should," Chris chuckled, nodding as he moved to give his friend a hug.

"See you soon, my friend," was Eddie's last words to Chris before the former broke into a sprint to get to his car in a nearby parking lot.

. . . . . .

"God, Jen. Could you drive any faster?" Naomi chuckled nervously, throwing her friend a side glance as her nails involuntarily dug into cushion of the passenger seat.

Jen was practically whizzing through traffic as if she was being chased by someone who was hot on her tail. In all honesty, the girls wouldn't actually be in this situation if only Jen had remembered to feed her cat because by the time they got to her house, her poor cat was already whining for food.

"It's my fault that you're running late---"

"It's just a date," Naomi interjected just as Jen made a left turn. "Actually, I wouldn't call it a date since I'm only going for Andrew's sake. You're lucky he's a sweetheart, Ems."