#bailey jones

[tetratastic]

fell of the horse a little. anyway, b for bailey jones

[isananna]

Posted Anonymously

Got this title from a title game from @suddenclarityharry and got inspired to write it. So here I am, three days later, with a Chris Evans fic on my hands. I may or may not work on more stuff in this AU. Who knows but I enjoyed writing this a lot!

Pairing: Chris Evans x Female OC

Word Count: 4785

Synopsis: She had no idea the amazing new guy friend in her life was the hot, popular, easygoing colleague everyone had a thing for. Until she did and it killed her to think that if he ever found out, it’d ruin their more-than-just-friendship friendship. Office AU

Tagging @suddenclarityharry @aeliad @klausgoldsteins @iwillpooponthefloor

Bailey stared at the man in front of her, his eyes sparkling and his mouth set into the widest, most charming smile she’d ever seen. No, she had to stay strong and not give in. It’s not like she was his personal analyst and could waltz right on over to her office (high walled cubicle that gave some modicum of privacy if she ever had short, not quite formal meetings with a colleague or a subordinate) and ask her for a favor. Except everyone was just a little weak to one Christopher Robert Evans, man or woman, and he knew how to play that fact very well. It was mostly innocent (if calling favors and giving his target the biggest, most endearing and soulful puppy dog eyes could be considered innocent) and it was for work. But still, she had to be strong but she could already feel her resolve crumbling.

“Come on, please? I’ll owe you one! My boss just sent over some last minute requests and my presentation is tomorrow.” He smiled even wider, like he was trying to highlight the beard he’d been growing recently.

Fuck him and fuck the beard that made him even better looking than he already was. It should have been a crime for anyone to be so damnably gorgeous and having the clearest baby blues she’d ever laid her eyes on that made her heart squeeze just a little bit tighter whenever he was in such close proximity.

“You already owe me a lot, Chris.” Bailey sighed, rubbing her temples. She already had a lot to do, what with one of her juniors out sick for the week and she had to pick up his work. Everyone else on her team was either fully booked or too new to take on the extra, albeit temporary, load.

“Please, Bails?”

There it was. She could feel the crack growing. She didn’t interact with him much outside of work, having different friend groups and working in different departments and all but she knew for a fact that he didn’t have nicknames for everyone he worked with, but somehow she wound up with one. Maybe because they both started in the company at the same time, her as a newbie and him as a hot shot marketing manager who transferred over because the hours and the pay were better. Everyone knew, of course, about the rockstar employee the company snagged when they joined almost ten years ago, and for some bizarre reason, they’d been joined at the hip for work projects ever since.

“I’m only staying at the office until seven. Whatever I have finished I’ll send. I trust you can handle the rest?” She looked up at him, eyes weary, then back down to his knees which was barely just a handbreadth away from her knuckles, Chris having chosen to sit halfway on her desk, leg dangling, as he leaned against her cubicle wall but more heavily on the foot planted on the ground.

“You’re the best, Bails!” His face brightened considerably as he pushed off his standing leg. “It’s not a lot but it’d be great if you could sort out and clean up the additional data tables. I could have done it myself but I’m still not done with the presentation deck.”

“Mmmm.” She tucked her hair behind her ear, glancing sideways, only to catch him popping open his collar and letting his clavicle tattoo peek just a little bit. It was after hours anyway. No need to be all buttoned and suited up. “You have me for only an hour and a half.”

“Getting to it!” He grinned, rolling up his sleeves before walking away, soles of his leather shoes tapping smartly against the floor.

It was only when she didn’t hear his footsteps anymore that Bailey finally let out the breath she’d been holding the entire time. How was she supposed to know that the funny, interesting guy she met online on a restaurant review site, of all places, was her hot, popular, and easygoing officemate? It killed her to know that she was the only one who knew the truth about their… relationship, but how exactly was she going to ‘fess up to one Christopher Robert Evans that one Bailey Alexander Jones was the online friend whose taste in food was the only one he trusted? Other than his own of course.

It all started on an unusually free Sunday afternoon. She was looking at reviews for pet friendly restaurants, to widen her options, and each time she tapped on a restaurant’s profile and read through the reviews, there was always one user that caught her attention. The reviews he left that were detailed and full of all the reasons why he loved the place. Or if he didn’t like the place, his reviews were never terrible, but always worded well so that the owners could use it as suggestions for room for improvement. His profile picture certainly helped matters along too. It was his arm wrapped around the neck of his brown and white mixed breed (a rescue, according to his bio which made him all the more precious in her eyes). No face, just the arm of a man (who clearly went to the gym and took care of himself by the looks of things) and his dog, with the top buttons of his shirt open, offering a peek to his clavicle tattoo and on a whim she messaged him. With absolutely no ulterior motives (which was a flat out lie when she looked back on it, even before she found out it was Chris Evans she’d suddenly become friends with).

It was how she knew.

. . . .

Hey. Sorry, I meant to get back to you on that new bakery with stuff for dogs too but swamped with work. Big presentation tomorrow. Felt bad asking one of my officemates to overtime and help out a little.

Bailey stared at her phone. She was finally at home, seated on her couch and in clean clothes and warm skin after her bath, knees pulled up against her chest as she read the message for the umpteenth time. Chris didn’t realize he had both her work number and her personal number, so he couldn't put two and two together, but she did. And she felt terrible for keeping up the facade but how exactly was she going to bring this up? It’s not like she could just blurt it out, but it’s not like she was hiding some big secret. And wasn’t there some sort of office fraternization rules in the employee handbook? She really didn’t want to lose her job and she didn’t think that he would want to move to a different company either, if their ten year tenure was anything to go by.

It’s fine. Was a bit busy myself today. One of my teammates got sick and no one else could pick up the slack so I had to do it, on top of my own work.

She swallowed thickly. She didn’t mean for him to feel bad, or to fish for some kind words, but he was so easy to talk to on the phone. He was kind, considerate, sent her stupid dad jokes and pictures of his dog (Dodger she later found out after countless hours of messaging). Even if it was just an online relationship, she couldn’t help but feel the palpable attraction. He was the first, and the last, person she texted every day. She replied in turn with goofy pictures of her dogs, a beagle named Rocco and a corgi named Duke, they constantly messaged each other and talked about anything and everything and the only thing missing was that they actually meet up.

Oh? Sorry to hear. Hope your teammate gets better, for your sake too. Don’t want you to burn out or anything.

Bailey smiled, falling sideways into her couch, her dogs jumping onto the empty cushion above her head and making themselves comfortable.

Yeah, me too. He said he was fine today but I told him to stay home and take an extra day, just to be safe. Don’t want him relapsing. He’ll be back tomorrow and I’ll just be my usual busy self, instead of extremely busy.

She closed her eyes and pressed her phone to her chest. What she wouldn’t give to make this awkwardness go away. She desperately wanted to tell him. Every time she saw Chris at work and there was someone just a little bit too close to him, she wanted to tell them he was hers. Which was pathetic, because she didn’t think that falling in love would make her that girl, the territorial and possessive one but apparently that was what was happening. And the fact that she was even admitting to herself that she was in love with the man sounded strange in her ears and gave her some weird combination of a heady buzz and a headache. Her eyes opened halfway when she felt her phone vibrate.

Well, I’ve got to go home now. Still at the office but there’s nothing more I can do now except crack open a cold one, shower, and go to bed. Talk to you tomorrow after my meeting. Wish me luck!

She looked at the clock. It was ten but she knew his commute home wasn’t going to be too long. He lived just a couple of stops after hers and she only had a thirty minute train ride to work.

Night, you. Good luck tomorrow. Hope your presentation goes well.

It didn’t take him long to reply.

Night, you. Thanks for keeping me company, electronically anyway, while I worked!

Her eyes zoned in on the emoji he put at the end, the kissy face one. It was things like this that made her heart beat faster than it should, and why she was falling further and further in love with him, all sweet and kind and reliant on her.

. . . .

His presentation did go well, she knew both from his exuberant, but tired, face when he dropped by her cubicle  during lunch, slumping in the chair beside her desk with a couple of takeout boxes in hand as payment for her overtime. Although really, she knew more than an hour ago because the minute he was finished with his meeting, he texted her with a host of party popper emojis, and ended with his usual kissy face.

. . . .

She was thankful for the rare weekend off. Now was one of them, when marketing was starting to slow down because they’d done all the prep work for the upcoming busy Thanksgiving and holiday sales. Those were always done well in advance so they could put up quality campaigns. Sure they were still busy, but markedly less so, which meant she didn’t see Chris as often, which also meant she could ignore her bubbling feelings at work.

Have you eaten at the new European dessert place in Newton? I heard their ile flottante and their cannolis are to die for.

Bailey smiled, amused. Of course she did. She lived about a ten minute walk away from it and she couldn’t wait to sample their other dishes.

Yup! It’s near my place. I can walk there.

When she realized what she sent, Bailey’s eyes widened and she dropped her phone on top of her kitchen table. She did not just tell him the general area where she lived. No. He might interpret that as an open invitation to finally met up!

Oh you live in Newton? Me too, but not near Beurre et Sucre. Maybe you’d like to go together some time?

. . . .

Bailey shot down any of Chris’s attempts at trying to strike a conversation after that awkward exchange. She didn’t ignore him completely, but she did always reply with short messages or late, saying she was just so busy at work she couldn’t find the time. She felt guilty because he didn’t do anything wrong, but she just wasn’t prepared to face the music. What if he were furious at her for keeping everything a secret? Maybe if she let things cool that everything would blow over? She wasn’t planning on ignoring him for long, just for the next week or so. That seemed like a realistic enough time to be super busy at work. There was a stretch of a few days, soon after they started texting each other constantly, that she all but ignored him, when work just kept piling up on her desk.

. . . .

Hey. I know you’re busy but I hope things are going to look up soon. They should! It’s been almost two weeks and I miss talking with you.

Bailey’s brain conveniently ignored the ‘talking with’ in between the ‘miss’ and the ‘you.’

. . . .

I’m in your side of Newton. Want to grab a cup of coffee over at Beans and Bones while I’m in the area? Dodger’s with me.

Shit. She stared wide eyed at the message on her phone. She blinked a few times and even rubbed her eyes for good measure, to make sure she wasn’t misreading it. But there it was, plain as day. He was asking her out for coffee, strangely enough her neighborhood coffee place, a nice public space that never got too crowded but was never completely empty either. Nice and safe and obvious.

Ah but no pressure! Sorry, didn’t stop to think if you were going to be busy later.

She stared at her phone again, looking at the timestamps. He was really nervous, sending a barrage of messages. The three blinking dots at the bottom of the screen told her he was typing, then it stopped (he probably erased it) before starting up again, then stopping once more. Rinse and repeat.

Hey you there? Sorry I sprung it up on you. I just… I found myself here and was hoping you were home too? Shit. Was I moving too quickly? Oh God. Sorry. Forget it. Never mind. Turning back. I hope I didn’t scare you off. I just really wanted to meet you, I guess.

Her heart started to beat wildly as she fumbled with her phone, sitting up straight from her bed, never mind the wave of dizziness from suddenly shifting positions.

Hey um, yeah. I’m free! Sorry, I was just doing something. Didn’t get a chance to reply to your messages until now. I can be there in thirty minutes?

What the hell was she doing. She wasn’t only going to potentially ruin her friendship with him but she was risking a hell of a lot by doing this.

Great! I’ll see you then. I’m wearing a black leather jacket, navy shirt, and jeans.

She groaned. Of course he’d be wearing a black leather jacket. That’s just the vibe he gave when they were at work. That he was the hot, popular, easygoing one just everyone gravitated to. Not that she was quiet and shy by any stretch of the imagination, no, but they just hung out in different circles and had different friends and just always seemed to be at each other’s periphery if they weren’t talking shop. Usually, the only times they really ever spoke to each other at work, outside of project meetings, was when he sidled on over to her desk and blinked his damnably gorgeous baby blues to ask her for a quick favor and if she could pull up some data for him and prepare it for a presentation deck he had to finish. And somehow, even if she was busy, she managed to keep a straight face and nod, saying she’d have it done before the day was out and he’d smile that infuriatingly gorgeous smile, give her a wink, and walk away.

Leather jacket too, jeans, white button down, and rose gold Air Force Ones.

She fell back into bed, covering her face with her hands.

What on earth was she doing?

. . . .

Bailey gripped Duke’s and Rocco’s leashes tighter when she made her way to Beans and Bones. It was her favorite coffee spot, both because they made the best pick me ups after her weekend jogs and she could bring her dogs inside. Right now, she was hoping their food and coffee would be enough to help fix the inevitable breaking of her heart. Taking a deep breath, she pushed the door open and walked inside, her dogs trailing happily behind her as she looked around for Chris.

He was at the corner booth, on the side facing the door, with his brow slightly furrowed, book in one hand, the other scratching the back of his dog’s ear. Dodger’s tail was thumping happily on the wood floor, mouth open and tongue wagging as he stared up at Chris. Just as she was about to take a step, his head lifted and his eyes caught hers. Her heart nearly stopped and she couldn’t look away from his magnetic blue eyes. He’d seen her, and by the appraising look on his face, he pieced everything together. There was no going back now. The only thing she could do was walk up to him with as much dignity as she could muster.

“Hey um.” She tucked her hair back behind her ears nervously, fidgeting as she clenched and unclenched her fist around the leashes. It’s not like she’d never been in close proximity with him before, but this was different. This was outside of work, in her favorite coffee spot, with their dogs.

“Why don’t you get something first?” Chris smiled kindly, leaning forward and reaching for Duke’s and Rocco’s leashes. “I’ll keep an eye on those two while you’re at the counter.”

“O-okay.” She let her grip go, wondering if he felt the static too when his fingers brushed her hand.

The trip to order her food and drink was quick and Bailey found herself back at the booth not even five minutes later. When she reached out to get her dog’s leashes, Chris only gripped them tighter and propped his elbow on the table, book discarded, as he grinned.

“Oh no. I’m keeping Duke and Rocco hostage for the afternoon while we sort everything out, Miss Jones.”

She hoped she managed to sufficiently suppress the shiver that ran down her spine at his words.

“I um.” She looked down at the table. What could she say? He obviously wasn’t angry. Surprised, but not angry. In fact, surprise easily gave way to a look that was equal parts amused and victorious.

“I had a feeling it was you.”

Her head snapped up as she stared at him. She wasn’t expecting the look on his face, something soft and tender and relief and happiness.

“W-what? H-how?”

“Lots of little things really.” Chris tapped his clavicle. “I pay a lot more attention to you than you think.”

Bailey opened her mouth to speak, but was cut off by the arrival of her coffee and blintz with strawberry compote. She mumbled a quick thanks before wrapping her suddenly too cold and shaking hands around her mug, hoping the warmth would help. She felt her ears grow hot when she heard him laugh, deep and warm and rich.

“From the way you reply too. I also live a couple of stations away from you and we’ve ridden the same train a few times. I get in earlier and get off later than you if we’re commuting the same time so I kind of figured you lived in the area. Imagine my surprise you told me you did, in fact, live in Newton.”

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to keep it from you that I knew it was you.”

Chris shook his head good-naturedly, covering one of her hands with his own.

“Don’t be. I understand why you’d freak out about it.” His thumb was absently stroking the back of her hand, like it was the most natural thing in the world to do to calm her down. The dogs were sorting themselves under the table, trying to find a way to settle themselves in between table and human legs. “How long have you known?”

“Couple of months maybe?” She squeaked. The skin he was touching felt like it was on fire. “It was late, we were all working overtime to finish that presentation, and you ended up pulling off your tie popping open top buttons of your shirt at some point. I saw your tattoo when I looked over towards your general direction. It’s pretty distinct and it’s hard not to put two and two together.”

“Just my general direction? Not me?” He teased, eyes warm. He still hadn’t let go of her hand.

“You’re too full of yourself sometimes,” Bailey mumbled, averting her gaze but not doing anything to shake off his hand.

Chris laughed, tilting his head back, the hand with the leashes reaching up and pressing against his chest. The dogs scrambled beneath them, three furry faces staring at him like he was going to bring them out for a walk.

The rest of the afternoon passed by pleasantly, nerves on both their parts starting to fade. As it turned out, Chris admitted he was panicking after she didn’t reply to his text about going to Beurre et Sucre, and again (clearly) after he invited her out for coffee.

. . . .

“What would you have done if I said I couldn’t make it today?” Bailey took her dogs’ leashes firmly this time, her nails grazing his broad, calloused palm. She wondered why they were rough, like he spent years doing some sort of manual labor.

“Hate myself for scaring you away?” He shrugged, smiling a little carelessly. “To be honest I really didn’t think about it. I just had to know. My days were getting pretty boring without you and your witty remarks.”

“I have to admit I missed your stupid jokes.” She let herself smile a little too, falling in step with him as they started to walk towards her apartment building. He said he’d drop her off then make his way to the station and back to his place, then see her on Monday at work.

“You like them, admit it!” He grinned, blue eyes sparkling, as he tilted his head downwards to face her properly.

“Some of them were well timed. Shitty day because a certain someone dumped more work on me when I could have been home and lounging in a bubble bath!” she shot back playfully. It was nice, whatever this was between them. Certainly more than just a plain old friendship but she’d be lying if she thought that it was anything more than that.

Chris’s mouth formed an ‘o’ and his eyes shone with an almost wicked gleam at her last words.

“Pervert!” Bailey shoved his shoulder, face bright and burning, as she turned away, her dogs gleefully sniffing about as they led them home.

“Hey now none of that. Healthy adult male right here!” He laughed, wrapping his free arm around her shoulder and pulling her in.

Bailey snorted but let him drag her along to his pace just the same.

Their banter continued until they reached the stoop of her building, his arm around her the entire time like she’d up and disappear if his grasp wasn’t secure around her.

“Well, this is me.” She gently pried herself away from his side, a little disappointed at the sudden lack of warmth but there really wasn’t any reason for him to keep holding her anymore. Not that there was any during their walk but she just couldn’t bring herself to peel away from him. Whether it was because she just couldn’t find the timing or she actually liked the weight of his arm around her, the smell of his crisp, ocean cologne invading her nostrils, or the added warmth on a cool day, she didn’t know.

(Oh but she did, she absolutely did.)

“Um, see you on Monday?” She rocked back and forth on her feet, nervous again.

“Seems too far away.”

“Huh? What do you mean? Monday’s in a couple of days.”

With his free hand, he reached out and lifted her chin, leaning his head down as he kissed her. Bailey’s eyes widened and her hands instinctively pressed against his chest.

“Shit. Sorry, did I read that wrong? I was so sure…” He pulled away, apologetic, head down like an abandoned puppy. Even Dodger could read his body language, the dog wedging himself in the space between his legs.

Bailey’s fingers rested on her mouth, touching and pressing her slightly swollen lips like she couldn’t believe what just happened. She could not, in fact, believe what just happened and her mind was whirling.

“Bails?”

Her heart ached at how worried and flustered he sounded, like he’d just ruined everything he managed to fix earlier this afternoon.

“You, um. You like me?” she squeaked, looking down, hair falling and covering her face. She was sure her face was steaming.

Chris’s shoulders relaxed as relief spread through him. She sounded like she was amazed that he could even think of her that way.

“Yeah. You’re pretty cute and adorable, huh?” He tugged Dodger away, the dog dutifully following, as he closed the gap between them and pulled her flush against him with his free arm. He bent down and kissed the top of her head before resting his chin on it. “Yeah, I do. I thought it was pretty obvious.”

“I’ve been told I’m bad at reading things like that,” she mumbled into his shirt, pressing her forehead against his chest.

“Well then. Let me spell it out for you, Bailey Alexander Jones. I like you. Would you go out with me?” he murmured into her hair, the arm around her squeezing tight like he’d never let her go unless she said yes.

She looked up at him, chin against him now, staring into his endlessly blue eyes and the warmth on his face. She tiptoed to close the space between their faces, eyes falling shut as she kissed him back, his hold on her tightening to support her weight.

. . . .

“Please? I’ll finish faster if you help.” Chris bat his eyelashes shamelessly as he leaned forward, elbow propped on her desk, hand cradling his cheek.

“Excuse me but I have my own work to do.”

“I’ll take you out to dinner!”

Bailey’s eyes narrowed as she stared at him. Was he really going to use that as a bribe?

“You’ll take me out to dinner anyway.”

Chris laughed, picking up his notebook as he leaned back.

“Was worth a shot anyway. Would have been nice to work together again.”

The first thing they did that Monday was to go to HR and tell them about their relationship. It wouldn’t do to both be assigned on the same projects, conflict of interest after all, and HR was more than amenable to finding a solution for them. They were in different departments to begin with and had proven themselves more than professional that the company was willing to work around their relationship. They weren’t the first set of officemates to find themselves dating and they certainly weren’t going to be the last.

“Go ask the data analysts actually assigned to your team. I’m sure they’re more than capable of handling your requests.”

“Fine. Spoilsport.” He stuck his tongue out childishly.

“Chris…” Bailey sighed, twisting in her seat until she faced him. You know wh—mmf!”

He cut her off with a kiss. She let herself be led along for just a moment until she remembered where they were.

“We’re at work!” she hissed, glaring at him.

“I know but your cubicle wall is pretty high! No one saw us.” He grinned, all cheek and mischief.

“Just… go back to your own desk. We both have work to do and I’d like to actually go out for dinner and not eat takeout.”

He leaned forward and kissed Bailey on her hairline, dodging a swipe from his girlfriend. His skin warmed at the thought.

“I’m going, I’m going!” He stood up, holding his notebook in one hand and pocketing the other. “I should be done at six. That good for you?”

Bailey glanced at her to do list, just three more relatively easy, but a little time consuming, tasks left.

“If you let me get back to work it should be.”

He laughed, nodding, turning on his heel to leave her alone. But not before winking and a whisper of ‘see you later, sweetheart’ right by her ear.

Bailey groaned and slid slightly down her chair.

He was equally as infuriating as he was adorable and that made things all the more challenging. Not that she would change it for the world.