Rylee was awoken by a loud noise from the living room. She looked at the clock and saw it was 7:12 am. She realized quickly that the loud noise was the front door closing. Chris must have just left. Rylee still dozed and soon she felt the bed dip, and Sebastian wrapped his arms around her, squeezing. She took in his sweet, woodsy cologne, relaxing into his touch.

She backed up to make herself a little spoon and she drifted back off to sleep, warm in his embrace.

Rylee was rattled from her sleep yet again at 10:00, when she heard a loud noise and Sebastian cursing the air almost immediately after.

"Baby?"

Silence.

"Sebastian?"

Silence.

Rylee stretched her arms above her head, hearing what felt like every bone in her back crack in such a satisfyingly grotesque way.

She hopped out of bed and grabbed one of Sebastian's hoodies that was draped on the back of the couch. The December air was a bit much for her sometimes.

She padded around the corner and poked out her head to see Sebastian in the kitchen. He was hunched over the sink, leaning heavily on his right foot, his hand under the heavy flow of water, unmoving.

"Are you okay?" Rylee asked from her spot, but he didn't acknowledge her. She padded closer towards him and realized he had AirPods in.

"Stupid fuckin' pan." Sebastian whispered under his breath, still completely unaware of Rylee behind him. He tapped his headphones quickly and said "hello?"

Instead of accidentally scaring him, she decided to sit at the bar on the outskirts of the kitchen, behind him, and wait for him to be done. She piddled around on her phone as she sat down. He continued talking, she assumed someone had called him as she was standing there.

"Hey Rachel," Sebastian continued in almost a whisper, "yeah...listen I had called you cause I'm gonna have to reschedule this all again...I know...yeah...well the press tours happening soon...and now I've got surgery again...no she still doesn't know..."

Rylee's ears perked up at the last sentence. She still looked at her phone in her hand, but now she was fully eavesdropping.

"No. I'm not gonna tell her....I feel like if she knew she'd kill me....Rachel...you're too good. Alright. Let me know. I'll swing by in a few hours then...Alrighty. Bye."

He tapped his AirPod again, signaling the end of the call, shifting back to whatever music he had playing.

At that point Rylee was already gone from the bar and had dove back into bed, straight under the covers, pretending to be asleep.

Who's Rachel?

And what don't I know?

What is happening?

She heard the kitchen sink turn off and Sebastian shuffle around some plates. She heard his crutches clicking on the ground getting louder as he got closer to the bed.

He plopped lightly on his side of the bed, and pushed some stray hair off of Rylee's face. "Hey baby, rise and shine."

Rylee rolled back over, causing Sebastian to laugh lightly. "Come on, love, I made breakfast. May have even been mortally wounded while doing so." He looked down at his hand that had a nice plump red line across the back. He should get it wrapped up.

"I'm not hungry." Rylee stated easily.

Sebastian was surprised. "Are...are you sure? Is everything alright? Do you feel okay?"

"Yeah, just wanna sleep."

"Okay, well if you get hungry it'll be out there, okay? And if there's anything I can do, let me know...I love you."

Rylee rolled back the other direction. And Sebastian felt a heavy weight of unease settle in. Something was off. He turned around and went back to the kitchen, slowly cleaning up the mess he'd made.

A few hours later, Rylee woke up again, but now her heart felt like it had made a home in her stomach. She felt queasy thinking about Sebastian's phone call.

She should just talk to him about it. Maybe there's a logical explanation. She sat up and slowly got out of bed. She noticed that the apartment was eerily quiet.

"Seb?" Rylee called out.

Nothing.

She looked down at the bedside table and noticed a small handwritten note.

Ry,

Went out with Chris for a bit. Be back later.

Feel free to call when you wake up. I hope you feel better.

Love you,

S

Hangin out with Chris my ass. He had told whoever Rachel is on the phone that he would see her in a couple hours...that's got to be where he is. But how could he do that right under her nose? She trusted him...but the evidence is so damning.

She decided to call him, just to see if he would answer.

——————————

Sebastian was sitting in the passenger seat of his car while Chris drove. They were mid-conversation.

"You're such a dumbass," Chris laughed, "how'd you burn a whole line into the back of your hand?"

"The pan I had the sausage in was hot and I forgot! I dunno man. Maybe I am a dumbass." Sebastian replied looking at the angry red strip across the back of his hand.

His cell phone rang from in the cup holder, but his car picked up the call. When he saw Rylee's name pop up, he smiled and hit accept on the car's center screen.

"Hey baby, how are you feeling?"

"I'm alright. What're you up to?"

Sebastian hesitated and looked at Chris, who looked back at him with a shrug.

"Chris and I are headed out for lunch...beer or two."

"Cool." Rylee paused for a moment, "Tell Chris I said hi."

Chris responded himself, "Hey Ry Bread!"

"Oh, hi! I didn't realize you were in the car together."

"Yeah, we just got parked, so we've gotta get going but I'll call you later okay?"

"Alright, love you."

"Love you Ry, bye."

Sebastian hit end call on the car's center screen and leaned back into his seat.

"Wow. You're a shitty liar." Chris laughed.

"Well what was I supposed to say! 'Hey Ry, just going to the travel agent to re-re-plan your surprise!' Fuck you Evans." He laughed out boisterously.

Chris parked the car and he trotted around to help Sebastian get out onto his crutches. They walked into the travel agency office together and were quickly greeted by Rachel.

——————————

Later that afternoon, Sebastian strolled back in through the apartment door, sly smile on his face. Rylee was sitting criss cross on the couch, looking at her phone.

"Hey you, feeling better?" Sebastian asked as he made his way over to the couch, and slowly sat down next to Rylee.

"Yeah...Um...I need to ask you something though. Because it's ripping me apart from the inside out and I just...need to ask."

Sebastian got worried. "Yeah of course, what is it?" His anxiety spiked as he waited for her to speak.

She hesitated for a moment and then took a breath. "You were talking to a girl named Rachel this morning. I was out in the kitchen this morning when you were on the phone...

Sebastian's face sunk.

"Just," Rylee began to ramble, "Who's Rachel? It just seemed like a really secretive conversation and it's had me freaked out all morning and I really just need an explanation so my brain will stop. I love you. And I trust you. But that call has my brain fried." Rylee ducked her head into her arms as she tried to control her breaths and listen for his response.

Sebastian hesitated for a moment, which honestly scared Rylee more. "I..."

"I...fuck it...for the last three months I've been trying to plan us a vacation. Rachel is my travel agent. She's been helping me plan this whole thing. And this is the third time I've had to call and have her reschedule the whole thing."

Rylee stared at Sebastian in awe. He was planning a trip? For the two of you? And your anxiety filled brain couldn't handle it? Such a fucking idiot. A tear rolled down Rylee's cheek. "I'm so sorry." And then came what felt like a waterfall.

Sebastian immediately leaned over and embraced Rylee in a tight hug, "I'm such a fucking idiot." Rylee cried steadily.

"You're okay, Ry. It's okay."

"But it's not. My anxiety can't handle you being on one phone call with another woman? I've always trusted you 100%, so why does the doubt creep in?"

"Honestly, it's my fault for trying to be sneaky with these plans and flat out being bad at it. I don't blame you at all. I would react the same way. Even Chris called me a bad liar." Sebastian put on a small smile.

They stayed laced together for a silent moment. Sebastian spoke up quietly, "Thank you for asking me about it and not drowning in your thoughts about it for a week. I completely understand how that conversation this morning would've sounded sketchy..."

"And thank you for being honest. I'm sorry my anxiety ruined your secret trip plans." Rylee had calmed down at this point, cuddling closer into Sebastian's chest.

"Oh, they're not ruined." Sebastian smirked. "You still don't know where...when...how long. Still secret plans in my opinion."

Rylee nodded quietly. "Honestly Sebastian, I really do trust you. I love you. I feel like Michael's just always had this awful, horrible impact on my every thought and I haven't been able to get past it."

"Well, you're stuck with me, so hopefully I can help ease those thoughts away." He pulled her chin up, and gently kissed her lips.

"How about, we settle in for the evening, get Chinese, watch a movie. You still have tonight off, right?"

Rylee nodded into his chest as he ran his fingers gently through her hair.

"Chicken with broccoli?"

She nodded again, smiling into his shirt. Of course he's already got your order memorized.

He was already typing into his DoorDash app as you responded. "Anddd were ordered."

"Wow, that was fast." Rylee laughed, wiping away her leftover tears.

"Listen. You're dating a DoorDash pro."

"And you know what movie we have up next in our Marvel marathon?"

"Hmm?"

"Winter Soldier."

"NO...."

"Yes ma'am."

"Oh my God, I love you."