„Hey T… you let yourself in?“ Josh said, entering the living room.
„The gate was open and the door as well.“ Justin replied.
„Yes, sorry for this. The painter just called. He will be here any second.“ Eve explained.
„No big deal.“ Josh replied.
He came closer and hugged his best friend.
„Good to see you. How was your flight?“
„Relaxed.“
„Why you came without family?“
„Just have some business to do for few days. Jess preferred staying in Montana with the boys.“
Josh was glancing at Eve now.
„You already met my interior designer?“
„Really? That’s who I am to you?“ Eve thought, turning upset.
„Yes, I just saved her life. She fell from the ladder.“ Justin boasted.
Eve smiled.
„Justin is my hero.“
Josh was sure now she was a Justin girl and didn’t like it. He stared at her for two seconds, before giving his attention back to his friend.
„Hey, I want you to listen to something. I just finished a song but I’m not sure if it works.“ Josh said.
„Ya, sure.“ Justin replied.
Then he looked at Eve and gave her another smile before leaving the room with Josh. Eve smiled back and waved him goodbye.
When Josh and Justin were undisturbed in his studio, Justin started to talk.
„Dude! That girl is fire! And so, so not your type!“
Josh frowned.
„What type do I have?“
„The opposite of how she looks like.“
„I never said I don’t like blonds, T…“
„But you didn’t have one for two decades, either.“
„Do we really have that senseless discussion?“ Josh asked annoyed.
„I just noticed that things are changing. Like this house. And your hairstyle.“
„It’s not a bad thing.“
„You’re right. However that chick is really nice. You should put more effort in that.“
Josh frowned again.
„More effort?“
„Come on C… you just completely ignored her. What’s the hell is wrong with you?“
„I’m giving her time to process.“
„There’s nothing what needs to be processed. You’ve been in a boyband and not in a motorcycle gang!“
„Okay, so what you suggest me to do?“
„Something radical…“
After some time Josh went into the kitchen to make coffee. While he waited for his mug to be ready he saw Eve in the dining area staring a the wall. She put few different shades of blue at the wall, being insecure which one to choose. Then she noticed that Josh was in the kitchen.
„Hey C.“ She said sassy. „Do you have a second?“
Josh nodded and went into the dining area towards her.
She watched him coming closer and continued talking.
„I know we agreed choosing that dark blue tone on that wall but I just re…“
Eve couldn’t finish the sentence. Josh stopped standing close to her body and cupped her face with both hands. He bent down and placed a deep kiss onto her lips. The painter was in the living room and curiously watching the scene.
Eve was immediately melting and responded his unexpected kiss. It was passionate but gentle.
„You need some fresh panties…“ She was thinking.
Slowly Josh broke their kiss now and looked deep into her eyes.
„I’m fine with every kind of blue you choose. I trust you.“ He answered.
Then he gave her a sexy smile and went back into the kitchen. Eve was completely perplexed and needed a moment to process what just happened. Josh took his coffee and disappeared in the basement.
„And?“ Justin asked curiously.
„Looks like I’m back in the game.“ Josh boasted.
„Son of a gun…“
„I don’t understand.“
„What do you not understand?“
„He interrupted you while talking, kissed you and then walked away?“
„Yes, but he also said that he trust me with the choice of color.“
Lucy was still looking skeptical at Eve during their dinner the same night.
„Did he bring you home?“
„It wasn’t necessary. The painter’s workshop is in our neighborhood. He gave me a ride.“
„So. It’s 24 hours ago since you learned about his career. How do you fell about all of this today?“
„I’m disappointed.“
Lucy frowned.
„Disappointed?“
„I know this sounds crazy. But I really feel disappointed he’s not just the regular guy I believed he was. In my eyes he was perfect. I liked everything about him. And now there is this big chapter of his life which made me realize that I know absolutely nothing about his complex personality.“
„So, the kiss did’t changed anything…?“
„The kiss was mind-blowing, Lucy. He’s still mind-blowing, but… I really want him just to be normal. Am I asking for too much?“
„That’s a ridiculous first world problem.“
Eve pouted.
„Okay, let’s change the subject. How did it feel like sitting on top of Justin Timberlake?“
Eve rolled her eyes.
„If you’re asking if I enjoyed it, the answer is no. I was too busy with being shocked that this man saved me from falling and hurt himself.“
„Does he smell good?“
„I don’t know. It’s not like we made out.“
„But you surely made him hard…“ Lucy teased with a dirty grin in her face.
„Jesus, Lucy! I didn’t make him hard!“
„What makes you sure?“
„I think I would have noticed! Now bring your kinky mind under control!“
The painter picked Eve up next morning and they drove together back to Josh’s house. She was wearing a casual light blue dress and white sandals today. Her hair was put together into a sleek ponytail.
„Good morning.“ Josh said, opening up.
As usual he was wearing jeans and a white shirt when he was staying at home the whole day.
„Good morning, C.“ Eve teased and grinned sassy.
He smiled back and let them in.
Further workmen arrived soon as well. As the painter finished his work downstairs, he was busy with the bedroom walls now. The drywall builder took care for the new wall for Josh’s closet. The flooring installer begun grinding the wooden floor in the living area. A carpenter removed all cupboard doors of Josh’s white kitchen to replace them through new one, being dull-grey and handleless.
Eve was sitting at the patio at Josh’s outdoor table with her laptop and improving the room layouts. The concept was finished but is wasn’t unusual changing some ideas during the renovation process. She realized there was some empty space left and looked for additional furniture to fill up the gaps.
When the workmen finished their jobs for today and left the house, Eve wanted to show her new ideas to Josh, before leaving as well. She went into the living area and was excited about the roughed up floor. The wood felt awesome under her bare feet.
„Josh?“ She called for him.
„On my way upstairs.“ She heard him replying.
Eve sat down cross-legged at the floor and touched the planks with her fingertips carefully. Josh entered the living area, wondering what she was doing.
„Hey.“ She said and smiled at him.
„Is this some weird ritual?“ He teased.
„Come on. Sit next to me. You need to feel this.“
Josh came closer and sat down opposite of her.
„It feels so good, doesn’t it?“
Josh touched the planks as well.
„Feels like wood.“
„Yes. It’s in its original state now. I was wondering if we should keep it this way.“
„Does it mean, you don’t wanna varnishing it?“
Yes. Of course the floor is very sensitive this way. But still we could leave it in its natural condition and just oil it. As long you’re not planing adopting another dog or something.“ Eve teased.
„Ouch…“
„Ups… I forgot you’re still processing Bronson.“
Josh frowned.
„How do you know his name was Bronson?“
„I’ve spent some time in the internet after your outing…“ Eve confessed.
„Oh…“ Josh replied, feeling a little uncomfortable.
He realized that he lost control about what she knew about him.
„What else you researched about me?“ He wanted to know.
„More I could handle, to be honest.“
„What does that mean?“ He asked, being concerned now.
„There are interesting videos on YouTube…“
„What kind of videos?“
„My highlight was JC Chasez and the ladies.“
Josh looked at her, being deeply irritated. Then he grabbed his phone out of the pocket, opened YouTube, searched the video and pressed play. He had no idea there was a video like this from him. Eve was looking at him and noticed that he turned uneasy after watching it for a minute. Then he stopped the video.
„I don’t want you to believe this video represents who I am.“ He said, looking at her now.
„Hm.“ She murmured.
Josh took a deep breath before he explained.
„Look. Some of them I dated. Some of them where just a fling. But most of them are just women who are on a picture with me because we used to work together, or had common friends and joined the same parties. I didn’t have sex with all of this girls, if this is what you think.“
„Hm.“ Eve said again.
„You don’t believe me…“ Josh noticed, his voice sounding disappointed now.
„I want to be honest with you…“ Eve announced and make a short break.
Josh looked at her, waiting for her to continue.
„Josh Shahzay is making my heart beats fast. But JC Chases is scaring me.“
He gave her a shy smile.
„I’m both, Eve. I can’t change who I was in the past. It will always be a part of me. And I’m not feeling bad about it.“
„I understand.“
„Please believe me when I say there’s nothing about me you need to be afraid of.“
Eve looked at him for a moment. She remembered Lucy saying that she shouldn’t judge people because of their past.
„Okay.“
