Josh rang the bell in front of Lance and Michael’s house and the gate got opened few seconds later. He parked his Jeep and jumped outside his car. Lance opened the front door. 

„Dude, what brings you here that early?“ Lance asked surprised.

Josh came closer and then entered the house.

„Where is he?“ He asked angrily. 

„What the hell is going on, bro?“ Lance replied.

„Lance, where the fuck is Mike?“

„Still in bed. Now explain to me what is happening here!“ Lance demanded. 

Josh looked at his friend for a second before he explained.

„I want to understand why my girl is asking questions about the reunion which will definitely never happen.“

Lance frowned. 

„That’s your problem?“ 

„Yes, because very obviously your husband and Jess manipulated her to make her change my mind.“

„You’re overreacting. Again.“ 

„Get Mike out of bed or I will.“ Josh said next, giving him a furious look. 

„I’m here.“ Michael said in the next moment, coming downstairs. „What is going on?“ 

Josh looked at him and waited until he was standing in front of him. 

„What the hell were you thinking telling Eve about the reunion???“ Josh blamed him. 

„We just told her there were options. Why you’re freaking out about that?“ Mike defended himself. 

„There are no options!“ 

„Of course there are. You’re just to stubborn to put them into consideration!“

„Mike, no offense, but all of this is not your business. So you better shut the fuck up and stop manipulating Eve!“

„I didn’t manipulate her!“

„Really?“ Lance suddenly said, knowing his husband well enough to have an idea how this conversation must have happened. 

Mike looked at him outraged. 

„You’re on his side?!“ He blamed Lance. 

„Babe. You want this reunion more then the rest of us. It wouldn’t surprise me if you asked Eve to defend your interests.“ Lance answered. 

Mike rolled his eyes. 

„Okay, fine. I said something like, if she could convince you, it would be legendary.“ Mike confessed. „But that’s not a crime!“

„You’re pathetic.“ Josh blamed him.

„You are pathetic!“ Mike talked back.

„Hey, did you also start a fight with Eve because of this?“ Lance wanted to know. 

Josh looked at him without responding.

„That’s ridiculous. Go home and make things right.“ Lance added.

Josh suddenly got a bad conscience. He realized that it wasn’t fair blaming Eve and that he shouldn’t have left her like that. How should she know that this topic was his weak spot? He gave his friends another angry look, before he left the house. Then he drove back home. 

Eve was lying at the sofa in front of the telly under a woolen blanket, almost sleeping. She still felt exhausted from the prior night. But when she heard Josh opening the front door she opened her eyes slowly and sat up.

„Baby?“ Josh shouted, entering the house. 

„Here.“ She replied. 

He hurried into the living room and then knelt down in front of her. Eve immediately noticed that he was feeling sorry. She smiled calmly and stroke his right cheek. He was relieved that she didn’t seem to be upset and kissed her palm softly. 

„Where have you been?“ She asked.

„Lance and Mike’s.“

„Are you and Mike okay?“

„Sure we are. I just needed to remind him that the reunion is non of his business.“ 

„Why you got so angry, Josh?“

„Because Mike tried manipulating you.“ 

Eve looked at him for a moment before she replied.

„Honey, no one manipulated me. I didn’t have the intention to convince you that a reunion was a good idea. The last thing I want for myself is you going back to business.“

Josh looked surprised. 

„You don’t want *NSYNC back?“

„Why should I?“

„Well, you were a fan.“

„This is hundred years ago, Josh. Surely it would be fun having new *NSYNC music but honestly this is not really important to me. Besides, you know I prefer having a normal life. Nothing changed about that fact.“ 

„Then why you started the conversation?“

„Because I wanted to understand what is keeping you up doing that. That’s all.“

Josh sighed, still not being ready to have this conversation with her. 

„Look.“ Eve continued talking. „I don’t need an answer now if you don’t feel comfortable talking about that topic. But I hope one day you’ll explain to me.“

„I promise I will.“ 

„Okay.“

„I’m sorry I started a fight, Eve. This was completely unnecessary.“

„Don’t worry about it. I’m not afraid having arguments with you. Just because we fight I don’t put us into question.“ 

„Does it mean you’re not mad at me?“

„Not because of this, babe. This was nothing. We’re good.“

Josh smiled and moved closer to kiss her lips gently. 

„Thank you.“ He whispered.

„For what?“ 

„For being you.“

Eve smiled back and kissed him once again. He made her lie on the sofa in the next moment and lay down on top of her. She looped her legs around him while he continued kissing her. 

„Time for make-up sex.“ He whispered into her mouth and made her laugh. 

„But I just explained, that this didn’t feel like a real fight.“ She replied. 

„Don’t try ruining this for me.“ He complained half seriously.

Then he raised himself a little to dress her off. She helped him out of his shirt and his shorts as well. He knew by now that she didn’t need a long foreplay to be ready for him and entered her gently. 

„Baby… you have no idea how good you feel.“ He whispered before kissing her again…

After having sex, Eve was lying in Josh’s arm and stroking his chest gently. 

„Can we stay at the sofa the whole day doing nothing?“ She asked.

„Yes, my love.“ He replied. 

Eve smiled satisfied and raised her body a little to kiss his lips again. She could never get enough of his kisses. Then she looked at him and he stared back. He raised his hand to stroke her cheek and thought about how lucky he was. She was the one. He never felt this way before. Surely they’ve been women in his life which he loved with all of his heart. But something was always missing. With Eve things were different. He couldn’t imagine a life without her anymore. 

„I want you do move in.“ He suddenly said. 

Eve continued staring at him as she needed a moment to sort her mind. 

„You’re sure?“ She asked carefully.

„I never was so sure before, cupcake.“

„Can I ask you something?“

„Of course.“

„How long have you been with Jen before she moved in?“

„Ehm… one year, I guess.“

„One year?“

„Yes…“

„For us it’s just two months, Josh.“

„But I know that I want this. And I’m not gonna change my mind.“ 

Josh expected she would feel a little more exited about his suggestion. Was she just scared to do the next step so soon or did she have serious concerns about living together?

Eve never lived with another man than with Tom. And they waited three years before doing that step. Things with Josh happened incredibly fast. She wanted moving in but at the same time she was asking herself if she was ready for this.

„What is the problem, hon?“ He asked calmly. „We see each other every day anyway. And I want you to feel home here.“ 

„Look… I don’t feel comfortable talking to you about Tom because I believe this has nothing to do with us but… the truth is… I just have a bad conscience. I still feel like I betray him. I know this is nonsense, but still there is this guilty feeling in my heart…“ She tried to explain. 

„You are not over him.“ Josh answered, turning a little upset. 

Eve noticed and didn’t like seeing him like this.

„That’s not true, babe. Please don’t think that. I just have never been at this point with someone else and it feels kind of overwhelming that all of this is happening to me.“ 

„So… what exactly are you trying to say? That it’s too early?“ He wanted to know. 

„I just try to make you understand what is going on in my mind, Josh.“

„I understand. But I don’t think there is a reason for you feeling this way. He will not come back, Eve.“ 

„I know that.“ 

„I wanna make the next step. And my question is, if you want it, too.“

Eve looked at him, not understanding why he was pushing her so hard. 

„I want it, too. But please give me time to get used to this idea.“

„Okay.“ 

Eve lay back into his arm, feeling upset as well. Josh closed his eyes and took a deep breath. 

„Are you angry now?“ He asked. 

„Yes.“

„Eve. Is it a crime that I want to have you here?“ 

„No.“

„Is it a crime I feel hurt that you didn’t say yes?“ 

„No.“

„Then why you’re angry?“ 

„I don’t know…“ 

Josh sighed.

„Listen… just keep the spare key and if you feel ready, bring your stuff. Is this a deal you can live with?“

Eve nodded.

„Okay. Then we have a deal.“