Eve arrived home and parked her car in front of the house. Then she rushed inside. She was in such a deep rage that she forgot to put off her booties.

„JOSH???“ She shouted. 

There was no reply.

„JOSHUA SCOTT CHASEZ! MOVE YOUR BUTT HERE!“ 

She heard him coming upstairs from his studio. With crossed arms and a furious look in her face she waited for him in the kitchen. Few seconds later Josh appeared. 

Eve took a deep breath, being ready to freak out. 

„Don’t.Do.That.“ He said calmly but resolutely and came few steps closer. 

„DON’T YOU DARE TELLING ME…“

„Eve. I mean it. Don’t.“ He interrupted her. 

„HOW COULD YOU DO THAT BEHIND MY BACK???“ 

„Cupcake. Calm down.“ 

She was a little irritated why he acted this way and had the impression someone warned him that she was on her way. 

„DID MATEO WARN YOU???“

„No one needed to warn me. I’ve had an idea what would probably happen after my phone call with Rachel and prepared myself for your outburst.“

„Why you did that, Josh??? Don’t you think you should have talked to me first before intervening into my business???“ 

„Baby, please just listen to me and let me explain.“

Eve was still killing him with her eyes. Josh made a short pause, before he continued talking. 

„I knew you would have never asked me for money. But fact is, you need money.“

Immediately Eve tried to intervene but he didn’t let her. 

„Let me speak out, Eve.“ 

She took a deep breath and tried to pull herself together for another moment. 

„You need money and you’ll surely agree, that it makes no sense to lent the amount from a bank and pay interest for the loan, if you can take it from me.“

„Josh!“

„I’m not finished, yet.“

Eve rolled her eyes and continued listening.  

„See it as an interest-free loan. You can pay me back but you don’t have to. It’s up to you.“

„It’s up to me???“

Josh sighed. 

„Honey, you will be my wife, soon. What’s mine will be yours anyway. For me it makes absolutely no sense to expect you returning the money. But if you need this to feel better, then please do so.“ 

Eve needed to process what he just said. She couldn’t deny the fact, that it was incredibly sweet and a giant commitment to make such an generous offer. She was terribly close now just falling around his neck and kissing him dizzy. But first, she had things to explain as well. 

„Can I say something now?“ She asked.

„Of course.“ He replied, noticing that she calmed down. 

He was proud that he got the situation under control so well. 

„Josh, the thing is… I have the money.“ She finally said. 

He frowned. 

„You do what?“

„I have the money. I don’t need yours, because I have enough on my own.“

This was the last thing he expected to learn about her. 

„Okay… could you please explain how? I mean… we are talking about half a million… that’s a lot.“ He stammered. 

Eve took a deep breath. 

„Look. Tom and I made good money. We worked hard and didn’t spent much over many years. When the accident happened I sold our house with high profit as living there on my own was not an option for me. And last but not least there was Tom’s life insurance and the compensation payment.“ She explained.“ 

„Oh.“ Josh replied, processing what she just said. 

He felt stupid that he didn’t put into consideration that she might not need any financial help to buy Rachel’s shares. 

Eve started smiling all over her face. She enjoyed shocking him. 

„I must admit, your speech really impressed me. The way how you see us in future is heart-melting. If I needed help, I would have taken your offer, as you were pretty convincing.“ Eve said. 

She came closer and put her arms around his neck. 

„Thank you for being you, Josh.“

He smiled back and grabbed her waist. 

„So… looks like I’m marrying a wealthy woman. Lucky me.“ He joked. 

„I’m still gonna call you sugar daddy once in a while.“ 

„Maybe I should call you sugar mama…“

„No, you’re too old for this.“

„You just ruined the moment.“

Eve smiled cheeky and stood on her tiptoes to kiss him. Josh gave her an outraged look.

„Why you’re wearing shoes on our new wooden floor?“

„Excuse me, but I was out of mind.“

„Oh really? I hardly noticed.“

„Stop bitching C and kiss me…“ 

In the next morning Lucy called Eve during work, while she was busy with making moodboards for a new client. 

„How was it?“ Eve asked curiously, after picking up.

„I got the job.“

There was a short pause.

„Oh my god. It means…“

„Yes…“

„Fuck…“

„I know…“

„I’m happy for you…“

„I know…“

„But the imagination that you’ll be gone…“

„I know…“

„I’m gonna cry now…“

„No, you won’t. No tears at work. It’s a rule.“ 

„Lu… I’m sorry that I’m not freaking out. But first I really need to feel pity for myself. Losing you breaks my heart.“

„You are not losing me. Stop saying that, are we clear?“

„If you dare looking for a new best friend in Orlando, be sure I’m gonna hurt her. And you.“ 

„I would never dare doing that. But when I see you and Mat, I get the impression you’re pretty close replacing me…“

„What?! Matty doesn’t count. He’s a man. This is completely different.“ 

„If you say so…“

„Look, I am willing to allow you having a Matty as well, if it helps?“

„Okay, I’ll keep that in my mind.“

„I really need to cry…“

„Don’t do that, Eve. We will be okay. I promise you that.“

„Are you staying in Orlando at the weekend? Because we’re planning to visit Josh’s folks to celebrate our engagement.“

„Oh, that’s great! I didn’t plan returning before Monday, so let’s meet when you’re in town.“

„Absolutely.“

„Hey, Eve…“

„Yes?“

„What about your folks?“

„What do you mean?“

„Oh come on, don’t play the fool.“ 

Eve sighed. 

„Josh asked the same question. He wanted to know if I talked to my parents. But the truth is, I didn’t.“ 

„Why not?“

„You know why. My dad’s mental condition is concerning. I don’t think he’ll recognize me anymore. And my mom still blames me for killing Tom. She won’t be thrilled that I am getting married again.“

„This are still your parents, Eve.“

There was a short pause.

„Josh made the suggestion to visit them in Germany, as he wants to meet them before we marry.“ 

„And what did you say?“

„I explained that I’m not having a healthy relationship with my parents since Tom died. But I didn’t say why.“

„Why not?“

„Because it still feels awful, that my own mother turned against me after the accident. This is completely fucked up!“ 

„Eve. You have left some serious problems behind as you decided starting a new life in California. I really believe, this is the right moment to go back and make peace.“