Eve never missed Lucy so much like in this moment. While driving home, she was crying badly and longing for someone to comfort her. She felt terribly lonely and blamed herself for losing everything what really mattered in her life.
Josh returned into the restaurant, being completely lost in thoughts. When he reached the table, he let himself fall at a free chair next to Mateo.
Justin and Mateo were staring at him, not knowing what so say.
„Dude…“ Justin finally dared asking.
Josh looked at him.
„What’s in your hand?“
Josh put the box with the picture frame at the table. Mateo opened the lid. His eyes got wide open as he realized what this was about.
„OH MY GOD!“ He squeaked in deep shock.
Justin grabbed the frame out of the box to take a closer look.
„She gave this to you?!“
„It’s her birthday present for me.“ Josh almost whispered.
„No… oh no… please no…“ Mateo said desperately.
Both looked at him.
„I ruined everything… I ruined her surprise… I had no idea… Josh… please believe me… I had no idea…“
„Matty, what made you believe that she was planning an abortion?“ Josh wanted to know.
Mateo took a deep breath.
„Look. When she learned about her pregnancy she was devastated. It gave her a pretty tough time, to be honest. But very obviously she sees things completely different now. I just wished she had talked to me. I feel like the biggest asshole on earth for ruining that special moment between you and her…“
„You meant well, Matty.“ Justin tried to comfort him.
Mateo shook his head.
„She will never forgive me for doing that. There is no chance.“
„However, her plan telling you at your birthday was really sweet, right?“ Justin said.
Josh nodded, while his eyes were filling with tears again.
„Congrats, man. This is what you always wanted. It’s finally happening. You’re becoming a dad.“ Justin continued talking and cracked a smile.
„But I don’t understand why… she told me she wasn’t ready…“ Josh replied.
„That’s not true. She was ready before Rachel offered the partnership to her.“ Mateo explained.
„What did you say?“
Josh looked at him in disbelief, waiting for more information.
„Eve let her birth control implant getting removed to give it a chance. Then Rachel crossed her plans. But before she could take care for a new implant, you already made her pregnant.“
„Well, your guys didn’t slip the chance.“ Justin joked.
„Very obviously not.“ Mateo replied.
Josh grabbed his face with both hands and sighed.
„I still can’t believe this is happening.“
Mateo smiled and patted his back.
„You sabotaged my business with her, dude.“ He teased.
Josh looked at him now.
„We will make things work. I promise you, Mat. Don’t worry about the firm.“
„I know.“ Mateo replied.
Eve returned home and dressed into some comfortable clothes. Then she started packing some stuff. When she finished she left the apartment and went to LAX airport. After buying a ticket, she went to the security check. As there weren’t many flights scheduled that late at night, she got through it pretty quickly and let herself fall at a free chair next to her gate. Then she grabbed her phone and started typing.
„I love you Matty, but you betrayed me in a way I never expected. I need space to get over this. As it’s vacation time, I’m sure you’ll deal pretty well without me for a while. I’m sorry for leaving you alone, but I just don’t have any strength left. I’m not telling you where to find me, but be sure I’ll be back in few days. I promise we will be good again. But right now, I just can’t deal with you or any one else.“ [Eve]
„I love you back. And I understand.“ [Mat]
The next night Justin, Mateo and Josh were sitting at Josh’s sofa and getting wasted. Josh told all his friends that he didn’t want to see anyone at his birthday, but Justin and Mateo appeared anyway.
„Happy birthday!“ Mateo slurred, as he did every time when they were drinking one shot of Tequila.
„Happy birthday!“ Justin and Josh slurred back.
„I still don’t understand what held you up buying some lemons when you had the brilliant idea bringing Tequila.“ Justin blamed Mateo.
„Timberlake… shut the fuck up.“ Mateo replied.
„It’s unbelievable you’re talking to me like this! When we first met, you almost peed yourself.“
„Because I was shocked.“
„About what?“
„About the fact, that you aren’t that hot as in all these fucking magazines.“
Josh started laughing dirty.
„He’s not, right? That’s what I’ve always been thinking.“
Mateo laughed hard.
„I hate you both.“ Justin replied, filling the glasses again.
„Don’t worry, darling. Tequila works like photoshop. Right now, I could eat you up.“ Mateo confessed.
„Okay, no further shots for you.“
„The night is still young. Maybe you’ll change your mind…“
„Do you want me to leave you alone?“ Josh asked, trying to sound serious.
„Please don’t.“ Justin begged.
Mateo smiled naughty.
„I never had a threesome…“
„Don’t you dare even imagine!“ Josh warned him.
„Too late, handsome.“
„We already have enough trouble without any sex being involved. So get that disgusting idea out of your mind.“ Josh said.
Mateo sighed and let himself fall back into the sofa.
„How on earth all of us screwed up that bad with one woman at the same time?“
„I didn’t screw anything up. We do pretty fine.“ Justin said.
Josh gave him a warning look.
„Just saying.“
„You, my friend, are nothing else but trouble. All of us wouldn’t be it that position, if you have kept your greedy hands off her!“ Mateo blamed him.
„Don’t play the innocent, Matty. It’s you who convinced us keeping our mouths shut in Cuba.“ Justin defended himself.
„Excuse me?!“ Josh said outraged.
„Thank you, Timberlake.“ Mateo said harshly.
„You told them to keep quiet?! Why?!“ Josh asked.
„Too keep the damage low.“ Mateo explained.
„To keep the damage low?! Look where we are now! My girl is gone and not talking to any of us!“ Josh blamed him.
„Chasez, please relax! She will come back and you will be good again.“
„What makes you sure about that?“
„She’s getting your baby. This is the biggest declaration of love from a woman, who never wanted kids.“
In the next morning Josh woke up at his sofa, having a terrible hangover. He turned his head to the left, seeing several empty bottles of beer at the coffee table. The Tequila was empty as well.
„Good morning.“ He heard Justin’s voice saying.
Josh raised himself slowly. Justin came towards him with a coffee mug in his hand and let himself fall at the sofa.
„You slept here?“
„Yap, in the guest room.“
„What about your kids?“
„The sitter stayed the night.“
„And what happened to Mat?“
„Don’t ask…“
Josh gave him an irritated took.
„Wait. Did you share one bed?!“
„I said, don’t ask.“
„Are you really that desperate?!“
„I built a wall out of pillows between us.“
Josh shook his head and smiled dirty.
„I will tease you with this till the end of time.“
„I’m aware of that.“
Mateo came downstairs short after. He noticed Josh and Justin in the living room and went inside. Then he sat down next to Josh.
„So, you and Justin, hm?“ Josh said with a shady grin.
„Oh yes.“
„Oh no.“ Justin contradicted.
„I wished I made pictures.“ Josh replied.
„I did.“ Mateo lied.
Justin turned pale. Josh laughed out loud.
„Relax, I’m just shitting you. But I will never forget what we’ve had.“ Mateo joked.
Later that day Eve received a message and grabbed her phone out of her bag.
„I promise to leave you alone, if you want me to. Please just tell me, if you’re okay.“ [Josh]
„I’m okay.“ [Cupcake]
Josh’s heart accelerated as Eve’s massage arrived. He didn’t expect her writing back immediately.
„I love you and our baby.“ [Josh]
„We love you back.“ [Cupcake]
Josh smiled all over his face. His heart was melting. It was very relieving, that she was opening up herself, despite of what happened in the restaurant.
„May I say something else?“ [Josh]
„Of course.“ [Cupcake]
„Thank you.“ [Josh]
„For what?“ [Cupcake]
„For the best birthday gift of my life.“ [Josh]
„It’s hard to beat that, right?“ [Cupcake]
Josh chuckled.
„It’s impossible.“ [Josh]
