It was 11 AM when Eve woke up in the next morning. She was having a headache. 

Slowly she left the bed, went into the bathroom and took a long shower. 

Justin was with Jake at the patio, when Eve finally showed up downstairs. Jake just fell asleep at his arm after having some milk. 

When she entered the patio, both smiled at each other. Then she sat down next to him at the outdoor table. She kissed Jake’s little head carefully, before noticing Justin’s half full cup of coffee at the table.

„Can I have it?“ She asked with puppy eyes. 

He nodded, still smiling. 

„I bring Jake into bed and then I make you a fresh coffee and something to eat.“ He announced. 

When Justin left, Eve was asking herself again, how she deserved him. The sacrifices he made day by day to take care for her and Jake were unbelievable. She realized that it wasn’t okay taking advantage of him any longer. The chances for Josh to recover from his coma were close to zero in the meanwhile. No one dared talking to her about it, but she was aware of what people were thinking. She could see in their pity faces, that they already lost hope. However, it wasn’t fair expecting from Justin to stay with her any longer. She needed to learn taking care for herself and Jake. There was no other way. 

While Eve was lost in thoughts and sipping his coffee, Justin returned with a fresh cup in his hand. 

„Here you go.“ He said calmly, sitting down next to her and placing the cup at the table. „Now tell me what you wanna eat.“ 

She looked at him for a moment. He looked back, wondering what she was having on her mind. 

„It’s time for you to go home.“ She finally said. 

His heart immediately dropped.

„Why would you say that?“

„I can’t expect you staying with me forever. I need to learn dealing with my life on my own, Justin.“ 

„Is this about the conversation we’ve had last night?“ He asked carefully.

„No, it’s not. I just realized, that all you do for me and Jake is too much.“

„M, listen to me. All I do for you and Jake, I do on my own choice. I know that you don’t expect this from me. Still, I want to be there for both of you. Please don’t believe you’re a burden, because this is definitely not the case.“ He replied. 

„But we can’t live like this forever. I mean, you even try to save Josh’s career instead of taking care for your own. This is insane.“

„My career is fine. Even all the rumors about you and me didn’t stop people from buying my new music. And I didn’t even promote it in any kind.“

„Really?“

„It’s the truth. Believe me when I say, that I enjoy writing for Josh’s clients. So far, things run pretty well and all of them like my work. Tell me one good reason why I should stop now.“

„Because you deserve an own life.“

„This is my life. And I don’t wanna have it another way.“ 

She looked at him, processing what he’ve just said. 

„So, this is what you want? Living in a platonic relationship with me and being a foster dad to your best friend’s son?“

„Yes, I want that.“ He answered sincerely. 

She smiled calmly.

„You must lost your mind, Justin Timberlake.“ 

He smiled back.

„Does it mean you let me stay?“ 

She nodded.

„I’m grateful for everything you do. I just wished I could do something for you in return.“

„Don’t worry about that, M.“ 

Next Monday morning, Mateo was already waiting impatiently for Eve in their office. 

„Not that look, Matty.“ She said, when she finally arrived.

She parked Jake’s stroller in one corner and put him onto her arm. 

„What that supposed to mean?“ He asked irritated.

She sighed.

„Every time you look at me this way, you wanna talk about unpleasant things. And in this case I bet, this is about Justin and Sarah.“ Eve explained. 

She sat down at her chair, her baby still in her arms. 

„You are totally right. So… what the hell was going on with you? Was it just the Tequila or are you falling for Justin?“ 

„Matty. The way you exposed me in front of him, was not okay.“ She talked back. 

He rolled her eyes.

„I know, I know. And I’m sorry. I can’t control my tongue sometimes when I’m drunk. But now answer my question, girl!“ 

„It kind of hurt my ego when I saw him with Sarah. But this doesn’t mean anything.“ 

„How one earth this doesn’t mean anything???“ 

„My hormones are returning back to normal. That’s why I got a little confused.“ 

Mateo stared at her with big eyes.

„A little confused???“

„Yes.“ 

„So, you are saying, you have absolutely no romantic feelings for that gorgeous man, who is treating you, like you were the most precious thing in this world???“ 

Eve suddenly turned uneasy, thinking about the question. But she still managed keeping her pokerface. 

„No romantic feelings.“ 

Mateo stared at her for a moment, with a very skeptical look in his face.

„Okay, fine.“

At the same time Justin met Lance in the gym for some workout, although he was having an own sports studio in his house. Not having his best friend around anymore, made Justin open up himself to Lance in the last couple of months. Of course no one could ever replace the friendship he used to have with Josh. But still he longed for hanging out and talking to a friend once in a while.

„You know what? I never believed you and me would see each other that often like we did in the last weeks.“ Lance said to Justin, after they finished their warm up at the treadmill. 

„Is this good or bad?“ Justin asked. 

„It’s good. Weird, but good.“

„Why is it weird?“

„Dunno… you and me simply never been that close. And I was completely fine with that, believing we just don’t have much things in common. But here we are now. And it works pretty fine. I like it.“ Lance explained. 

Justin smirked.

„Ya, I like it, too. And I’m sorry, if I gave you the feeling not being interested in you. It’s just, I’m not the kind of guy who needs a big circle of people around himself. That’s why I always just focused on C. But I realize now, that I should have dealt with you and the other dudes differently. I should have been more openminded.“ Justin replied. 

„Don’t worry about it. I still love you.“

„Love you like a friend or love you like you love other men?“ Justin joked.

Lance chuckled, before turning serious. 

„Look, I’m aware of how hard this whole situation is for you. I mean, all of us are in big pain because of C, but we know for you it’s the biggest tragedy. Still, you’re not losing hope and you care for Eve and the baby like they were your own family. I’m amazed about your selflessness, T. You really impressed me from the day the accident happened.“

Justin took a deep breath and looked at his friend for a moment.

„Talking about hope. Recently I met C’s doctor in the hallway. I asked him for his genuine opinion, if there is still any kind of chance for him to wake up. The doc wasn’t allowed talking to me about this. But the expression in his face said more than thousand words.“

Lance listened and sighed.

„I’m aware of that. All of us are. But no one has the courage talking to Eve.“

Again Justin looked at him.

„You think I should?“

„I don’t know… I mean… it’s the doctor’s responsibility to have this conversation with her.“

„The last time he did, she completely freaked out.“

„Still, this is his job. Not yours.“ 

„I know.“

Before they started doing some weight training, Lance continued their conversation. 

„How do you feel about Eve, T?“

„What do you mean?“

„You know what I mean.“

Justin needed a moment to reply. Lance knew about his feelings for her. There was no reason lying to him.

„I love her more than I did before.“ He finally confessed. 

„Well, it’s not surprising me. You two are doing life together. And honestly spoken, you do pretty well. The question is, how does she feel about you?“

„All she wants is C. Nothing changed.“ 

„You’re sure about it?“ 

Justin thought about what happened between them in the kitchen after her birthday party. He didn’t know how she felt about him. But she behaved jealous because of Sarah. And he gave her those goosebumps. 

„No, but… I… I don’t wanna work up into anything…“ 

„Okay, that’s interesting.“

„Man, listen. I promised you to keep my hands off her. And I gave the same promise to C. Please believe me, I’m not planning to disappoint any of you.“ 

Lance suddenly grabbed Justin by his shoulders and looked deep into his eyes. 

„C won’t wake up. I know how cruel it sounds. But this is how things are.“ 

Justin needed to sort his mind. He stared back at Lance for few seconds. 

„Are you trying to say… that you’re giving me your blessing to make her mine…?“ He asked carefully.

„Not just me. We all do.“

Justin frowned, being completely confused now. 

„All of you…?“

„Yes, all of us.“

„What does that mean?“

"Recently I spoke to Joe on the phone and of course we talked about C at some point. I said I’m glad, that Eve is having you and told him how grateful I am that you take care for her so well. Then he asked me, if there was more between you and her than just friendship.“

„Did you tell gossip Joe how I feel about her???“ 

„No. I told him, that nothing was going on. But then Joe replied, maybe it would be better if something was going on. In his opinion this would make it easier for Eve to let C go.“

„What??? That’s what he said???“

„Not just him. I thought about it and then I agreed to his theory. Then we’ve been curious how Chris see things. We called him straightaway and asked for his opinion. After discussing the whole situation, we finally came to the same result. Eve will never let C go, unless she falls in love with someone else. And we’ve had no single doubt, that it can only be you.“ 

Justin stared at his friend with his eyes wide open.

„I don’t know what to say…“ He stammered. 

Lance continued talking. 

„T, listen. No one is pushing you to make her fall for you. The only thing I am saying is, if you want more than just being friends with her, we are not standing in your way.“