All of them left the car at the Valet and went inside. The security guys stayed at the bar close to Eve and Justin’s table. 

When they got seated, Justin ordered a bottle of French red wine.

„Of course, Mr. Timberlake.“ The waitress said and left them alone for a moment.

„I didn’t forget you prefer white wine. But this is a steakhouse.“ He explained. 

„Of course, Mr. Timberlake.“ She teased and made him smile. 

Both ordered lobster rolls for starters and Tomahawk steaks with potato purée and mushrooms for main course. The food tasted delicious. Eve enjoyed every bite to its full extent.

„This was amazing, Justin. Thank you for bringing me here.“ She said, when she finished. 

„I hope you left some space for dessert. Their dark chocolate soufflé is mind-blowing.“ Justin replied. 

„There’s always space left for something sweet.“ She smiled. 

After having dessert, Eve felt completely overeaten but happy. 

„I got some news.“ Justin suddenly announced. 

„What news?“ Eve asked, finishing her glass of wine. 

„Lance asked me, if I was interested doing a gig in his club.“

„Really?“ Eve said surprised, believing that Lance’s club was not exactly the place where anyone would expect a performance from Justin. 

„I wanna support his business, you know.“

„This is really exciting! Will you play your new songs?“

„Ya, that’s the deal. Guess it will make the wave.“

„I bet it will. I can’t wait to see you back on stage.“ 

„So, you’re coming?“ 

„Did you forget for some reason that I’m your fangirl?“ 

He smiled sheepishly, shaking his head. 

„I’m flattered.“

„No, you’re not.“

„I really am. Knowing that you genuinely support what I do means a lot.“ 

„What about Jess? Did she like your music?“

„She liked it because she felt obligated to like it. It’s not the same.“

„I see.“ 

„Talking about Jess… I’m worrying about how she wanna react when she finds out…“ 

„Don’t worry about her. She believed something was going on long time before something was going on.“

„What do you mean?“ 

„When I told her we’re living together, she was sure I was having a hidden agenda.“ 

„Did you have a hidden Agenda, Justin?“ 

He shook his head. 

„I swear I didn’t. All I wanted was being there for you and Jake.“

Eve smiled. 

„Still, here we are now… dating.“

He smiled back, also finishing his wine. 

„And I’m enjoying this very much.“

„Same here.“

„Do yo wanna go somewhere else for another drink?“

She nodded, still smiling. 

Justin asked for the check. Their driver made sure that the car was waiting in front of the building. Then he brought them to Justin’s favorite bar called Lilly Rose.

„I never heard from that place before. This is really nice.“ Eve said when they went in. 

The security followed them with little distance. The bar was having a cheesy and colorful design, with lusters, old big framed pictures on the walls and cozy seats and sofas. The place was crowded, but Justin knew the owner and asked for a free table, when he planned their date. 

„They have excellent Bourbon.“ Justin explained, when they sat down next to each other on a red sofa in front of a small coffee table. „But they do girly cocktails as well.“ 

Eve smiled. 

„I go for a girly cocktail.“ 

Time passed by and both got a little drunk after a while. Eve couldn’t keep her eyes away from Justin. 

„He’s so abnormally hot in this suit. Why you didn’t listen to Matty and changed that boring panties…?“ She was blaming herself in her thoughts. 

„What are you thinking?“ Justin asked curiously, noticing that she got lost in thoughts. 

Eve flushed a little and bit her lower lip. He started grinning. 

„Tell me.“ 

Eve shook her head.

„Why not?“ 

„It’s embarrassing.“

„Okay, now I really need to know…“

Eve cleared her throat, thinking about, if she was brave enough to tell him. 

„What do you think I’ve been thinking?“

Justin liked her little game and moved his head closer to hers. Her heart immediately started beating fast. Then he came even closer, his lips almost touching her ear. His breath on her skin gave her a shiver. He smiled dirty, as he noticed. 

„You think… I look good…“ he whispered.

„Yes…“ She whispered back. „What else…?“

„You think I might look good naked, as well…“ 

Eve’s mouth got open. She didn’t expect him saying something like that. 

„That’s not what I think. That’s something I know…“ She replied boldly. 

Justin smiled harder. 

„It’s a while ago you saw me naked…“

„But I still remember every detail.“

„Every detail?“

„Oh yes…“ 

„Tell me what you’ve really been thinking, Eve…“

Again she bit her lip. 

„That I should have listened to Matty…“

„What did Matty say?“

„To choose my underwear wisely…“

Justin raised his eyebrows. 

„But you didn’t…?

Eve shook her head. 

„Do you wanna know a secret?“ 

„Yes.“

„I don’t care about underwear. In best case there isn’t any…“ 

„Is that true?“

He nodded.

„I’m gonna keep that in my mind.“

Both smiled sexy at each other. 

„I like what is happening here, Eve. But I don’t wanna rush things.“ Justin said and unintentionally killed the mood.

„Oh god… he must think you’re needy…“ Eve thought, looking away. 

Justin immediately noticed that he made her feel uncomfortable. Carefully he grabbed her chin and turned her face back into his direction. 

„I think you need more time.“ He explained. 

„Do I?“ She was asking herself. 

He kissed her forehead gently.

„Let’s go home, beautiful. It’s getting late.“

Sitting next to Justin at the backseat on their way home, Eve was still tensed. He was having his arm around her shoulders, but she didn’t dare leaning into him. Justin regretted that he made her feel this way. 

When they arrived home, Eve’s tension reached its peak. She looked for the keys in her clutch, standing next to him at the front door. Then she opened up. When they entered the house, she glanced at him shyly. 

„This was really nice. Thank you for taking me out.“ 

„M? Are we good?“ He asked carefully. 

„Of course we are.“ She said, forcing a smile. „Good night, Justin.“ 

Then she put off her shoes, turned around and went upstairs. He watched her disappear and deeply sighed, when he heard her bedroom door closing. 

Eve sat down at the edge of the bed, staring into space. Her tension eased down slowly. 

„Why is he keeping you on distance?“ She thought. 

There was a gentle knock at her door and brought her back to reality. Eve stopped breathing for a second. Then she went to the door and opened up. 

Justin’s excitement was almost killing him. He was standing in front of her, looking deep into her eyes, while she was waiting for him to say something. 

„Look… I don’t know how things work… I didn’t have a date in ages… you’re the first woman I’m dating after Jess… I’m sorry that I messed it up…“ 

Eve’s heart was immediately melting. His insecurity was nothing else but sweet. 

„You’ve been on a date yesterday…“ She said, smiling at him. 

Justin flushed. 

„Ehm… about that… things were a little different as I let you believe.“ Justin stammered. 

Eve frowned. 

„Little different?“ 

Justin grabbed his face and sighed. 

„I didn’t have a date. I was with Lance and Michael…“ 

Eve’s confusion couldn’t get any worse.

„I don’t understand.“  

„I let you believe that I have a date to see how you would react…“ 

„WHAT?!“ 

„It was Lance’s idea…“ 

Eve stared at him in disbelief. 

„This must be a joke, right?!“ 

„Unfortunately not…“

„How old are you?! Twelve?!“ 

„I’m sorry. I know it wasn’t fair, but…“

„I was a mess, Justin!!! You let me suffer for hours!!!“ 

„I really didn’t know what I was doing… please believe me it wasn’t my intention to make you feel bad.“

„Of course it was!!! You made me jealous on purpose!!!“ 

„I’m so sorry, Eve. Please forgive me…“ 

„NO!“ She said angrily and slammed the door in front of his face.