„I wanna talk about what happened.“ [Josh]

„My place at eight? I’ll make some dinner. [Cupcake]

„See you then.“ [Josh]

Eve entered her apartment after work, with one big bag with groceries in one hand and Jake’s baby seat in the other. She put the bag aside and took care for her baby first. After feeding him and giving him a quick bath, she read a story and brought him into bed. 

Finally she changed into comfortable clothes and sat down at the sofa. With her phone in one hand she closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Then she dialed Justin’s number. 

„Hey, beautiful.“ He said calmly. 

Eve’s eyes filled with tears. She didn’t understand why her emotions suddenly run out of control and tried hard to pull herself together. 

„Are you okay?“ Justin asked, as she didn’t reply. 

„It happened.“ She stammered. 

There was silence on the other side. Justin knew exactly what she was talking about and needed a moment to process.

„You’re such a giant asshole, Eve.“ She was thinking.

„So? You two are good again?“ He asked quietly. 

„Actually I don’t know… there was not much talking.“

„I see…“

„Tell me how you feel, Justin.“ 

„I expected this would happen. That’s why I gave you my blessing. Somehow I believed, it would make things easier for me to handle. But the truth is, it doesn’t.“ 

Tears were dropping at her cheeks. 

„I should have known, that you didn’t mean it.“

„Would that have changed anything, Eve?“ 

„Yes, it would.“ 

„I don’t believe you.“

„I’m not a cheater.“

„That’s a lie.“ 

Eve’s heart dropped. 

„Are you talking about Cuba?“ 

„Yes, I do.“ 

She didn’t know what to say. She understood his frustration and his disappointment. It was naive from her to believe, that sleeping with Josh would have no consequences.

„What now, Justin?“ She asked carefully. 

„I want you to decide.“

„I need more time.“

„I can’t give you more time, Eve. Do you have any idea what you’re doing to us? This is torture.“

She was completely overwhelmed.

„I understand what you say. But last weekend you told me to take my time as long as you’re on tour. And now you suddenly want my decision. It’s not fair…“

Justin scoffed.

„Not fair? You slept with my best friend and say I’m not fair?!“ 

„You said it’s okay. Just few days ago you told me I should have spend the night in his house, if this was what I wanted. And now you’re blaming me…“ 

„Still, I was relieved you didn’t stay with him. You should have known that. Can’t you see, that I said all those things just to make things easier for you?“ 

„That’s ridiculous! Nothing is easier! You weren’t honest and now you make me feel bad because I believed what you were saying!“ 

„I believed you’re better than this! I believed you wouldn’t do this to me! But very obviously I was wrong!“ 

Eve cried badly but Justin didn’t care much. He was terribly hurt and mad at himself at the same time. He knew he was naive believing, that she could resist Josh. 

„I love you, Justin. Nothing changed.“

„Then be with me, Eve. Just say you’re mine and we will start all over again.“ 

„Justin…“ 

He took a deep breath, fighting his own tears. 

„You know what… I’m not doing this anymore. I just can’t…“

Eve panicked.

„What does this mean?!“ 

„I’m done.“

Then he hung up.

One hour later the doorbell rang. Eve didn’t noticed, that she cried for so long. She stood up from the sofa, wiped away her tears and opened up. 

„What happened to you?“ Josh asked concerned, seeing her puffy eyes.

She let him in without responding. 

„Eve, what’s going on?“ He asked again. 

She leaned again the kitchen island, giving him a shy look. 

„I told Justin that we had sex.“ 

„Oh.“ 

„He gave me his blessing. But it turned out, that he didn’t mean it.“ 

Josh raised his eyebrows. 

„You really thought he was okay with that?“ 

„That’s what he said.“ 

„I bet he just said that, because he didn’t believe you would grab the chance.“

„Ya… very obviously you know him better than I do…“ 

„So, he’s pissed off…“ 

„It’s more than that. He said he’s done. 

Josh scoffed.

„You really seem not to know him well.“

„Why would you say that?“ 

„He turns into a defiant kid when things don’t work out like he wants.“

„Are you saying, he didn’t mean that, either?“ 

Josh gave her a calm smile.

„Believe me, I’m not that lucky.“ 

Eve forced a smile, glancing at the bag with groceries.

„I better start cooking now. You must be hungry.“ 

He came closer and stopped standing in front of her. Then he cupped her face carefully. 

„Let’s talk first.“ 

Justin’s jet just landed in Montana. He decided to see his boys, before continuing his promo tour in Canada. It was already late, but Jessica agreed to keep them awake a little longer tonight. 

A black SUV was waiting for him at the airfield and brought him to Jessica’s house, which used to be theirs, before they got divorced. He tried to remember when exactly things between them started falling apart and wondered, if there was a chance to safe their marriage, if he just tried harder. He used to say, that Eve wasn’t the reason for their break up. It was fact, that things with Jessica became difficult much earlier. But he needed to admit, that he put less effort into his marriage when Eve appeared in his life. He used her as a distraction from his problems with his wife, until it was too late to fix them. 

„Mr. Timberlake. We arrived.“ The driver said friendly and brought him back to reality. 

Justin nodded and exited the car. Jessica opened the front door, before he got the chance to ring the bell. 

„Hey you.“ She said friendly, giving him a calm smile.

„Hey.“ He replied, smiling back.

„What happened to you?“ She asked, as he entered the house.

„What do you mean?“ 

„I know that look in your face. You’re upset.“ She answered. 

In the same moment Silas and Phin hurried downstairs. 

„DADDY!!! DADDY!!! DADDY!!!“ Both shouted and jumped into his arms. 

Justin knelt down in front of them and hugged them tightly. 

„I missed you so much. You just made my day.“ He said, kissing their small heads countless times. 

Eve and Josh sat down at the sofa next to each other. She gave him a deep look and waited for him to start.

„Eve, tell me… why you came to my place and why you had sex with me?“

„I felt awful after our fight yesterday night. I wanted to make things right.“ 

Josh needed a second to figure out what to say next.

„So, you used sex to make things right?“ 

„Yes.“

„Listen. I’m not complaining. Making this experience with you was beyond my imagination. But I ask myself why you acted this way. I mean, you are with Justin. Despite the fact, that he gave you his blessing, I wonder why you stopped caring about his feelings in that moment? It makes not sense. This is not you.“ 

Eve stared at him with her mouth open.

„Really, Josh? You didn’t hesitate for a single second to sleep with me. But now you blame me for my behavior?“ 

„I’m not blaming you. I just try to understand what’s going on.

„Why you care about my conscience? What’s with your conscience, hm?“

„Eve, please. I’m not here to start another fight. But something is happening to you and I want to find out what it is.“

„I don’t wanna lose you, Josh! This is what is happening!“ 

He sighed and closed his eyes for a second. Then he grabbed her right hand.

„You are not losing me. I said I’m not giving up on you and I meant it.“

„How should I trust you? Every time things turn difficult you keep running away!“

„I know. You’re right. I promise to work on this. But it’s hard to believe this is the only reason for your behavior.“

„Which behavior, Josh? I don’t get it!“

„Honey… the triangle idea… the kind of sex we’ve had…“

„Just say what you have to say!“ 

„This is not you, either.“ 

„I can’t believe you’re saying this. I just can’t believe it…“ Eve stammered.

Josh grabbed his face, not knowing how to rescue the situation. She just stared at him, being deeply hurt. He took another deep breath and continued talking. 

„Eve. You are not you. And I am worried. 

„Are you saying, that I’m losing my mind or something?!“ 

„No, but… maybe it would be helpful to see a doctor…“ 

„That’s enough, Josh. I want you to go.“ 

„I don’t want to go.“

Eve finally lost her temper. 

„YOU PUT ME THROUGH HELL!!! AND NOW YOU DARE QUESTIONING MY MENTAL CONDITION?!“ 

„I know. Every morning when I open my eyes, the first thing which comes into my mind is how much you suffered because of me. You truly went through hell, Eve. And that’s why I believe you reached the point, where your mind can’t deal with the circumstances anymore.“ 

„I’M NOT A PSYCHO!“ 

„This is not what I’m saying. Please don’t think that…“

„Go, Josh! I can’t be in one room with you right now!“