„That’s what you call making dinner for me?“ Eve said outraged, when Sandra entered the apartment with Chinese take away food in a paper bag.
„I’ll put it on pretty plates, before serving,“ Sandra replied boldly.
„You run out of alcohol, by the way.“
„No, I hid my last bottle of wine in the shoe cabinet from you.“
Eve gave her an angry look. Sandra went into the hall and returned with the bottle.
„You are a bad person,“ Eve complained.
„Stop bitching around, just because you’re on cold turkey.“
„I’m not an alcoholic, Sandy!“
„Who says I’m talking about alcohol?“
Eve pouted. Sandra put the food at the kitchen counter and let herself fall next to her friend at the sofa. Then she begun playing with Eve’s messy hair.
„Did you shower?“
„No.“
„If you wanna sleep next to me another night, go and take a shower.“
Eve rolled her eyes.
„Fine.“
As soon as she disappeared in the bathroom, Sandra jumped up from the sofa to open up the front door.
„The coast is clear,“ she whispered and let JC enter her apartment.
„Thank you for doing this, Sandra,“ JC replied and followed her into the living area.
„It’s not like you gave me a choice. Waiting in your car for me to come home was super creepy.“
„I know. Sorry for this, but I knew she wouldn’t let me in.“
„How do you even know where I live, hm?“
„Justin told me.“
Sandra stared at him with her eyes open wide.
„Justin Timberlake knows where I live?“
„Yes. He met Eve at noon for coffee and let his driver follow her afterwards.“
„Jesus Christ… this is so sick…“
„Ya… I’m aware of that fact.“
Sandra looked at JC for a moment. She was mad at him for what he did to her best friend, but she also felt pity. He looked like a kicked dog, obviously regretting deeply how he treated Eve the prior night.
„So, I suggest we create an romantic atmosphere,“ she finally said.
„Um… ya… maybe some candles?“
„Yes, let me take care for it. You can prepare the rest.“
Knowing the food was getting cold, Eve just took a quick shower. After drying her hair, she put on pink sweat shorts and a white tanktop. Then she left the bathroom. As she was standing in the hall, she noticed candle light in the living area.
„Um, Sandy? Are you trying to seduce me?“ she joked, as she walked inside.
Then her heart dropped. JC was sitting at Sandra’s sofa with a guitar on his lap. She stared at him like seeing a ghost, not being able to process.
JC’s heart was running out of control. He stared back at her for a short moment, before he started playing the guitar.
„Oh my god. Is he going to sing for you?“ Eve talked to herself in her thoughts.
JC closed his eyes and begun singing:
I woke up in this moment,
everything undone
I wasn’t waiting for anything,
but still here you come
You’re better than love,
you’re all that I need
And when I close my eyes,
you’re all that I see
You’re under my skin,
you run through my blood
You know you’re better than love
[…]
Eve was deeply moved by the moment. She started crying, being unable holding back her tears. The song was beyond beautiful. She listened carefully to every word, being incredibly touched how he felt about her. Her knees were shaking from excitement, while her heart was doing countless somersaults.
I didn’t know how to find you
I was always on the run
I thought somehow it will keep me sane
But look what I’ve become
You’re better than love
You’re all that I need
When I close my eyes you’er all that I see
You’re under my skin
You run through my blood
Oh, you know you’re better than
You know you’re better than me
That’s what I’ve learned
From all the places and the pages I’ve turned
I’m trying to say
The words aren’t enough
Oh, you know you’re better than
You know you’re better than love
[…]
When JC finished singing his ballad, he put his guitar aside and stood up. Eve was still staring at him, processing this completely unexpected situation. He came few steps towards her, being overwhelmed by his own emotions.
Eve noticed that his eyes were swimming, as well. In the next second she rushed into his direction, fell around his neck and pressed her hungry lips on his.
JC was wishing for this kind of reaction and couldn’t feel more relieved than in this moment. He put his arms around her and kissed her back passionately.
After a while Eve broke their kiss and gave him a deep look. He cupped her face with both hands.
„I love you. I love you with all of my heart, Eve.“
„I love you back, Josh.“
Both smiled at each other all over their faces. JC placed another soft kiss on her lips.
„The song is breathtaking. It’s still giving me goosebumps. Did you write it for me?“
JC nodded, still smiling at her.
„I just took me one afternoon. It was all there, I just needed to write it down.“
„I can’t thank you enough. This is unreal.“
He stroke her cheek gently.
„Can we go home, honey?“
„You mean my place?“
„Yes. I wanna go home with you so bad.“
She caressed his hair gently and kissed him again.
„It’s sweet when you say, that my place is home for you.“
„Home is where you are, but… this is obviously Sandra’s place, so…“
Eve giggled.
„What did you do to her, hm? Where is she?“
„Um… she said in case you gonna kill me, she doesn’t want witness the mess and just left.“
„What a coward,“ Eve joked, still playing with his hair.
JC turned serious.
„I’m so sorry, my love. I was such an idiot.
Eve just nodded.
„I’ll make things up to you. I promise.“
„You already did with that beautiful song.“
„No. That’s not enough. I’ll make sure no one talks shit about you. Justin told me what you said about your reputation. It broke my heart into pieces. I regret badly, that I was just thinking about the firm and not realizing what all of this meant for you. I really feel ashamed, Eve.“
„Thank you for understanding, Josh.“
„I’ll make things right.“
„Okay.“
He kissed her forehead softly. Then he smiled.
„I smell Chinese food.“
„Ya, Sandra brought dinner.“
„I didn’t eat anything since yesterday night.“
„You wanna steal the food?“
„Yes.“
Eve giggled again.
„That’s my boy.“
„Boyfriend,“ he corrected her.
Eve bit her lower lip.
„Boyfriend,“ she repeated.
Just as they entered Eve’s apartment, she received a message.
„Is he still alive or did you beat him to death with his guitar?“ [Sandy]
Eve giggled.
„What is it?“ JC asked.
„Sandra asks about your physical condition.“
„Was killing me really an option?“
„Absolutely. I had several scenarios in my mind,“ she joked.
JC smiled, grabbed her waist and pulled her close to his body.
„I’m happy you decided not using violence.“
Eve smiled back at kissed him softly, before giving her attention back to her cell.
„He lives. And he stole your food.“ [Eve]
„If this means both of you left my place and did not bang at my sofa, I’m more than okay with that.“ [Sandy]
„You’ve been his partner in crime. Shame on you, traitor.“ [Eve]
„I meant well.“ [Sandy]
„I know. Thank you.“ [Eve]
„You’re welcome. P.S. I hope you let him lick you into coma for what he’ve done.“ [Sandy]
Eve laughed out loud.
„What did she write?“ JC asked curiously.
Eve bit her lips and showed him Sandra’s text.
„Into coma? Is this what you want?“ He chuckled.
She smiled dirty.
„Can you manage that?“
„You know I can. But first, dinner.“
