Eva was working in her recording studio the next day. She had the night off, the girls insisted. Eva was just finishing up a CD that she had made for JC. She was still confused about their relationship and where it stood. Her music helped somewhat. It definitely showed how she felt. She made the CD and made six batches of her coconut crème cookies, one for each of the guys and one was a special double batch for JC. She carefully wrapped each batch up and placed the CD with a small note to JC with his cookies. She had them all good to go and was on her way to the post office when Tim dropped by.
“Hey Eva!”
“Hey Tim, how’s it going?”
“Good, good, just got out of a class and decided to stop by to see how you were. Man your house smells great!” She smiled.
“Thanks I just baked six batches of cookies, it should smell good. Would you like some?”
“Would I? You read my mind!” They went into the kitchen and Eva made him a plate of cookies.
“Would you like some milk?”
“Please.” Tim took one bite, “Oh my god these must be the best cookies I've ever tasted.”
“Thanks, it's my secret recipe.” She said handing him a glass of milk.
“Thank you.” He said as she sat down across from him. “So,” he said with a mouthful of cookies, “What are you doing on your night off?”
“I don’t know, maybe some shopping, maybe a night drive. I thought of taking a long soak and pampering myself.”
“Good, you should.”
“Thank you for last night Tim, it really meant a lot to me.”
“Don’t mention it, that’s what friends are for right?”
“Right.” She smiled and then paused for a minute, “Let me ask you this. What’s one thing you feel like doing tonight?”
“Me? I don’t know there’s a great rock climbing gym I've been dying to go to and then there’s this place in Burnt Hills up north where you run around and throw water balloons full of paint at people.”
“Tim, do you want to go rock climbing and paint ball throwing with me tonight?”
“What? Really? Don’t you want your night off by yourself?”
“No, I’d rather spend it with someone fun.” She grinned.
“Sure! Yeah I'd love to go with you. Let me go shower and we can go okay?”
“Sure, I have to run to the post office quick but wait for me here. I’ll leave the side door open okay?”
“Sure.” They went out and did their errands and then spent the whole afternoon together. Eva had a blast with Tim, she really enjoyed spending time with him, he was sweet and caring but fun and spontaneous. After they did the paint ball thing it was well after dark. Eva thought they were going home but Tim turned off the road home and began going in a different direction.
“Tim, where are we going?”
“Somewhere special, don’t worry.” Tim said driving deep into the country and finally parked by an old wooden bridge that was over a quiet stream.
“Where are we Tim?” She asked getting a bit worried.
“My favorite spot in the whole world.” The surrounding area was silent except for the crickets chirping and the water running by. Tim hopped out of the Jeep and Eva did too. She looked around,
“This place is amazing.” She whispered not wanting to disrupt the peaceful place. Tim walked toward the bridge and beckoned her to follow. He laid down the blanket and laid himself out on it.
“Come on.” He said to her and Eva lay down next to him and stared up into the beautiful night sky. They laid there for a while not saying anything and just staring in awe of the sparkling universe above them. “It makes you feel insignificant doesn’t it?” Tim asked, “Like any of your problems just aren’t that major out here.”
“Yeah it does.” The night sky reminded her of her first date with JC. The sky was just as clear and just as beautiful that night. She was so torn over the situation. She wanted to be with JC more than anything, but she knew she had to stay here. She had just found Mike and she was going to abandon the guy? And the bar, how could she leave and do that to her friends? The people who had become her family here. Her thoughts drifted back to JC, his bright and laughing eyes, his smile, his lips, his cute dimples. Eva sighed woefully.
“You’re thinking about him, aren’t you?” Tim asked.
“Who Josh?”
“Yeah, you really love him don’t you?”
“More than most things in this world.”
“Why didn’t you go with him to Florida?”
“Because I’m needed here.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean I just got my twin brother back in my life, the bar, plus all of you guys. It would be so irresponsible for me to leave it all behind for a guy.” Tim couldn’t believe what her was hearing.
“You mean to tell me that you gave up the love of your life for us?”
“Yeah.” She shrugged her shoulders,
“You are so crazy.”
“Huh?” She asked and Tim sat up on side,
“Do you realize that you gave up the most pure true love; fairytale love? Most people spend their entire lives looking for that kind of love and you gave it up for what? A twin brother, a bar and some people?”
“Tim you know it’s more than that.”
“Really.” Eva was getting frustrated now.
“Yes, really, I have responsibilities here that I just can’t get up and walk out on.”
“We won’t fall apart if you leave, you know. We’d miss you like crazy, but I think we’d understand.”
“I’m not saying that Tim, it’s just…” Tim stared at her.
“You’re scared that if you really let yourself love JC, you’ll get hurt.” Eva was speechless; Tim had hit it on the head. She was scared; everyone she had loved had abandoned her, whether they meant to or not, Mike, her parents, her uncle, JC, basically everyone. Granted she got Mike back, but… “I’m right, aren’t I?” Tim asked. Eva stared up at the sky.
“Yeah, you are.”
“Eva you can’t hide here and miss out on this. Sure you may get hurt, but we’ll always be there for you. Like a safety net to-”
“Catch me when I fall.” She completed for him remembering JC’s necklace.
“Yeah.” He replied. She looked at Tim,
“You know this is the last conversation I thought I would be having with you.”
“You and me both.”
“What happened? What made you change your mind?”
“You did, you showed me how much you loved JC. I can’t change that. What kind of person would I be if I tried to? That’s not me, what’s happening right here, is me.”
“I’m glad, you’ve been exactly what I've needed.”
“Well I try.” He said smiling at her and she smiled back at him.
They sat there and talked some more and were there until the sun rose. Tim drove her to his place so that they could have breakfast.
“God look at me,” Eva said when they walked into his apartment, “I’m covered in paint still, you mind if I shower and possible borrow some clothes?”
“Sure, no problem. Let me see what I have that could fit you.” Tim went into his room and searched around. He came out with a pair of basketball shorts and a t-shirt.
“The shorts are mine but the shirt’s my little brother’s so it should fit. Plus, believe it or not I have underwear for you.”
“Timothy Marcus Jones!!” She exclaimed, “You kinkster, I never knew!” Tim’s face turned a bright crimson,
“No! They were for my cousin, but they were too small. So, I was supposed to exchange them or something.” Eva smiled,
“Okay, sure.” She laughed and he blushed even more.
“Whatever, go shower, towels are on the shelf.”
“Thanks.” Eva grabbed the clothes from Tim and went into the bathroom. Tim went into the kitchen to start breakfast. He soon had bacon frying nicely on the stove and was about to start on the pancakes when Eva’s cell phone started ringing. He left the kitchen and answered it.
“Hello?”
“Hello? Tim?” It was JC, he surprised to hear Tim’s voice again. Tim smelled something burning and turned towards the kitchen to see the bacon on fire.
“Shit!” He yelled out and dropped the phone on the couch. He raced over and doused it with baking soda. The fire had just been extinguished when Eva came out of the shower and smelled the smoke and went into the kitchen.
“What happened?”
“Breakfast, flambé style.” Tim joked waving away the smoke. She laughed and shook her head,
“Why am I not surprised?” Tim laughed and nodded towards her.
“Well I see the clothes fit.”
“Yeah I had to tie the string on the shorts pretty tight but it’ll do until I get to my place. I left my clothes in your room. I’ll grab them when I leave.”
“Well as long as my girlfriend doesn’t see them I’ll be fine.” He joked and Eva rolled her eyes.
“I’m sure Polly the blow up doll won’t mind.”
“It’s okay, in fact tomorrow’s laundry day. I’ll just throw it in with mine, if you don’t mind.”
“Breakfast and he's doing my laundry. You are a keeper.” Eva looked at the mess in the kitchen. “On second thought why don’t I take you out to breakfast. I owe you for last night.”
“Now what kind of gentleman would I be if I let you pay for me?”
“A smart one. Now go shower, I’m gonna go back to my place and change. I’ll be back in a few and we’ll go, okay?”
“Kay.” Eva walked towards the door and noticed her phone on the couch and picked it up.
“Oh yeah,” Tim said, “someone called but I don’t know who because the kitchen caught fire and I dropped it.”
“Oh,” She looked at it and recognized the number. “It was Josh, huh.”
“What? Oh yeah, he called yesterday morning but you were really tired.”
“Okay thanks, catch you in a few.”
“See ya.”
“Hey Justin? Can I talk to you?”
“Sure, JC come on in.” JC came in and sat down next to him. “What’s up, C?”
“Just, I need your advice on something.” JC went on and told him about his two calls to Eva. Justin listened intently,
“I don’t know, but it does sound pretty fishy that suddenly she needed some space but every time you call she was over at Tim's. Both times it did sound like they spent the night together, but my advice would be to call her and ask her. Don’t go assuming things, okay?”
“Okay, but one question, would you be pissed if you were in the same situation, you know, with Britney?” JC said asked and Justin thought a minute,
“Yeah, would be pissed, but we’re in a different situation. If she spent the night at some guy’s place she better have a damn good reason. But in your case, technically she’s a free agent, even though it’s shitty, but then again so are you.”
“No, I’m not. I only want her that’s all. There’s no other girl for me.”