An Illicit Gentleman II

                                              Chapter Thirteen

            AJ sat on Eve’s couch with the dark blue cordless receiver to his ear; he waited as the phone rang.  He picked at his nails as another ring went by and then stopped when he heard someone pick up.

“Hello?” Denise said on the other end.

“Hey Ma” AJ said preparing himself.

“You’re still in Nashville?” She asked.  “The number isn’t California.”

“Yeah I’m still in Nashville.” He replied almost stalling.

“Who’s the girl” Denise sighed.

“Mom” AJ replied rolling his eyes.

“You know what I’m just happy it’s not someone from California.” She said quickly and he sighed but knew she was right.

“It’s Eve actually.” AJ replied almost a little snide.

“Eve? What is she doing there?” Denise asked.

“Running her own restaurant.” AJ replied with a small smile.

“Really” Denise said and AJ heard the shock.

“Yep” He nodded.  “But something’s come up and she needs me out here for a bit.”

“Wait I thought you didn’t want to talk to her?” His Mom asked.

“We’ve had some time to talk and fix some things.”

“I see” She said and he could see her reaction without even seeing her.  “Is this the hotel number?”

“No, this is the number to Eve’s house, if you need me I’ll be here and you’ll have to call here because my phone is out of service for a couple of days.”

“How come?” She asked.

“There’s a chance Mats has had someone watching Eve for him and now that I am back in her life, he apparently isn’t happy about it.” AJ told her.

“What happened?” Denise asked worried.

“I got a text telling me I should have stayed away and then someone cut the gas line to the restaurant which caused an explosion.”

“Alex” Denise said quickly.

“I wasn’t there; I was at the studio with the guys.” AJ reassured her.  “But Eve was in the kitchen cooking, the explosion caused her to hit her head and the fire crew got her and some others out just before a back draft hit which engulfed the entire kitchen.”

“And they think it was Mats?” Denise asked.

“It’s just a lead right now, we’ll know more in a couple of days.” AJ told her.

“Alex.” Denise sighed.

“I know you’re worried but don’t be, I’m fine.” He reassured her but he knew they were empty words to her.

“So what does this mean for the two of you, since you’re staying with her?” Denise asked and AJ could hear the wariness in her voice.

“We realized we both hurt each other with decisions we made in the past and we both agreed we still care for each other very much so we want to try again.” AJ told her.  “And this time I would like a little support from you.”

“Me?” Denise replied a little shocked.

“Yes, you.” AJ said quickly.  “The past is in the past; she’s obviously worked hard and made something with her life, so I don’t want to hear about her dancing anymore, ok?”

“Alright” His Mother sighed. “I just don’t know why she is so damn important to you, for the past two years you’ve been absolutely miserable, I thought you might have started drinking again.”

“Ma” AJ replied a little frustrated.

“But then I caught you looking at a picture of the two of you, when I was visiting last year, I saw why you were so unhappy.” She told him.  “I don’t know what you see in her but obviously I’m not looking, so, if you’re happy then, I am too.”

AJ sat there a little stunned this wasn’t really the reaction he was expecting but he’d take it.  “Thanks Mom.” AJ replied with a light smile.

“So where is she now?” Denise asked.

“Sleeping” He said as he looked out of the living room doorway to the hall.  “We have to meet the insurance people in a couple of hours.”

“How bad was the damage?” She asked.

“Kitchen needs to be completely redone, the roof is gone, the basement well I’m surprised the building is still holding, and the dinning area is just as bad, what isn’t covered in soot, is drenched in water and that foam shit.”

“Oh sweetheart.” Denise sighed sadly.

“She’s ok, even though it was really close, she’s ok but the restaurant needs to be rebuilt most likely.” AJ told her.  “Probably find out the foundation damage today.”

“How long has she been out there?” His Mom asked.

“Almost a year, the restaurant has been up and running for about eight months and it was booming, every time we went to eat after or before we hit the studio, it was packed.” He said as he heard a door open down the hallway.

“Well then that is to bad Alex, she’s obviously has worked very hard.” Denise told him as he saw Eve walk past the living room and heard her footsteps trail into the kitchen.

“She has Mom, like I always knew she would.” AJ replied.  “But I should get going, need to have a shower and something to eat before meeting the insurance guy.”

“Alright, well give me a call later, please.” Denise said as AJ got ready to hang up.

“I will, I’ll be fine.” AJ reassured her.  “I love you.”

“Love you too darling.” Denise replied before they both hung up.

He turned the phone off and set it down on the table before leaving the room.  AJ walked into the kitchen and saw Eve in her robe pouring a glass of juice. Walking up behind her he wrapped his arms around her but she didn’t react like he expected her too.  She jumped, dropping the glass of juice and it shattered on the floor.  AJ quickly let go and stepped back as he looked at her confused and worried.

“Eve, you ok?” He asked as she carefully stepped away from the pieces of glass.

“I-I’m fine.” She stuttered and he watched her fidget with her robe.  “I j-just need my pills.”

“Pills?” AJ said confused.  He looked back to the counter and saw the bottle sitting on the counter by the carton of juice.

“My Ativan.” She told him.  Carefully he grabbed another glass for her and filled it up, then handed her the bottle with the juice.  Kneeling down he began to pick up the pieces of the broken glass and put them in the garbage under the sink.  When it was clean enough he grabbed some paper towels and began to soak up the grape juice on the floor. 

“So what’s that for?” He asked nodding to the pill bottle.

“Panic attacks.” She said as she grabbed a stool and sat down.  “I started getting them while in New York.”

“How come?” He asked.

“Mostly stress, I tried meditation but that didn’t work so my doctor told me to take those.” She said as looked at the bottle.

“How come you never told me?” He asked.

“You weren’t around.” She replied.  “We had stopped talking by then.”

“Oh” AJ said as he dropped the towels into the garbage and stood up.

“They’re not as bad as they use to be, probably everything with the restaurant and Mats brought this one on.” She told him as she reached for his hand.  “Come lie down with me?” Eve asked as he took her hand.

“Sure” He smiled as she stood up.

Eve grabbed the bottle of Ativan and walked them to the bedroom; she put the pills on her dresser and crawled into bed as AJ crawled beside her.  He was expecting her to slip into his arms, instead she pulled him into hers and he wrapped his arm around her.  With his head rested between her neck and shoulder, he closed his eyes as the sent of her shampoo drifted past his nose. A smell he often wished for when he lied alone in his room. 

“Did you call your Mom yet?” She asked.

“Yeah I was talking to her when you came out of the bedroom.” He told her as he pulled his head away.  “And don’t worry she seems to be ok with everything.”

“Ok?” Eve replied unsure.

“Well she’s worried about Mats and Thomas but as far as we go, she didn’t really seem upset or mad.” He picked up a piece of her hair and twirled it in his fingers.  “How are you doing?”

“Better” She replied with a light sigh.  “Sorry if I scared you.”

“I snuck up on you and scared you.” AJ replied with a light laugh.  “I’m the one who’s sorry, I’ll try not to do that anymore.”

“No it’s ok, really.” She said as she placed her hand on his arm when his hand rested on the side of her neck.  “Like I said they don’t happen to often.”

“Did you wake up like that?” He asked as their foreheads rested together.

“Yeah had a dream about the fire and couldn’t shake it.” She said as her fingers tangled around his.  Then out of no where Eve’s bedroom door flew open and before AJ could react two men were on him pulling him to the ground.  He heard Eve scream and started to fight the men off but then a thick cotton cloth pressed hard against his mouth and nose, the smell made him gag as he began to feel dizzy.  He shouted for Eve but it just came out as a soft moan as his eyes rolled back and he passed out.