An Illicit Gentleman II

                                        Chapter Twenty-Two

            AJ sat alone on the back patio as he enjoyed a cigarette.  The air was much hotter than it was when he was out here early this morning but his thoughts weren’t thinking about the dream he had, instead he thought about Eve.  She seemed fine when his Mom was here but when she left he noticed she became quiet and now that his house was full of Backstreet Boys the last he saw her she was sitting in her office.  He looked over his shoulder when he heard the doors slide open and saw Kevin walking out. 

“Figured you’d be out here with that shit.” Kevin sighed as he closed the door.

“Yeah well after the past couple of days I’ve had bite me.” AJ jokingly snapped back.  Kevin smirked as he sat down in a chair at the table.

“How are you doing anyways?” Kevin asked.

“I’m ok” AJ replied.  “Ready to just move on and let the courts deal with them.”

“Eve hasn’t been around much.” Kevin said as AJ took a drag of his smoke.

“Yeah, she’s kind of quiet, little worried but I’m willing to give it a few more days.” AJ said with a sigh.  Then he looked behind him through the doors and saw no one in the kitchen.  When he looked back at Kevin he took a deep breath.  “I need to talk to you about something.”

“I’m here man.” Kevin replied with a nod.

“It’s about Eve.” AJ told him.

“Is everything ok between you too?” Kevin asked.

“Yeah, yeah they’re great; never better actually, well despite the kidnappings.” He said with a light smile and his friend smiled back.  “While I was by myself at the house, I didn’t know if they had gone after her or if she had really gotten away.  All I could think about was how the two of us have wasted so many years because of our stubbornness and I don’t want to waste anymore.”

“So what are you saying?” Kevin asked.

“I’m not really sure, a part of me wants to go home grab that engagement ring and put it on her finger, where’s it’s suppose to be.” AJ replied with a sigh.  “But the other half is telling me to stay seated, now’s not the time, and to wait longer so people don’t start a bitch fest.”

“Why would people bitch?” His friend wondered and AJ just rolled his eyes towards Kevin, as if he didn’t know.

“We just got back together, we were both held hostage and now we’re jumping into marriage.” AJ said wondering why Kevin would ask that.

“It’s Eve.” Kevin replied looking at him.  “You’ve never really listened to any of us or anyone when it came to her before, so why start now man?” Kevin asked as he sat forward a little.

“Because I don’t want the bullshit, the looks, the snide comments, and I definitely don’t want someone telling me how to live my life.” He said and then he sighed.  “It’s this damn dream.”

“Dream?” Kevin asked a little confused.  AJ told Kevin about the dream he had, what he saw, what happened and how he felt while in the dream and when he woke up.

“I’ve never had a dream that intense before and now every time I see her I feel just a small amount of disappointment come over me because she doesn’t have that little girl in her arms.” He said as he picked at a small piece of plastic sticking up from the chair.  “And I know our future won’t be exactly that but the thought of something like that, it feels more than right to me.”

“I think you just answered yourself man, you didn’t need me.” Kevin replied with a little smile as he sat back.  “Really who’s going to bitch once people get over the initial shock? You’re Mom seems to be getting to know her and Brian, well Brian is Brian.” Kevin replied shaking his head and then rolling his eyes a little.  “It’s not like you have to go through all that bullshit again, you’ve been there and you’ve done the first date thing.”

“Yeah” AJ replied with a nod.  “I dunno, like I said it’s probably the dream that has me all worked up.”

The back patio door opened and Nick poked his head out. “We’re getting ready to go, gonna grab something to it before we head to the airport.”

“Ok” Kevin replied as he stood up and Nick left the doorway.  “Thought he was on a diet?” He asked and it made AJ laugh with a shrug.

He followed his friend inside and walked them all to Eve’s office where they said goodbye to her.  When they all started shuffling out of the house AJ followed them and said goodbye one more time before they all got into their cars and headed out.  Walking back into the house he closed the door behind him and walked back into Eve’s office but she was going out as he was going in.  They bumped into each other and AJ took her by the arms making sure he didn’t knock her over.

“Sorry” They both said at the same time.

“Everything ok?” AJ asked still holding her arms.

“Yeah, I’m done in here was thinking about making something to eat.” She replied with a light smile.  He stepped back at let her walk through and as she walked down the hall to the kitchen he followed.

“So how are things going with the restaurant?” AJ asked as he leaned against the counter top.

“Almost settled.” She replied.

“Really?” AJ said a little stunned.

“Once the papers go through my realtor will put the land up for sale.” Eve told him as she prepared something to it.

“For sale?” AJ asked confused.  “Aren’t you going to re open?”

“No” She replied lightly shaking her head.  He looked at her and waited for her too say something more but she didn’t. 

“Eve?” AJ spoke as he put his hand on her arm.

“I just don’t have it in me right now to start over and it would just be a money sink paying rent on the land.” Eve sighed as she looked at him. 

“But what about everything you worked for?” He asked.

“Mats had his friends blow it up.” Eve replied a little bitter and her tone made AJ frown.

“Evie” AJ sighed as he went to pull her into a hug but she stopped him.

“It’s ok Alex really, I’m fine.” She told him as she looked at him and her eyes told him something different. “I’ll be fine.”  She then turned back to the counter and finished preparing them a small meal.  He decided to drop it for now, there was something more there and he wanted to know what it was.

“So did you get to talk to the guys about recording?” Eve asked as the couple sat at the table eating.

“Yeah we’re going to go back in to the studio next week, should give me enough time to deal with the DA and that.” He told her as he scooped up another fork full of food.  “Speaking of which Detective Ozwith hasn’t been by yet.”

“Maybe she got tied up with something.” Eve replied and AJ looked at her as she stared at the bowl in front of her.  The look in her eyes didn’t say ‘out of it’ more like a deep thought kind of look.

He couldn’t hold it in any longer.  “Did I do something?” He asked and she looked up at him confused.  “Was it last night?”

“Last night? No, no last night was amazing.” She told him as she took his hand.  “Why do you think you did something?”

“The stuff with not reopening the restaurant, selling the house, and the way you’ve been acting.” He told her.  “You’ve been quiet and hiding in your office.  You know if something is bothering you, you can talk to me.”

“I know” Eve replied quietly.

“Then talk to me” He said as he lightly squeezed her hand.

“When the guys showed up it got me thinking about how you’ll be going back to California and I’d be here.” She told him.  “So after talking to my insurance company and realtor I decided to just sell everything, I have to start over anyways right?”

“Yeah but where will you go?” He asked with concern.

“Well, I was thinking California.” She replied and he lightly smiled.  “I’m sorry if I worried you, I’ve just been busy on the phone and had a lot to sort out in my head plus Kevin and the others were here, so I was letting you spend time with them.”

“Do you think you’d open a restaurant in California?” He asked.

“I dunno, that’s a crazy market. There’s so many amazing Chef’s there and a lot of restaurants.” Eve replied with a sigh.  “Besides like I said I really don’t want to start the process all over again right now, I just want to get over what happened and be with you.”

AJ lightly smiled at her satisfied with her answer and then started eating again.  He was also distracted by the thought of her going to Cali, moving to Cali, she’d be right there and then his mind thought about her going on tour with him.  The thought made him even more excited about what she said.