An Illicit Gentleman

                      Chapter Twenty-One

 “Are you sure you want to do this sweetheart?” AJ asked as they sat in Kevin’s driveway.  “There’ll be other Barbeques.”

“Yeah” Eve nodded with a light smile.  “It’s fine really.”  AJ returned the smile and pulled the keys from the ignition as she unbuckled her seat belt.

“Ok but if you want to go at any time let me know ok?” He told her.  She nodded with a smile before she got out of the car.

“Awesome you guys made it.” Howie said as AJ closed the door to Kevin’s house.

“Hey D.” AJ said with a hello nod.  “Where is everyone?”

“Out back, I need to make a phone call.” Howie said waving his cell phone before he walked away.

“That thing is glued to his skull I swear.” AJ sighed and Eve lightly laughed.

“I heard that!” Howie shouted down the hall.

“Let’s go out back.” AJ told her as he rolled his eyes.  He walked her through the house to the large back doors.

“Jiggity!!!” Nick shouted when AJ stepped outside.

“Hello.” AJ said as everyone turned to look at him and Eve.

“It’s good to see you.” Kristin said to Eve as she hugged her.  “You look good.”

“Thanks.” Eve replied with a light smile.

“And so do you.” She told AJ as she hugged him as well.

“Thanks K.” AJ replied.

“Hey, hands off my kool-aid.” Kevin snipped as he walked up.

“Do I look like Nick?” AJ replied and they all started laughing.

“Hey” Nick groaned when he realized the joke was on him.

“Come sit, food will be ready soon.” Kevin told them as he pointed to the patio table.

“Rok.” AJ said with a nod.

“Hey man how are you?” He asked as AJ and Eve sat down.

“Good.” AJ nodded as he pushed in Eve’s chair.  “Where’s Leigh?” He asked.

“Inside with Baylee.” Brain replied as he nodded towards the door.  “Speaking of which I better go see if she needs any help.”  AJ looked over at Eve wondering how she was reacting to Brian but he realized she was talking to Kristin and not even paying attention to them.

“I’m borrowing her for a minute.” Kristin said as her and Eve stood up.

“Just clean her off before bringing her back.” AJ said with a bright smile.

“Pig!” Kristin snapped as she slapped him on the shoulder.

“Owe, dude you’re wife hit me.” AJ moaned as Kevin walked up.

“Don’t hit him, that’s four play with him.” Kevin joked and his wife and Eve walked away laughing.

“Fuck you douche.” AJ mumbled as he sat down.

“I have to say she looks good.” Kevin said as he opened another soda.

“Drinking soda?” AJ asked puzzled.

“Well I figured you all didn’t want it up in your face.” Kevin replied.

“Look at my job, not going to be able to ignore it, just have to learn to be around it.” AJ said with a shrug. 

“Well we can at least give you two a bit, you just got out.” Kevin replied with a light smile.  “I’m glad she decided to come.”

“Me too.” AJ nodded as he saw Kristin and Eve walking outside.  “I just hope Brian doesn’t act like a prick.”

“I really think he’s ready to give you two a chance.” Kevin told him.

“Sure he is but still doesn’t change the fact Eve was a stripper and you know he’ll hold that over her, even if he does get to know her, he’ll always look at her that certain way.” AJ said with a sigh.  The two drop the topic when the ladies approached the table.

“Dew.” Eve said as she handed AJ a can of Mountain Dew.

“Sweet.” AJ smiled as he took it from her and opened it.  The couple sat around the patio table and was joined shortly after by everyone else as the food started to trickle out.

“So when are you going too Florida?” Nick asked as he took a bit of his burger.

“Probably flying out Wednesday morning.” AJ replied as he added some salad to his plate.

“Are you going with Eve?” Nick asked his mouth still full of food.

“Nick” Brian sighed as he rolled his eyes at him talking with his mouth full.

“Not sure yet, depends on what they say at the Wellness Center when I go back Monday.” She replied with a shrug. 

Everyone sat around eating and talking, they talked a little bit about what to do Wednesday but mostly they talked about the past, talked about the last tour, and talked about things they were looking forward to doing.  AJ was happy to see everyone being polite and open to Eve, even Brian but something wasn’t right.  He wasn’t sure if it was her or him, she talked to everyone, she laughed, and she seemed to have a good time but he got this vibe from her like she wasn’t completely there, her mind on something else.  As he sat in his car driving them home he thought he would just ask and see.

“Everything alright sweetheart?” AJ asked as he quickly looked over too her.

“Yeah everything’s fine why?” She asked as she looked from her window to him.

“Just checking up on you.” AJ lightly smiled as he gave her another quick look and smile.  She smiled back as she returned to gazing out the window.  “I’m glad to see you and Brian talking.”

“Yeah, he was nice.” Eve replied as she looked over at him.

“When we get back did you want to watch a movie or something?” He asked as he pulled off the hi-way.  

“Sure” She replied with a nod.

“And I was thinking tomorrow we can go to the mall and then go out to dinner.” AJ said as he stopped at a red light.

“Why the mall?” She asked.

AJ lightly shrugged.  “Go shopping; buy clothes, usually what happens at a mall.”

“Maybe we should wait.” Eve replied with a light smile.

“Wait for what?”

“See what they say Monday.” Eve said quietly.

“Is there some reason why you think they’d make you stay longer?” AJ asked as the light turned green.  “Do you want to stay longer?”

“No” She quickly said shaking her head.  “No no, I want to stay with you.  I dunno I guess I’m just waiting for the next bad thing to happen.”

“I wouldn’t worry too much about it Evie, I think it’ll be fine.” AJ told her as they pulled into his driveway.  She lightly smiled as she unbuckled her seatbelt. 

As he put his keys into the front door he felt her hands slide around to his stomach and her head rested against his back.  He unlocked the door and walked them inside as he turned around he heard the door click close behind him.  She leaned back against the door as she pulled on his T-shirt bringing him closer to her and she didn’t stop until their lips pressed against each others.  Her fingers brushed along his stomach under his shirt as her tongue tangled around his.  The kiss lasted at least a minute before she finally pulled away.

“I thought we were going to watch a movie?” AJ asked a little breathless.

“We are I just wanted a kiss.” She whispered back as she teased his lips with hers.

“That was one hell of a kiss.” AJ said as she headed into the living room.  Shaking the moment from his head he followed her into the room and sat down on the couch.

“So what do you want to watch?” She asked as she laid back relaxing from the long day at Kevin’s. 

“Scarface.” AJ said.

“We watched that before I left.” Eve said rolling her eyes. 

“Yeah been like a month.” AJ replied looking at her a little dumb founded.  “Ok fine.” AJ sighed giving in when her bottom lip popped out.  He scratched his head as he thought about what to watch.

“Can I ask you something?” Eve said as she sat up.

“Yeah” He nodded.

“Where’s your Mom?” She asked.  “You just got out of rehab, why isn’t she here?”

“She was here.” AJ replied.  “But she went home.”

“Because of me?” Eve asked.

“She left because she chose too.”

“Because I was coming here.” Eve said.  “Maybe I should wait then, I might be able to get something through the center, and they can help me find a job and…”

“Eve” AJ said as he placed his hands on the side of her arms.  “You are going to stay here because this is where you want to be, this is where you feel safe and that is what you need right now not some new apartment somewhere.”

“But she’s your Mom…”

“And she’s hated every girl I was with, just give her time and let me worry about this ok, she’s not yelling so that’s a good thing.” AJ told her as he slid his hands down her arms and placed them around her hand. 

“Ok” Eve said with a light sigh and nod. 

“Promise me you won’t worry about it ok, she’ll come around.”

“I promise.” She replied with a soft smile reassuring him.

“Besides I’ll see her Wednesday and if all goes well you will too.” AJ told her with a smile.  Eve nodded with a light smile and he pulled her into his arms.  “So thought of anything?”

“No, go look.” She said as she pulled away.

AJ grunted as he stood up and walked over to his DVD shelf.  His eyes skimmed through the titles looking for something that peeked his interest.  “What about Castaway?”

“Is that with Tom Hanks?” She asked.

“Yep” He replied as he turned around showed her the case.

“Sounds good” She nodded as she sat back.

AJ set up the video and then headed back over to the couch.  He sat down beside her as she sat leaning against the arm.  When the movie started he set the remote down and laid his head on her lap, her fingers instantly began to tangle in his hair.  About half way through the movie his eyes started to get heavy and he slowly slipped into a slumber.

“Alex?” A voice called out to him and his eyes fluttered open.  “Alex, wake up.” He turned his head and saw Eve looking at him.  “Time for bed hun.” She said as she brushed her fingers through his hair.

“Movie over?” He asked.

“Yeah” She smiled as he sat up.

He was still trying to wake himself up enough to get upstairs as they stood up.  Eve shut everything off as he made his way to his room and straight to his bed.  Pulling the blankets over him he dressed down to his boxers, throwing the clothes on the floor.  As he got comfortable Eve walked into the room.  He watched her undress and climbed in beside him.  Slowly he slid over to her laying his head between her neck and shoulder, his arm rested around her waist.  The sent of her hair drifted into his nose and it calmed him even more.

“Night Evelyn.” AJ whispered almost asleep.

“Goodnight” He heard her whisper back before he fell back to sleep.