This takes place 4 weeks after Eve had helped Nate win his case.
Annalise was feeling lonely and tired. She could have drowned herself in good vodka but she had done this every night and it doesn't ease her pain. Nate had been somewhat aloof and distant. She could imagine why but she wished things were better.
On a whim, she decided to visit Eve. It has been 5 weeks since she left. They had kept in contact, mainly through email. Annalise smiled at the thought. Their emails were quite flirty. She began texting Eve: Hey, you mind if I come over for the weekend?
Annalise waited an excruciating 32 minutes before Eve replied: It's already Friday, 8.30pm. Are you planning on coming tomorrow?
Annalise: I plan on coming now… I am already on my way.
It was too difficult to text and drive at the same time. Annalise called Eve instead.
Annalise: It's me. If you're not free, I'll go to a hotel and meet up with you tomorrow.
Eve (sighing): No, don't be silly. I'll see you at home.
Annalise: Why are you sighing? If you have plans –
Eve (interrupting): Annie, I said it's fine. I'll see you at home. Drive safe.
In actual fact, Eve was on her way to the bar to meet up with a group of friends. It was Friday night after all and she had worked hard all week. In fact, she thought she worked harder than before, trying to get Annalise out of her head. Eve was trying to get her life back to normal. She wasn't holding out on Annalise being with her anytime soon – or even at all. She contended with their email exchanges but that was all. If Annalise ever needed her, she knew where to find her, which is why Eve called her friends to cancel, made a u-turn and drove home instead.
She wondered why Annalise was coming this time. It would be nice to see her of course. But she wondered if there was an ulterior motive.
At 11pm, Annalise rang her doorbell.
Eve opened the door. 'You look like hell.'
'Thanks. You look great', said Annalise a little sarcastically. Why did she have to treat Eve this way. She looked down and said, 'I'm sorry. I just …'. Annalise stopped. She didn't know what else to say.
'Bad week?'
'The worst.'
'Come here.' Eve pulled her into the apartment, closed the door and gave Annalise a bear hug. In the familiarity of Eve's embrace, Annalise relaxed immediately. She took a deep breath. She loved the smell of Eve. Eve was her sanctuary. She felt Eve kiss the top of her head.
'Why don't you go grab a shower first and we can have a drink after?'
Annalise reluctantly pulled out of Eve's embrace and looked tenderly at her. "Thanks for letting me be here." She quickly gave Eve a kiss on her lips and made her way to the bathroom. Eve just starred after her.
When Annalise hadn't appeared after three quarters of an hour, Eve went to look for her. She found Annalise in her bed, already asleep, with the towel still round her head. She must have been so tired. Eve smiled when she saw that Annalise had worn one of her old Harvard t-shirts. It looked cute on her. Carefully, Eve climbed into bed. She leaned towards Annalise and kissed her cheek. Then she put an arm around Annalise and promptly fell asleep.
The next morning, Eve was the first to wake. She studied her ex-lover, friend, drinking buddy, fierce competitor – Annalise was all of this and more to Eve.
'Morning… Why are you studying me?', Annalise asked with her eyes still closed. Eve gaped and sputtered, 'How can you tell?' Annalise opened her eyes then. "Because I know you well – and I'm psychic!" They both laughed. Annalise played with Eve's hair. She had always liked Eve's luscious hair. It was one of the attractive things about her.
Eve bit her lip. She was enjoying Annalise's hands in her hair. After a while, she said, "I want to take you to my favourite weekend breakfast place. Over at Tribeca."
Annalise agreed. She wanted to know what a weekend with Eve in New York was like. She was going to say yes to everything. She smiled at Eve and said, 'Take me away'. Eve smiled at her in amusement.
An hour later, Annalise was seated at a bustling café in Tribeca. Eve had gone over to the counter to order their breakfast. Annalise was admiring the way the halter neck sat on Eve's shoulders and the long, tight jeans she wore that accentuated her long slim legs and height. Not for the first time, Annalise thought to herself: my god, the girl's beautiful.
Suddenly, someone entered that frame. Someone tall, blonde and 30yish. Someone who took Eve by surprise by throwing her arms around her neck. Someone who then gave Eve a kiss on her cheek. Someone whose embrace lasted a little too long and who pressed a little too close to Eve. Annalise could see the blush creeping onto Eve's cheek.
Blondie had begun talking to Eve but Eve was looking over at Annalise. Annalise quickly looked down and pretended to be texting and Eve shifted her focus back to the blonde. Blondie was obviously very happy to see Eve and they chatted for a few minutes before Blondie gave Eve one more kiss before she left.
Eve walked back to their table.
"Is Blondie one of your many other women?" Annalise couldn't help herself. She didn't like the way Blondie had interacted with Eve. She saw how touchy-feely Blondie had been with Eve and how Eve had enjoyed her attention. They seemed close. Too close for Annalise's comfort.
"What?", asked Eve, who was studiously adding sugar to her coffee.
"I asked if Blondie was one of your many other women", Annalise repeated and crossed her arms.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Eve said, quickly stealing a glance at Annalise before looking down at her coffee and stirring it.
'When you were in my house, you said you had been with plenty of other women… I am just wondering if Blondie is one of them.'
Eve sighed, 'Why do I feel like I'm on the witness stand?'
'I'll take that as a yes.'
Eve finally looked at Annalise. Could it be that she was jealous? 'Did you come all this way to New York to ask me about my girlfriends … because I wouldn't know where to begin'. Eve looked steadily at Annalise. Then Annalise cracked a small smile and they laughed. The tension was broken. Annalise said, 'I guess I should have known. When we were at Harvard, god, you were like honey to the damned bees.' They both laughed again.
"I guess it's still the same…?', Annalise asked a little bit more seriously this time.
Eve wasn't sure what she wanted to tell Annalise. They were apart 20 years. It had taken Eve a very long time to try to push Annalise out of her heart and out of her mind. Sure, she threw herself into her work and become one of the best attorneys in New York. But yes, there had been those women too. She was only human. A few of those relationships were great and many more were casual.
Annalise was still looking at her expectantly. She seemed to be bracing herself for Eve's answer. Eve looked at Annalise and said softly, 'It's been more or less the same… but Annie, we were apart 20 years … and you had left and gotten married…I steeled myself… There were a few serious relationships … but no one compares to you.' Eve reached out and played with Annalise's fingers.
Annalise let out a breath she did not realise she had been holding. Even when Eve was vulnerable, she was the one comforting Annalise. For the millionth time, she wondered about a what-could-have been with Eve. But Annalise firmly believed she did not deserve Eve. 'I'm sorry about all those years…'. She she picked up Eve's hand and gave it a kiss, noticing that Eve was trying to give her a slight smile in spite of her obvious pain.