It had been the third ring that snatched him from his sleep. He reached out blindly and grasped the phone.
"McBain," He said groggily, his head still in a haze of sleep.
"John," A soft low voice called out to him, and instantly pulled him from his sleepy state. He propped himself up on one elbow.
"Evangeline?"
"Yeah it's me. I'm sorry if I woke you up." She continued to speak in a hushed tone.
"No, don't worry about that, what's wrong?" He asked as a concern for her filled him, making his heart rate increase.
"Nothing I just couldn't sleep and wanted to talk to someone who doesn't drive me crazy. But I didn't realize it was so late, and I woke you. I'm really sorry."
"Hey," He called out stopping her ranting. "It's just 12:30, not that late and I told you, you can call me anytime you needed to, didn't I?"
"Yeah," She replied with a smile as she relaxed a bit and leaned her back more comfortably against her bathtub.
"Hon, why are you whispering?" John asked as he leaned back against his pillows, and tucked his free hand behind his head.
"Because I don't want to wake Layla or mom, they stayed over. So I went into my bathroom."
"Oh, they're still mad at me huh? They probably stayed because they were worried I'd come back over." John said with a chuckle.
"Yeah but more worried because they know I'd let you back in. Layla was especially vocal about how she was against the idea of me getting close with you again. I guess she was privy to our break up. She says I was really hurt."
"Well it wasn't a joyous time for me either. I didn't want our relationship to end Evangeline." He proclaimed and it seemed to stun her into silence. "Evangeline?"
"Did you fight for our relationship?" She finally asked.
"I tried but you were very stubborn, and then there was Layla always there running interference."
"Why did our relationship end?" She asked for a split second he thought about lying to her, but then thought better of it. He had decided after leaving her apartment that there was still something strong between them, and if they were going to try to rebuild a relationship of any kind, then this time he'd be more open and honest with her about everything.
"You thought I had feelings for Natalie," He answered honestly and again a brief silence filled the phone line.
"Did you?"
"In a way but not like you thought. You thought I loved Natalie, but that wasn't it. I felt like I had to look out for her, protect her because of what happened; well what we all thought happened to Christian. Natalie blamed me for that and I guess I blamed myself so I felt like I owed it to her to always be there whenever she needed me. But it was never love not even after…" He ended his statement fearing he was about to indulge too much information.
"Even after what?" Evangeline asked, pushing him to finish.
"After you and I broke up, Natalie and I tried," He took a deep breath before he continued. "We tried to have a relationship. I thought maybe there was something to what you and everyone else seem to think was between us. So we tried and it didn't work out. I'm not now nor have I ever been in love with Natalie. In fact I've only ever been in love two women…"
"Right Caitlin and Eve?" Evangeline cut in with a slightly deflated sigh.
"Well, yeah Caitlin was one but my mom…contrary to what Freud may have thought, I'm not in love with my mother." John announced with a chuckle and Evangeline couldn't help but to giggle at the absurd notion as well.
"Sorry that is a pretty disgusting thought," She apologized as she crinkled up her face into a frown. "I don't know why it came into my head."
"It's you, just so you know. You are one of the two, you know the two women that I have ever been in love with." John spoke in a somber tone.
"Wow,"
"What?"
"Well, I don't hear angels singing or see rainbows and butterflies." She stated.
"Huh?" John inquired as a smile spread across his face.
"It's silly but I always thought that hearing those words fall from your lips would…I don't know, I guess I just thought I'd feel different or see things differently."
"Sorry I've disappointed you."
"No, no John its not that at all. I'm just remembering something you told me, you know about the words not mattering. That it's the actions that are most important, and you were right."
"Oh yeah, I was right. I feel like I should be recording this for the record." John teased and earned a laugh from Evangeline.
"Yeah maybe you should because me admitting I'm wrong doesn't happen too often."
"Oh believe me I know." He replied as they continued to laugh. After a few seconds to calm themselves John spoke again. "Would you like to have…"
"Yes," Evangeline interjected immediately.
"Don't you want to hear what I'm asking before you agree to it?" He asked even as a huge smile lit his face.
"Not if it involves you and I doing something together. You were about to ask me out right, otherwise my mind has been complete damaged and I can no longer pick up those kinds of signs."
"Yeah I was asking you out to lunch, tomorrow. That is if you don't already have plans,"
"I don't." She confirmed.
"And you can find a way to ditch your mom and your sister."
"John McBain, I am a grown woman I don't have to hide my having lunch with you from my mom and sister. And as a matter of fact it just so happens that there is this exhibit at the museum that I know my mom wants to go see, and she and Layla will be going there tomorrow.
"Wow how did you convince them to go without you?" John asked curiously.
"Well technically they don't know yet, in fact I plan on purchasing the two tickets online as soon as I hang up with you. Then I plan to be incognito and out of the house before they wake up in the morning."
"That's a pretty good plan except my office is gonna be the first place they stop when they realize you've disappeared."
"Hmmm, that is true so I guess the only solution is for you to take the day off and run away with me."
"I guess so." He agreed which caught Evangeline by surprise.
"Wait…what…did you just say that you're gonna take the day off...the 'entire' day off and spend it with me?"
"Yeah, but it was your idea."
"Geez a lot has definitely changed since I've been away."
"Yes it has but this is just me keeping a promise, to God." John said and when he heard the slight gasp on the other end of the phone he continued. "I promised God that if he would let you wake up and give me another chance that I would do things better…do it right. So tomorrow you and I are going to take a long drive somewhere and have a nice lunch, together. Ok?"
"Ok." Evangeline concurred and she clutched the phone with both hands and bit down on her bottom lip to contain the girly squeal that wanted out.
"We should try and get some sleep because we have a busy day tomorrow." John suggested though he knew that he probably wouldn't be getting much sleep.
"Yeah ok, goodnight John."
"Goodnight Evangeline." With that they both hung up and both found sleeping a hard task for the rest of the night.
