𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐆𝐄𝐓 𝐇𝐄𝐑 | 𝘑𝘰𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘒𝘭𝘦𝘪𝘯

✰ 35 ✰

Joost groaned as he collapsed onto the hotel's sheets. They had danced through the night, celebrating his Eurovision win. Drinks flowed continuously, music blared through the speakers and many congratulations poured down on him.

He was knocked out from the past twelve hours. The blonde only had one reason to keep himself awake. Maeve sunk into his bed next to him. She sighed contentedly.

Propping himself up on his arm, Joost glanced at the girl beside him. He pushed a stray strand of hair behind her ear. She stared at the ceiling.

"Feels strange being here with you like this again", she spoke softly.

"Strange good or strange bad?"

Evie averted her gaze to him.

"Both. I kind of lost hope after a while. Never thought I would get this close to you again", she waved it off.

Joost whispered: "Me either. I'm sorry for wasting your time."

The Irish girl frowned. To her, he had every right to be upset.

"It's okay, I deserved it", she chuckled slightly,"Joost, I owe you an explanation."

"You don't need to-"

"But I want to."

Evie cut him off. She sat up, leaving the man to rest back on the bed. Patiently waiting, he leant against the headboard. Joost nodded as he reassured her he'd listen.

"I didn't tell you about the job offer because I was scared. I thought I would lose you and what we've built, and I... I wanted to break out of my shell so badly. But when I arrived, I realised it wasn't what I had imagined. Besides our breakup, it didn't feel right. The band, they were nice. The touring was fine. Then the thing with Dylan happened-"

Joost disrupted her speech: "What happened with him? Please be honest, Eves."

Guilt was written across her face. She could smash her head against the wall in hopes it deleted every memory connected to that night.

"We made out, that's it. It was a mistake, a stupid, horrible mistake. I promise you, it was one time and I immediately regretted it as soon as it was over. Joost, I felt like I was losing myself. I wasn't thinking clearly and I truly hate myself for it."

The Dutch man watched his fingers twirl in his lap. He let the words cloud his mind. His train of thought was broken when he felt Evie's hands on his. She caressed his tattooed digits gently.

"It was so hard to watch you with him", Joost confessed,"And when you posted that story, you know... I was shattered. I thought you would never come back."

"I know, that's why I did. Frankly, I couldn't stay, I was aware of the damage I'd done."

"Then why didn't you reach out?", he implied.

"Because I thought you'd hate me."

Joost stayed silent. He rubbed his face in distress.

"I was close, for a while. I wanted to hate you, loving you hurt me too much."

The pang in her chest was surprisingly faint. His actions were justified. Evie knew one thing for certain; she loved him, unconditionally.