Page 19 of Return on Love

“Oh, we have one, Molly. She’s a great coder and works from Florida, her hometown. Ryan agreed to a remote location as an experiment. She visits for a week every quarter or so. Perhaps not this time, because they’ll be meeting her for codathon this week. She’s really cool, but I can’t talk to her like I can with you.”

I spend hours with Nora. We go for lunch together, and Gabriel joins us. It is interesting to see Nora and Gabriel together. Separately, they’re both thorough professionals. Together, they are still school kids who fight and pull each other’s hair. It’s crazy.

The week goes by quite fast. I study the reports, meet Gabriel every afternoon for clarifications and questions. I meet Nora for lunch every day and then for drinks after the office. When I told Lily about her on Wednesday evening, she actually got jealous. The poor dear.

Before I know it, it’s Thursday evening, and I’m standing in front of my wardrobe, obsessing over what ‘appropriate’ dress I should wear the next day. Ryan will be back sometime on Friday afternoon, and I don’t want him pointing fingers at me. Again.

Chapter 9

“In a dark place we find ourselves, and a little more knowledge lights our way.”—Yoda

I pick up and reject a few dresses. I consider buying a new one, if only I knew what to get. The trilling of my phone gives me a happy relief and an even bigger one when I see the caller. Lily. She can help me decide what to wear. I won’t even have to tell her what I have because she knows my wardrobe better than me.

“Hey Lils. You’re just the person I need. What should I wear to work tomorrow?”

Lily just snorts.

“What happened?” I ask. The snort is usually reserved for when she’s upset about something. Did I miss her birthday? No. That’s in March. I rack my brain to figure out what I could’ve done to get the snort. Nothing, as far as I can remember. “Will you tell me now?” I finally ask, giving up and bracing myself to take on whatever she has on me.

“Why didn’t you come over to LA?”

Now I’m confused. “Why should I? You know I’m here for three months. And it’s not even a weekend. Girl, you gotta be clearer than that.”

“Weber had a meeting this evening with your friend, Ryan. Why didn’t you join? You could’ve spent the weekend with me here. You know Don has surgery tomorrow. I could’ve used your help.”

Don is Lily’s terrier, and she’s getting him neutered this weekend. Poor Don. I voted against it, but the vet thought it’d be better for the dog. But focus. “Ryan and Weber had a meeting? In LA?” I almost shriek.

Lily’s quiet for a few moments. “You didn’t know?”

“No!” I growl. “What’s Ryan doing in LA? What game are these two playing? Any idea what they discussed?”

“Nuh, huh. I saw Ryan inside a meeting room and recognized him from the photo. God, Eva! He’s even better looking in real life. Those biceps! Woah. How does he manage to sculpt his body like that?”

“Lily! Focus.”

“Yeah. Sorry. So, I saw him waiting inside. I thought you’d be here too, surprising me. So I loitered around. And then I saw Weber go in. They had a long meeting. Over forty-five minutes, and then he left.”

“That’s it! That’s all you know?”

“Umm. I…actually… might’ve run after Ryan.”

“What? Please tell me you didn’t speak to the enemy. The one who’s doing these meetings behind my back.”

“Well…”

“Oh no, Lils. What did you say?”

“I asked him where you were and that I was your friend.”

I shake my head in disbelief and snort in reply. Yeah, right? We play a snorting game. Judge me if you will.

“I’m sorry gal. I thought you must be around somewhere, and I only wanted to meet you. But he said you didn’t come and preferred to stay in Boston instead.”

“The liar. I didn’t even know about this meeting. They had a call last Friday, and now this. Why send me over here if they just want to handle things between them?”

“What did Ryan tell you?”

“I haven’t even met him properly yet. His Royal Highness has had no time for me. His only comment was about my attire. As if others are all prim and proper. You should see them, Lils. In baggy T-shirts and some of them even come in shorts. It’s a mess.”

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