Page 65 of Return on Love

“Oh, that room is gonna see some action that it has never seen before,” I heard Priscilla say to Bob.

“Action! What’s that? That room doesn’t even know the meaning of that word.” They laughed and then Priscilla said loud enough for me to hear. “Shh, Bob. She’s there. She can probably hear you. It’s not her fault she’s plain and boring.”

Yup. That’s what my ex and his new girlfriend were talking about, clearly aware that I could hear them through the open door when I was leaving. I realized soon after that I’d left that photo back there. I messaged Bob to send it over to me. He refused. He said he didn’t have time to find silly photos of dead people. That was it. The last straw. I didn’t have the courage to face them again, and I didn’t want to have anything to do with him anymore. So I blocked his number, and I thought I’d ask Dad to give me a copy of that photo, but I never had the courage to do that as well. He would’ve asked me questions that would make me feel more of a loser than I felt. That’s the type of people I have around me. So, it’s probably not my sole fault that I grew up the way I am—weak, non-confrontational.

“What happened, Eva?” I open my eyes and see Ryan gazing at me. “You seem to be quite on edge. Worried about something? Bob?”

I shake my head. “Nothing.”

“I know you enough to know that it’s not nothing. You want me to beat him up? I’m sure I can take him on.”

I smile at the thought. To be honest, it sounds appealing, but I don’t want Ryan to get involved in my messy life. “I don’t doubt you can take him on, but no. I just want to pick up my box and leave. I’d like to tell him a few things, but, well… confrontation is not one of my strengths.”

“You should do it. Get it out of your system. And confrontation? You said all kind of things to me. All that you had bottled up. Trust yourself. And of course, I’m there if he tries to do anything.”

I smile. It’s reassuring. I confronted Ryan. Yes. But he makes me feel safe.

We reach Bob’s apartment. Strangely, even after I moved in with him, it was always Bob’s apartment. He didn’t let me change a thing about it. Not the cushions, not the rug, not even the posters and paintings. Not that my current apartment feels like home. I’d thought I’d stay there till I found something better, so I never really bothered to furnish it beyond the basic things. But a year has gone by, and I’m still there, and it’s still not home. I don’t know why I feel a pain in my gut as I remember my apartment in Boston. That was what felt like ‘home’, more than any place I’ve stayed in since I graduated.

I knock. Ryan is standing right behind me. Bob, wearing his usual oversized T-shirt and loose shorts, opens the door. “You’re finally here,” he says, talking to me but eyeing Ryan.

“Just hand me over my stuff, and I’ll be right off.”

“At least come in,” he says. There are a few cartons inside, packed.

“So, you’re moving to a new city?” I ask just to make some small talk.

“No. I’m moving in with my girlfriend. She has a better place.”

“Priscilla?” I know she dumped him, but I want to see his face when I say her name.

“Not that woman. No way! We broke up. She just uses people. Orders them around to get what she wants. If there’s one thing she knows, it’s telling others what to do. You should know. She’s probably doing it at your firm, too.”

I want to tell him he should look in the mirror and will probably see a similar person, but I just nod.

“No. I’m moving in with Bea.” He shows me a photo. “Isn’t she hot?” I’m about to nod when I realize that the question is directed at Ryan.

Ryan doesn’t react. Just bites his lips and stands there, with his hands folded.

“Look Bob. You probably have a lot to do. I’ll just take my stuff and be out of your way.”

“Sure. It’s in the bedroom in a carton marked with your name. Just check if that’s everything.”

I go inside and open the box. There’s a shawl, two books, a couple of tops that I’d forgotten I even had. I rummage through the box to find the photo. That’s the only thing I want.

“So, you two been… y’know?” I hear Bob’s voice. “She’s smart, but falls short in some things. You probably know what I mean.”

My cheeks burn up in shame and embarrassment as I hear those words. What’ll Ryan think? I finally find the photo I’ve been looking for. Hurriedly, I tape the box and bring it out. Ryan immediately steps up and takes it from me. Then he puts it on the table and looks me in the eye.

“Don’t you want to say something to Bob?” he asks, holding my hand and giving it a squeeze.

I look up at his face, and he nods. Bob, with his mouth slightly open, is just staring at me. He raises an eyebrow and smirks, as if daring me to open my mouth. I feel Ryan’s hand holding mine tighter. I have to do this.

“Bob, you’re not a good person.”

“What? How dare you?”

Ryan takes a step forward. “Let her finish.” I see Bob cringe a little, his eyes darting between me and Ryan, but he does shut up.

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