AN: Stay healthy.

Mistakes

By: anybodihearme

Originally Uploaded: Wednesday, July 22, 2020

Eddward shifted his weight and brought his slim hand to rest under his chin.

"That looks real nice, Alice," he finally said. "I think the addition of the pink undertones you added did wonders to bring out the green in her eyes," he smiled. Alice leaned back in her chair and stared at the portrait. A few beats later, she nodded her head along with him.

"I think you're right, honey," she smiled, deepening her laugh lines. Eddward was smiling down at her as he gently gave her shoulder a squeeze when someone behind him started yelling.

"Out of all the pieces!" Joe exclaimed, waving his hands in front of him. "Where the fuck is it?" Eddward and Alice both jumped in their spots at the vulgar term and turned to stare at the seventy-year-old man that was sitting in a chair, by his lonesome, while everyone else in the recreation room worked on their portraits.

Alice patted Eddward's hand and nudged her head in Joe's direction. Giving her a heartfelt smile, Eddward winked at the sixty-three-year-old and crossed the room.

"What seems to be the problem?" Eddward asked, squatting next to Joe. The blue slacks he wore slightly bunched around his calves, making Eddward adjust his weight for better comfort and posture. "Joe?" Eddward called when the old man began to mumble under his breath.

"Out of all the fucking pieces to go missing, it's the center one!" He yelled, waving his hand at the incomplete puzzle in front of him. "I've been working on this all week and the damn piece is missing," he fussed.

"Alright," Eddward said. "It has to be around here somewhere. I'll help you look." Eddward did a quick scan of the floor around them, looking for the lost puzzle piece, and Joe crossed his arms, mumbling to no one but himself. "Here it is," Eddward said when he lifted the box the puzzle came in. "See," he held the piece up for Joe to eye.

"Well I'll be damned," Joe huffed and Eddward chuckled. "Thank you, son." Eddward stood with and looked down at the puzzle Joe was working on. It was a herd of horses running through what he assumed was a field somewhere out in the country. Joe was known for his love of horses and after working at the nursing home for the past year and a half, the horses were starting to grow on Eddward as well.

"This seems to be a record for you," Eddward commented. Joe cocked his bushy eyebrow at the young man. "It usually takes you what, two weeks to complete a puzzle?" Joe nodded. "And you did this one in like four days," Eddward placed his hand on his hip and waved as he nodded. "Looks like you're getting too good at these."

Joe laughed and leaned back in his chair.

"Looks like we might have to get you those two thousand count puzzles," Eddward added as an afterthought.

"Damn skippy," Joe nodded in agreement and Eddward laughed.

The man may be seventy but he had quite the spunk left in him.

"Eddward?" Someone called out making everyone in the room turn and look.

Standing in the doorway, Kevin awkwardly stood, ignoring the stares of every elder in the room for his eyes were trained on one olived tone, blue-eyed, black-haired man.

"Well," Alice snorted followed by a few I can't believe it's and you have to be kidding me's. "You have quite the nerve showing your face around here," Alice finalized all their thoughts as she pointed a bony, wise finger at the redhead.

"It's alright," Eddward said as he crossed the room, not once taking his eyes off the man that ruined his life. "Can I please speak to you in the hall," Eddward asked - more like demanded - once he was in earshot to angrily whisper at the redhead.

"I'm sorry," Kevin said and Eddward snorted, nodding his head towards the hallway.

"You need backup?" Joe asked as he reached for his cane.

"I got it!" Eddward called over his shoulder. "Thank you," he added as he ushered Kevin into the hall.

Once Eddward was sure it was just him and Kevin, he dropped his happy persona and his features turned hard, icy even.

"What the fuck do you want!" Eddward yelled, shoving Kevin with both his hands. "You fucking disappear for three months and not respond to any of my texts or calls!" Eddward shoved Kevin again. "And now you have the audacity to show up at my workplace!" The raven-haired man smacked Kevin's arm. "Get out before I call security!" He shouted.

"Please," Kevin pleaded. "Let me explain."

"Explain what?" Eddward laughed. "How you are a douchebag?" He joked. "I already knew that," he snorted. "I should have swiped left!"

"Eddward, please," Kevin begged, grabbing the smaller man's hands before he could lay it on him once more. "Just listen to me!" Kevin raised his voice, making the smaller man still. "I know I fucked up but please let me explain," he barely whispered as his eyes shone dully in the fluorescent light.

"What do you want Kevin?" Eddward asked. "Wrecking my life and self-confidence wasn't enough for you? Had to come back and finish the job?" Eddward joked poorly as his face scrunched up as if he smelled bad trash.

"I came to say I am sorry," Kevin answered honestly. "I didn't mean to abandon you but I wasn't in a good place to be the boyfriend that you needed me to be," he continued.

Eddward rolled his eyes. He's heard this story time and time again. He wasn't having it.

"Kevin," Eddward said as he snatched his hands out of the other's grip. The conversation wasn't worth his energy. "Go home."

Eddward turned around and began walking back towards the recreation room. He didn't have time to dilly dally around, especially with someone who carelessly tossed him to the side without a second thought. A simple "I'm not interested" would have sufficed. But no, Kevin decided to lead him on and leave him in the wind like all the others. Eddward had more self-respect than that and he wasn't going to put up with being someone's second.

He was tired of it.

"Please, Eddward, " Kevin called as he jogged to catch up to the man that simply didn't understand. Ignoring his pleas, Eddward kept walking until he was in view of the security desk. Raising a slim hand, Eddward motioned for Dereck to come and escort Kevin out of the building. "Eddward," Kevin called as he reached out and grabbed the blue-eyed man's hand with such force that it made him painfully jerk to a stop.

"Let. Me. Go." Eddward threatened. Kevin begged again for Eddward to just give him five minutes but all his pleas fell on deaf ears when Eddward snatched his hand out of Kevin's grasp. "You had the chance to do that months ago. It's over," he said with such finality. "You got what you wanted," he accused. "Go. away."

Kevin took a step forward but was pulled back by strong hands.

Looking over his shoulder, Kevin saw that Eddward indeed called security on him.

"Escort him off the grounds," Eddward said and Dereck nodded. "Make sure he's not allowed back in," Eddward added. "If you see him again, call the cops and have him arrested for trespassing."

Eddward's warning came out more like a promise than a threat and if looks could kill, Kevin would have died a thousand, painful deaths by now.

Kevin squirmed in the other man's grasp, but instead of trying to fight his way towards Eddward, he pulled an envelope out of his pocket.

"Please," he called. "If you won't listen to me then just read this!" He yelled as he tossed the envelope towards Eddward.

Eddward stood in the hall and watched Kevin get dragged away. Not once did his blue eyes leave the green-colored ones he slowly fell in love with. It made his heartache but Eddward refused to let himself get wrapped up in emotions he knew would come back to haunt him. He was done being hurt and this was the last time he swore he would let someone in; however, Eddward couldn't fathom what brought him to bend over and pick up the envelope that was tossed at his feet.

It was quite heavy and the only thing written on it was his name in sloppy penmanship. For a second, Eddward contemplated throwing it in the trash but ultimately decided against it. Somewhere deep down inside, he wanted to know what possessed Kevin to walk out on him to only suddenly reappear months later, especially when everything was going so good.

Nothing about it made sense.

"Everything alright out here?" Joe asked as he walked down the hallway with the assistance of his cane. Eddward looked up and smiled.

"Nothing to worry about," Eddward smiled as he internally flipped his happy switch. Discreetly, he pocketed the envelope and met Joe halfway down the hallway. "Now," Eddward said as he lopped his arm with Joe's. "Let's get a frame for that puzzle."