Kendall: Babe, you okay? I heard about Zane and you.
I groan, reading my best friend’s text message. Of course, she did. Even during a freaking pandemic, the rumor mill is strong. I hadn’t told a soul—besides Eli—which means Zane’s already started running his mouth. Who knows what the hell he’s telling people because he’s known to exaggerate. Kendall Montgomery has been in my life since elementary school, and she’s my ride or die. She also loathes my brother, which cracks me up because I believe she’s secretly in love with him. While she pretends she can’t stand his know-it-all attitude, Ryan makes comments about her being beauty and brains. They’re a match made in heaven, but both are in denial.
Cameron: I’m fine. He can suck a giant bag of dicks, though.
Kendall: I can’t believe he broke up with you! What an asshole. I wish we could go to the club and get shit-faced! I’d make sure you were over that bastard and under a hottie within an hour!
I laugh, knowing she would totally force me to go out and party. Her answer to everything is booze and one-night stands. Chanel startles awake and gets comfortable in a chair by the window. She’s not much of a morning cat until she’s ready to eat.
Cameron: Well, I started with vodka for breakfast yesterday, but that backfired on me real quick when I kissed Elijah Ross, then snapped at him.
I skip the broken toilet part because it’s embarrassing as hell, but also because I overreacted after he helped me. I was frustrated about Zane and confused about Eli kissing me, and all of that mixed with vodka was a dangerous combination. After I pushed him and stormed away, I went to the theater room and fell asleep watching Netflix. When I woke up hours later, it was late, and the house was dark and silent. I ruined our dinner plans and ended up eating cereal before going to bed.
Kendall: Wait, what?! You’re at the cabin with Eli? How’d that happen?
Cameron: Ryan told him he could stay without telling me, and we both showed up! Now we’re stuck here since neither of us wants to be in the city. I told Eli to leave because having Zane here would be weird, but now that he’s out of the picture, I kinda don’t mind him here. Though he’s still a jerk, and he brought his freaking dog!
Kendall: I’m laughing so hard right now. You and Eli have fought for as long as I’ve known you. I can’t picture the two of you being stuck together. It’s like a reality TV show.
Cameron: Trust me, it wasn’t a pretty picture when he arrived. I threw a marble statue at his face.
Kendall: I don’t know why you don’t just bang it out already. Clearly, you have some animosity to work out. Now would be a PERFECT time ;)
Having her encourage me to cross that line with Eli makes me shake my head. Kendall comes from a wealthy family too, but her life wasn’t thrust into the limelight like mine. The Montgomerys are old money, and she inherited so much after her grandparents died five years ago.
Cameron: Kinda ironic since I’ve told you the same thing.
Kendall: What are you talking about?
Cameron: You and Ryan.
Kendall: Why’d you have to ruin my day by mentioning him? If he wasn’t dealing with some serious shit right now in the hospitals, I’d say some not-so-nice things.
Cameron: Your hostility toward each other is comical. Just fuck already—like you said—and work out whatever tension you have.
Kendall: That’s a hard fucking pass. He probably recites medical journals in bed to stay hard.
Oh my God. That’s not an image I ever wanted to have of my brother. It’s hilarious she pretends she hates him when I know she’s crushed on him forever.
Cameron: Ew, I just cringed. What the hell is wrong with you?
Kendall: SAME.
I laugh, and it feels good to talk to her after having a crappy couple of days.
Cameron: We should FaceTime and drink together since we can’t in person. Though I need to get started on my schoolwork. So, maybe not tonight.
Kendall: Yes, definitely soon! Then you can give me all the juicy details about Eli :)
Cameron: Literally nothing to tell.
Kendall: From his Instagram pictures, he’s gotten pretty buff. How does he look in person?
I roll my eyes, though it’s true. I hadn’t seen Eli in over a year before this unexpected reunion. He’s had shaggy hair for as long as I can remember, but graduating college and getting a job has agreed with him. Eli’s really taken care of himself, and it shows.
Cameron: OMG. Don’t go there.
Kendall: So, are you gonna tell me about this kiss, or are you determined to make me beg?
Cameron: NO! It was a total fluke.
Kendall: Fluke or not, get some quarantine action! And you’re no fun. I bet his lips were super soft and warm. Did he use tongue?
Cameron: Go away.
Kendall: That’s a yes. But fine. I need to take a shower anyway, so go climb Elijah like a tree so you can give me some gossip to share that’ll “accidentally” spread to Zane.
Cameron: I’m not gonna hook up with Eli just to piss off Zane.
Kendall: No, you’re going to because you know you want to ;)
Cameron: Bye. Xo
Kendall: Love you!
My mood instantly lifts, and I’m determined to have a better day, which starts with apologizing to Eli. Even though he gets a kick out of teasing me, there’s no excuse for how I reacted when he brought up the past after helping me. He tried to teach me something new, but I was a brat. I can’t take my frustrations out on him because we’re stuck here for weeks. Given the circumstances, I need to make the most of it.
I decide to message Ryan and check
