Elijah: Hope you’re doing okay. Shit is looking scary on TV.
I’m shocked when his reply comes minutes later.
Ryan: It’s fucking bad. Never in my life have I ever seen anything like this before.
Elijah: I can’t believe it. It doesn’t seem real.
Ryan: I heard you’re stuck with my sister. Sorry, I didn’t know she’d be there, but I’m glad you guys are together and safe. Gives me one less thing to worry about.
Elijah: Did she chew your ass out?
Ryan: Not really. She said she was worried about me so I tried to downplay things so she wouldn’t have an anxiety attack.
Elijah: Does she still get them?
I knew she did in high school but wasn’t sure if she still did. Since the media is constantly in her business and making up stories, she’s overly private about her personal life.
Ryan: Yeah, sometimes. She doesn’t always tell me, so it could be happening more than I know.
Elijah: I’ll keep an eye on her. Did she tell you Zane broke up with her?
Ryan: What? No. That fucker. I’m gonna punch his pretty boy face.
I laugh, knowing he totally would too.
Elijah: Don’t worry, she’s taking her anger out on me.
Ryan: I believe that. Don’t let her near the vodka…
I snort.
Elijah: You’re a day late and a dollar short on that tip.
Ryan: Fuck. Sorry.
Elijah: Don’t be. We’ll be fine. She’s coming around. We’ll be married in no time ;)
Ryan: I’m not sure if I should worry about the virus killing you or my sister, but good luck either way!
Elijah: Be safe, bro! Keep me updated with how things are going. I’ll make sure Cami is safe.
Ryan: Appreciate it, man. I gotta run. Talk to you later!
I’m not a religious guy, but I whisper a little prayer to keep my best friend safe and healthy along with his coworkers and patients.
By three thirty, I’m tired of glaring at my computer screen and want some fresh air, so I take Bruno outside. I chase him around the yard, throw the stick a dozen times, and am nearly out of breath after thirty minutes.
“Alright, let’s get some water, bud.” I pet his head, and we go into the house. As I reach the fridge, I spot Cami at the kitchen table with her cat lying next to her computer.
“Hey,” I say as she pounds her fingers on the keyboard. Grabbing a bottle of water, I offer her one, too.
“No, thanks.” She doesn’t take her eyes off the screen.
I chug half of it before taking a deep breath, trying to get as much air as possible. Bruno drinks every drop in his entire water dish, and I fill it up for him. When I turn around, I notice Cami’s cat is moving around the table, taking notice of the dog. To avoid another war between them, I put Bruno in my room.
“You okay?” I ask Cami when I return downstairs. “I don’t think you’ve blinked in five minutes.”
“Just working on a paper.”
“You look like you’re about to fire someone.” I chuckle. She finally drifts her gaze toward me and shoots me a death glare. “What? You seem tense. That paper piss you off or something?”
“It’s called focusing.”
“Why are you down here anyway?”
“I got tired of looking at the same thing upstairs,” she explains. “Plus, I needed more caffeine.”
“Speaking of which, can you teach me how to use that machine? I mean, unless your plan is to make it for me every morning. And if that’s the case, I’d prefer it be delivered to my bedroom.” I smirk, sitting on the edge of the table.
“You have a better chance of a meteor hitting us than me bringing you coffee in bed.”
“Ouch.” I chuckle, placing my hand over my heart. “Why don’t you take a break? Have you eaten yet?”
“Not since breakfast.”
I check the time and see it’s already after four. “That was hours ago. C’mon, shut down the laptop and make me dinner.”
Her fingers finally stop moving, and her shoulders shake as she laughs. “You’re not as slick as you think.”
“Really?” I stand. “Because I think I just got you to finally smile.”
She rolls her eyes with a groan. “Fine, but after we eat, I have to get back to it. This professor is a hard-ass, and instead of taking it easy on us during this time, she’s added assignments.”
“Sounds like a bitch move,” I say. “But you’re a genius, so I’m sure it’s cake for you.”
Cami flashes me a look of uncertainty. “I can’t tell if you’re being sarcastic or not.”
I hold up two fingers. “I swear, totally genuine.” Her expression softens. “You’re obviously smart, Cami. You got into NYU on your own merits. You’re just not…fix a toilet seat smart.”
She leans back in the chair, and her arms fall to her sides. “And you’re clearly not make coffee smart.”
Laughing, I nod and shrug. “Right. So it’s perfect. I’ll be in charge of the hard labor, and you’re in charge of making sure I’m caffeinated enough to do it.”
Her gaze lowers to my mouth, and I wonder if she’s thinking about our kiss like I am. When she licks her lips, the temptation to lean in is strong, but I refrain. The last thing I want is for things to be more complicated between us. It’s only the two of us, and it’s too easy to blur the lines. If we’re going to stay here and get through this together, we have to be civil and respectful of each other
“Okay, deal. But don’t expect room service,” she teases, closing her laptop.
“Oh…” I say slowly. “So then I guess it’s a no for personal lap dances?”
“Are you always this obnoxious?”
“Only when I know it gets on your nerves.” I beam, staring into her crystal blue eyes. They’re brighter than yesterday.
“I’m gonna need way more vodka to deal with you.” She stands and pushes in
