I walk to the bathroom and slip on a robe when I start shivering and coughing.
“Cami,” Eli mumbles from the bed in a sexy morning rasp.
“In here,” I respond. My voice sounds different, and it burns when I swallow. “In the bathroom,” I say louder, but my throat is scratchy, which isn’t typical for me after a night of drinking.
Footsteps lightly sweep across the floor, and he opens the door wearing loose hanging sweatpants and notices me leaning over the sink. When I meet his eyes, they go wide.
“Are you okay?” he asks, concern coating his tone.
I choke down my fear of being sick and push my hair out of my face. “I think I drank too much.”
“Do you have a fever?” he asks.
I bring my palm to my forehead and shrug.
“Where’s your thermometer? We need to check your temp.”
I point at the cabinet between us. He comes closer, grabs it, then hands it to me. I look down at the digital stick in my hand, turn it on, and place it under my tongue. Moments later, it beeps, and when I see the result, I want to cry.
“What does it say?” Eli searches my face, but he knows by my expression that it’s not good news.
I create distance as tears build in my eyes. I shake my head, trying to comprehend what this means.
“Cami? What’s it say?” he repeats, his voice deep and cautious. He knows something’s wrong. We both do.
I look over at him, and when he steps toward me, I hold out my hand to stop him from coming any closer. “It’s 101.6. Stay back, please. If I’m sick, you’re at a higher risk of hospitalization if you catch it.”
Those aren’t the words I want to say after the amazing night we shared. Images of his mouth and hands on my body flash through my head, and I replay all the times we kissed. If Eli gets it from me, it could kill him, and I wouldn’t be able to live with myself. We’ve been isolated together for two weeks, which means I’ve been a carrier since I arrived.
Disregarding my pleas, he takes two steps forward. His voice softens. “No, let me take care of you.”
“Please,” I beg again. “Being near me is too dangerous with your asthma,” I remind him. The episode he had a week ago is still fresh in my mind. It was traumatizing to watch him struggle to breathe.
“You don’t know what you have, though. It could be anything. It’s flu season, too.” He tries to calm me, but it doesn’t work. My gut screams that I’m not that lucky, and that this isn’t something I’ll get over in a few days. I was around hundreds of people before the shelter in place was ordered. People who were asymptomatic continued going to class because no one knew how bad it was until it was too late.
“A fever this high is enough warning. For your sake, we have to treat it like the worst-case scenario to be on the safe side.” I choke back a sob, then turn on the faucet, holding a washcloth under the cool stream. “I’ll be okay,” I say more to comfort myself than him. Eli stares as I wring out the water.
“If you really have it, then so do I. It’s a little too late to think I haven’t caught it.” He shrugs as if it’s no big deal. “We kissed on the second day here and have been around each other every day since then. We’d be foolish to think otherwise.”
I relentlessly shake my head in disagreement. “No, that’s not one hundred percent true. We don’t know, so we have to take every precaution possible.”
“I’ll text your brother and see if he has any advice so we can be more prepared in the coming days. He might have a few tips and tricks or something, but let me help you, Cami.” He’s nearly begging, and I’m not sure I’m strong enough to push him away when I just want him to hold me.
“Eli,” I whisper. Panic and unease swim through my veins as my chest rattles. The morning after such an amazing night isn’t supposed to be like this. I wish we could have breakfast together, spend the rest of the day snuggling, and relive last night. Instead, I have to force him to leave me alone.
He exits the bathroom, and for a second, I think I may have gotten through to him. Moments later, he returns with Tylenol and two bottles of water. He sets them on the nightstand and glances at me. “You can’t get dehydrated. Take these and text me if you need anything, okay? Anything at all, even if it’s just to keep you company. And if you get any worse, let me know.”
I nod, wanting to lie down and cover myself with a pile of blankets. “I will. Thank you.”
Once he’s out of the room, I grab the thermometer and place it on the bedside table, then take the pills. The sheets are a crumpled mess at the end of the bed from rassling in them last night, and I try to fix them the best I can, but my head is too heavy. I’m scared of what the future holds, more than I’ve ever been before. I know Eli said he’d text Ryan, but I text him too.
Cameron: I think I have the virus. What should I do?
I don’t expect him to answer me anytime soon. Having a conversation with him the past couple of weeks has been difficult. My brother’s a goddamn hero, but I selfishly wish he were here with me.
Somehow, even though I’m restless, I fall asleep.
