The Best of Us (Love in Isolation 2)

Ryan: Well, not sure that’s in the cards for me, but I’m enjoying my time with her while we’re here. Just taking it one day at a time.Eli: Well I’m happy for you either way, man. Cami has talked nonstop about Kendall having a thing for you, so you never know what could happen.Ryan: What's frightening is I can almost imagine myself dating Kendall. She gets me on a different level. Surprising, but it’s true.Eli: Well, I guess getting stuck there was the best thing for you two. Gave you a real chance to talk and get to know each other better, but I hope you’re not there too much longer. Cami’s going nuts with the wedding so close, and I know you’re probably losing your mind not being at work.Ryan: True, but I’m making the best of it. We'll be fine here, though. The food choices are getting slim, but we have plenty. I’m not happy about using my vacation days, and I do miss being at work, but it’s not the end of the world.Though it felt like it over the past two years.

Eli: You never use them anyway. HR always forced you to take a vacation, then you complain about it the whole time.I chuckle because it’s true. I have a handful of weeks available to use, but it's always hard for me to break away.

Ryan: You're right. Trust me, even I’m shocked that I'm enjoying myself.Eli: Maybe the snow will miss you guys and the plows will come.Ryan: Doubt it, but thanks for the positivity.Eli: If you need anything, let me know. Could probably get your parents to hire a private company to get you if you really needed out.Ryan: Please do NOT get them involved. It will be a media nightmare, and I’d rather be trapped here than deal with that.Eli’s probably laughing because he knows exactly how to push my buttons, but I know he’d never do that to me. Anything involving my parents becomes a news story.

Eli: I’d never. When you get back, we should have a drink. Miss you, man.Ryan: I’d be down for that. Miss you too. Be safe and we’ll chat soon.Eli: Perfect. You too.Before the fire goes out completely, I add more logs, then decide to check the garage for more wood. The cold nearly slaps me in the face as I look around the massive space. I find some stacked in a corner. Thankfully, either Eli or Cami made sure there was backup the last time they were here.

Taking my time, I go back and forth inside until the pile is replenished. I grab my laptop once the fire is roaring and settle into the couch.

Eventually, Kendall comes downstairs after her bath, smelling like heaven, and we’re lost in our own worlds until dinnertime. We eat a pasta concoction of noodles and jarred sauce, and it does the job. At this point, I’ve accepted I’m only eating to live and not for enjoyment. When I get back to the city, I’ll have to make it up to Kendall and take her for a nice dinner like she deserves.

After we finish, we move back to the living room and get comfortable. She rests her feet on my lap as she flips through the TV channels. Carefully, I knead into the pads of her foot, giving her a massage. Her head falls back on her shoulders, and she fully relaxes. “God, your hands are…”

“Magical?” I finish when she doesn’t speak.

“Yes, I’m like putty,” she whispers with a moan.

“Won’t be the first time,” I tease.

She sits up and playfully smacks me. I pull her close and swipe my lips against hers, stealing a kiss. This is becoming far too natural, considering how we were just days ago, but I don’t even care. “I could even offer you a proper full-body orgasm massage. With oils…”

“Oh God.” She moans as she rolls her head back. “That honestly sounds amazing. However, we should probably finish decorating now that we have electricity and can test the lights. That way, we can check off one of the big things on our list we were sent here to do,” she explains, looking at the tree and the lit garland we strung around the staircase.

“Another rain check then.” I flash her a wink, then move across the living room with Kendall behind me.

I grab the lights cord, but before I do anything, I quickly realize it’s not going to reach the outlet

“I think we need an extension cord,” she tells me.

“There’s a few in the basement. I’ll go find them,” I say, heading to the basement stairs.

Once I’ve found what I need, I go back to the living room. “Damn, it’s chilly down there.”

“Stand by the fire and warm up,” she says as she takes the cord. Carefully, she plugs in the tree and as it lights up, so does her face.