The Best of Us (Love in Isolation 2)

I’ve already lived one of the best years of my life, and it’s not even over yet.

I don’t know how anything else could top it.

“Hey, babe. Are you almost ready?” Ryan asks from the doorway while I look at my empty suitcases.

I bite my bottom lip. “Not exactly. I’m trying to decide what clothes to take.”

He moves forward, places his hands firmly on my waist, and pulls me toward him. “You won’t be needing them.”

Ryan’s lips trace the shell of my ear, and I shudder. “Keep it up, and we won’t make it to Roxbury before dark,” I warn.

“Fine, fine.” He looks at both suitcases. “You’re taking two?”

“Remember what happened last time? There’s no way you can convince me to take less. Also…” I hold up a spare battery that I don’t travel without anymore, just in case my phone dies. “I’ve got this too.”

He snorts. “Fine. Pack tons of lingerie. Thanks in advance.”

Before leaving the room, he shoots me a wink. My heart still flutters around him. I won’t ever be letting him go.

I do as he requested and bring tons of panty sets that serve no other purpose than to be seen, then I go in the closet and pull out a tirade of outfits. Once everything is packed, I wheel them into the living room where he’s waiting on the couch.

“Ready?” he asks, perking up.

I nod. “Yep. I think I am. Also, do you think we can stop and get a coffee before the drive?”

He narrows his eyes at me before breaking out into a smile. “Whatever you want, Angel.”

“That’s exactly what I like to hear.” I move toward him and pull him in for a kiss.

“But we should get going. I’ve been told we may run into some snow on the way there.”

My eyes go wide. “Do you think…?”

He chuckles. “No, there’s not a predicted snowstorm, just flurries. We’ll be fine.”

“Okay,” I breathe out. “I don’t want to be without electricity that long again.”

Ryan loops his small bag over his shoulder and grabs my suitcases, then we make our way down to the Range Rover. On the way out of the city, he stops at a coffee shop and allows me to order the biggest peppermint mocha they offer.

On the way to Roxbury, he keeps his hand placed on my thigh, and we listen to his favorite medical podcast. Most of it goes over my head, but I’m too busy texting Cami to care.

Cami: Hopefully there’s not a storm! Be safe!Kendall: It’s supposed to snow, but no arctic blast is in the forecast, thank goodness!Cami: So while you’re there, can you go ahead and get knocked up so we can have kids close to the same age?Kendall: CAMI!I snort, and Ryan looks at me.

“She’s starting the baby thing again, isn’t she?” he asks.

Placing my hand on top of his, I squeeze his fingers. “You know your sister too well.”

He arches a brow. “Tell her to stop it. I mean, I love the thought of you carrying my baby, but we’ll have kids when we’re ready, not because Cami has to have you do everything she does.”

My head falls back, and I laugh, though I can’t wait for when we do start our own little family and have babies.

“I’ll share your sentiment, though just get ready for a plethora of angry pregnant woman text messages.”

Just as I pick up my phone to send his message, Ryan pulls it away then sets it in my lap. “How about we don’t piss her off today?”

“Good choice.” I give him a smirk. “She’s been an utter savage lately.”

“I know. She asked me to bring her some red velvet cake from the bakery that’s around the corner by the hospital, and I told her I wouldn’t get off work until around eight. You know what her response was?”

I shake my head.

“She told me to go fuck myself.”

A laugh escapes me because I wasn’t expecting that. “Hilarious! She’s been as sweet as sugar to me, but then again, I haven’t told her no either. She only gets yeses from me.”

“Which makes you part of the problem. Don’t spoil her.”The three-hour drive passes by in a blink. By the time we arrive at the cabin, my bladder is ready to burst from drinking nearly thirty ounces of coffee. Ryan pulls the Range Rover in the garage and all those old feelings I had the last time we were here come rushing back. When I get out of the car, I can’t stop smiling and he notices.

“Love you,” he says, placing a kiss on my forehead, then opens the back hatch. I grab his small duffel bag, and he sets my suitcases on the concrete.

“I’ll come back out for the box of food and booze,” he tells me with a wink, then unlocks the door.