The Two of Us (Love in Isolation 1)

Kendall: Wait, did you have sex already? You never filled me in because you were so sick. HOW COULD YOU KEEP THAT FROM ME?

My cheeks heat instantly. I guess there’s no going back on this conversation now. She sends another message before I have the chance to reply.

Kendall: OMG, you did. And you need to give me every dirty detail right fucking now.

Cameron: Imagine the best sex of your life and multiply it by a thousand. There you go.

Kendall: So, he’s better than Prince Harry?

Cameron: Oh, hell yes. I can’t even explain the things he does with his mouth. And his tongue. I swear, it has superpowers.

Kendall: Lord, I think I just came on the spot. Does he have a brother?

She has me drowning in giddiness. Though Kendall’s being silly, I know she’s had a crush on Ryan since we were teens, but I don’t rag on her today. There’s plenty of time for that later.

Cameron: No, but I do ;) Eli only has a sister. You could bat for the other team if you wanna live out one of your college fantasies?

Kendall: I love the D too much. NOT Ryan’s though. But truthfully, I’m happy for you. Zane was a bag of shit, and I always knew you could do better. Can’t wait to start the next rumor that he cries after he orgasms.

Cameron: So, you said something so it would get back to Zane about me and Eli. Haha! I knew it!

Kendall: What are best friends for? Shit, my mother is calling. I need to answer this before she has a meltdown.

After we say our goodbyes, I’m floating on cloud nine. I go upstairs and jump in the shower, so I’m clean and ready by the time Eli returns. As I’m towel drying my hair, I see him pull into the driveway. I hurry and get dressed, then rush downstairs. Unlocking the door, I charge toward him, but he quickly stops me.

“Cami, wait.” He holds out his hand. “I need to take off all these clothes first, but then…” He lifts an eyebrow, then pops the trunk, and I pull out a few bags.

“And then?” I laugh with my hands full. “You better not be talking the talk unless you plan to walk the walk…or fuck me into tomorrow,” I say over my shoulder and head inside, setting everything down on the left side of the counter, ready to explain what we need to do before we unload it all.

I wait another second and notice he’s not behind me and go outside, talking shit about how I’ll do it all on my own if he’s gonna be a slow poke. But when my feet hit the driveway, I immediately stop. My smile fades, and my heart drops into my stomach.

Eli turns and looks at me with his arms in the air as two men point guns directly at him. One sees me and is startled. Rapidly, he turns his weapon on me. I hold my hands up as my adrenaline spikes.

“Go inside,” Eli says calmly.

“Fuck that!” one man shouts. “She’s staying where I can see her. Don’t fucking move,” he demands, his beady eyes trailing over my body. I’m more frightened than when I was in bed with a deadly virus. I tremble, unnerved by how fidgety they are.

“What do you need?” I ask. All I want is for them to go, to take whatever, then leave us alone.

The other guy speaks and looks maniacal like he hasn’t slept in days. Dark circles are under his eyes, and his hair is a greasy mess on top of his head. “You bought the last of the items I need for my pregnant wife and three kids. And the only other option is to pay double in the next city over, which I can’t afford.”

“I can give you plenty of money,” I speak up, wanting to dissolve the situation and for them to disappear.

“You can have everything in my car. All of it. Anything that’ll help your family,” Eli offers.

His partner looks at me. “Come here,” he demands, motioning with the gun for me to move closer. I don’t dare defy him and do what he says. I stop when I’m standing next to Eli, both of our arms still in the air.

“I want your wallet, cell phone, and keys,” he demands, and Eli gives him what he wants. The guy turns to me. “Your phone too.”

I swallow, pulling it from my back pocket and handing it over. They turn and whisper to each other, and Eli glances at me. “Everything will be okay. Stay calm. They’ll take everything and leave, and we can figure out what to do. We’ll be fine. I promise.”

Eli is always giving positive reinforcements, but I’m so damn scared that I don’t know if I can believe him this time. Panic rolls in like a storm, and my breath feels like it’s stuck in my chest. Seconds later, Eli has a coughing fit, and he needs his inhaler, but there’s nothing I can do.