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After cleaning up for the second time, I fall asleep with a smile on my face and Cami in my arms.
I’ve imagined what it would be like being with her, but none of those fantasies even compare to reality.
Not in a million fucking years.
Chapter Nineteen
CAMERON
DAY 15
I wake up with sweat covering my forehead, and my body feels like it might be on fire. Eli’s legs tangle with mine, and I try to wiggle out of his hold. Drinking too much last night has made me feel like shit. As soon as I sit up, I know something isn’t right. It’s not the first time I’ve had stupid amounts of alcohol, but this seems different. I wobble when I place my feet on the floor, and I find some strength to move forward. My chest is tight, and I wonder if I slept weird or if our sexual activities last night did a number on me, but I’ve never felt this way before. On repeat, I tell myself I’m just hungover. That’s all this is.
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.
