Page 54 of Isolation

Past that, I don’t think he could deal with seeing us together.

I am aware of how much of a dipshit I was to him. I pushed him too far. I don’t know what his mental state is like. He hasn’t used his phone or any of his credit cards since he left.

It’s a mindfuck.

I want my brother, Reid, to be alright.

I also plan to murder Raven’s new romantic interest, Reid.

Giving up, I park my butt on Raven’s desk. I try to fidget with my phone, but I am really staring at that bathroom door.

I am anxious and nervous, all mixed into one.

When I hear the bathroom door creak open, I straighten. As soon as I see Raven, I do a double take. My eyes widen and my mouth goes dry.

Holy hell.

She is freshly showered and changed, wearing black yoga pants and a plain white shirt. She has no makeup on, but her face is still glowing. She looks clean, fresh and… sexy as all hell.

Her dark hair is damp from the shower. The excess water from her hair is running down her neck and trailing her arms.

I stare at those droplets with an immense need to lick them off her arms, along with every bit of her skin. I want to lick every inch of her. Her whole damn body.

It’s impossible not to feel this way if I am around her. Why wouldn’t it be? It’s unfair for any human being to be this beautiful and unattainable.

She reminds me of a book we once read in school: Helen of Troy. I wonder if she ever read it. There was a famous saying in the book.

Was this the face that launch’d a thousand ships?

“What?” Raven frowns at me.

I realize that I am staring. I try to snap out of my mental reverie filled with admiration for the woman in front of me. Shaking my head, I grab the brown kraft bag from the floor.

“Nothing. Ready to go?”

“Let’s go.”

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Raven

Milo and I are walking to a park I used to frequent in my teen years. It’s one of my favorite places in this neighborhood. The park is hidden, with a beautiful koi pond next to it.

“Here,” Milo points under a tree by the pond.

He takes his jacket off and lays it on the grass. Milo opens the small kraft bag he brought along with him.

I peek over his shoulders curiously while he pulls out the items from inside. He keeps blocking my view with his body so I focus on the koi pond instead.

It’s beautiful.

As soon as Milo finishes setting up, I divert my attention back to him and peek at the spread.

“Boxed wine and saran wrapped sandwiches,” I list the items sitting on top of his jacket.

“I said I was going to wine and dine you. Wine,” he points at the extra miniature boxed wine. “And dine,” he points at the two sandwiches.

I stare at Milo for a heartbeat and then burst out laughing.