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Chapter 19
Last Updated:
2022-12-17 09:29:27
owlonmywristHow do you think Ashton will react?
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Love in the Time of Quarantine Chapter 20
The second the words come out of my mouth, Ashton’s body goes stiff beneath me. “What?” he asks, barely above a whisper.I look up at him, still lying on his chest. “I think we should tell our families. About us.”“No.” His voice is low, firm, and resolute. “We can’t tell them.”He sits up, gently moving me off his chest. Then he scoots back against the wall, creating distance between us.Slowly, I sit up too, watching him. His face is a storm of fear, tension, and something dangerously close to anger.“Why not, Ash? We’re in love. We’ve been together for months. Sure, Matt might be upset at first, but he’ll get over it once he sees how happy we are—how happy you make me. And our parents? I think they’ll be happy too.”But he’s shaking his head in a quick, panicked rhythm. “No. Matt will kill me. He still thinks I’m a player. He’d beat the shit out of me just for thinking about you like that. And your dad? Same.”He starts pacing, running both hands through his hair. “My parents—
Last Updated : 2022-12-20Love in the Time of Quarantine Chapter 21
The next few days are awful. I stay up all night painting. I set an alarm on my phone to make sure I shower and grab something to eat before Ashton wakes up for work, then retreat to my room to work on some freelance graphic design jobs I picked up.Apparently, writing on those novel websites has blown up during COVID, and people need covers. I usually work until about 1:30—just after Ashton’s lunch break, when I know he’s in a Zoom meeting—so I can sneak into the kitchen without having to talk to him. After that, I take a walk around the block, get some fresh air, and then go to bed. I wake up around midnight and do it all over again.Ashton tries to talk to me. I make sure I’m too busy. I even fake being on calls with Ship just so he won’t start a conversation. I’m still working through how I feel, and I don’t need to manage his emotions while I do it.But I know it can’t last. Our fight happened on Monday night, and once the weekend hits, Ashton won’t have work as a distraction. He’
Last Updated : 2022-12-23Love in the Time of Quarantine Chapter 22
Oh… shit.This was not the plan. Even when Ashton and I talked about telling our families, Matt was never supposed to be the first to find out. He’s too overprotective. Even the guys he knew I was dating had to survive a third-degree interrogation. You know that country song “Cleaning This Gun?” That’s practically a lullaby compared to Matt.And I’ve heard stories—bits and pieces of what he and Ashton got up to with girls in high school and college. They didn’t need to find girlfriends. Girls found them. Girls who weren’t always... available. It caused more than a little drama.So Matt catching us having sex? Yeah. This is officially worst-case scenario.“Matt!” I scream just as Ashton yells, “Oh, fuck!” He scrambles to pull the sheets over us, but all that does is press him deeper inside me—and he’s still hard. We were both so close to finishing, I doubt that’s changing anytime soon.“What the fuck are you doing to my sister? I’m going to kick your fucking ass!” Matt bellows. His face
Last Updated : 2022-12-24Love in the Time of Quarantine Chapter 23
I walk down the sidewalk, mask on and sunglasses pulled low to hide my tears. I’d gotten in touch with Kora, and she was getting dressed and heading in from Hempstead—but it’d take about an hour for her to get here. That left me too much time to kill and way too much to think about.I told Kora to find me at my spot in Central Park. It’s a large overlook rock about ten minutes from our apartment, perched above a pond on the southern corner of the park. It’s usually filled with animals and people—great for sketching and getting lost in thought.Unfortunately, I didn’t bring anything with me. I usually keep a sketchbook or a notebook in my purse, but I’d filled the last one and hadn’t felt pressed to get a new one. I haven’t been going out much lately, after all.On the way to the park, I stop at a bodega and grab something to eat and drink, along with a new notebook and a pack of colored pencils. I’ve got a few pencil stubs and erasers floating in my bag. It’s not perfect, but it’ll be
Last Updated : 2022-12-27Love in the Time of Quarantine Chapter 24
Come September, classes have started again—though everything is online now. Even though we did some of this at the end of last semester, it’s weird to not go to school at all. I don’t quite know how to deal with it. Thank God I have Kora here, because if I didn’t, I wouldn’t have any social interaction with anyone.This semester, I have a supervisory seminar. That’s where everyone Ship supervises gets together to describe their current projects, discuss any issues they’re having with their art, and get feedback—not only from Ship but also from peers.I’ve sat in on a few of these before, back when Ship thought I’d done something worthy of the older students’ attention. I loved it—happily joined the conversation and showed off my pieces.Now, though? I tend to stay quiet unless specifically called on. I’m definitely more reserved than before, and when I do speak, my responses are more thoughtful. I never give unsolicited advice like I used to—and people seem to listen more than they did
Last Updated : 2022-12-29Love in the Time of Quarantine Chapter 25
There’s a light dusting of snow on the ground when I pull up to my parents’ house on Christmas Eve. I’ve waited until the last possible minute to come home—because of Matt. I’m ready to talk, ready to forgive and move on. But that doesn’t mean I actually want to do it. I know it’s going to be a hard conversation, one neither of us will enjoy, and I’m not looking forward to it. But… it’s been six months. It’s time we clear the air.The second I pull into the driveway, my parents are running out the door to greet me.“Wait!” I say, holding my hands out to stop them. “Don’t you want me to quarantine? Should you be hugging me?”“You and Kora haven’t been around anyone other than grocery runs. No symptoms. And we miss you!” Dad exclaims, wrapping his arms around me. Mom joins from the other side, and I’m sandwiched between them both.And honestly? I don’t have the heart to insist on quarantine. I’ve missed them so much. Staying away from Matt hasn’t just meant staying away from him—it’s mea
Last Updated : 2022-12-31Love in the Time of Quarantine Chapter 26
I have a month off from school for the winter semester, so I decide to spend three weeks at home with my family. I’ve missed them so much, and I want to soak in as much time with them as I can.It’s great to be home—being taken care of, surrounded by the people who know me best. We play board and card games, make all kinds of food and messes in the kitchen, binge trash TV, and just… be. It’s not the same between Matt and me, though. I don’t think it ever will be. He said some things that can’t be unsaid, and the feelings they stirred in me were deep. But we’ll move on. That’ll be enough.Ericka and Jamal come over a few times. They’re like a second set of parents to Matt and me, but I see Ashton in every glance they give me. He has Ericka’s nose. Jamal’s smile. Her pause before a joke. His hand gestures. It's like seeing pieces of him stitched into both of them. And I just… can't. As much as I love them, I’m not ready. One step at a time.This trip was about patching things up with Mat
Last Updated : 2023-01-03Love in the Time of Quarantine Chapter 27
For the next month, I focus on getting back into the swing of the semester. The best part? I’m nearly done with all my gen eds. The only ones I have left count toward my major, which means—for the first time in my college career—I’m fully immersed in art. Not always my kind of art, but art all the same.I get back into jogging like I was before. I didn’t do it much in Ohio—the snow was too deep, barely anyone was on the streets, so the plows didn’t bother clearing sidewalks. I went to the gym a few times, but it wasn’t the same. I love the exercise, sure, but what I really craved was being outside. It cleared my head. It helped me forget.Forget the pain. Forget the betrayal. Forget... everything. Everything that happened with Ashton during quarantine.Being with my family made it easier to forget. Making up with Matt made it easier, too.And then Ashton had to show up and try to talk to me—waited until I was alone and tried to force his way back into my life, back past all the wall
Last Updated : 2023-01-05
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Love in the Time of Quarantine Author's Note
Hey friends! Thank you so much for reading Love in the Time of Quarantine. I hope that you enjoyed reading as much as I enjoyed writing. Here are a couple of announcements/interesting information for you. 1. If you are interested in what I listen to while I’m writing, you can find my playlist “Creative Juices” on Spotify. I love all different kinds of music, so there's a little something for everyone. 2. Other books on GoodNovel: Trio of Mates Series: 4 werewolf books that take on the idea of what would happen if one of the leadership was gay and couldn’t produce an heir. Lots of very graphic smut. (completed) Trio Legacy Series: The stories of the children of the wolves introduced in the Trio of Mates Series. Completed: Hide and Seek, Ongoing: Red Rover Dissonance and Harmony: The story of a high school girl who has to face her rapist at his sentencing hearing and deal with her PTSD from that night. Graphic violence and rape scenes. (completed) 3. Follow me under the same name
Love in the Time of Quarantine Chapter 30: Jorge
I’m standing outside the girls’ apartment—our old apartment—with a picnic basket of baked goods and a cooler full of drinks, fruit, and toppings. I brought muffins, cinnamon rolls, danishes, cinnamon raisin bread, and fresh bagels.Okay, I went a little overboard. I can admit that. I’m just so fucking anxious, I don’t know what to do with myself.I was already awake when Andie’s text came through last night, replaying everything Angel had said to me earlier. I’d been scrolling through old photos of Andie and Jaime, staring at all the joy I used to have. I miss them so damn much. It took losing them to understand exactly how badly I’d fucked up.I didn’t even hesitate. I texted back immediately that I’d bring breakfast.And for the first time in a while, I fell asleep without any trouble.Granted, it was only for a few hours—I had to make deliveries at the bakery this morning—but I got there early, dropped everything off, and grabbed the best of the morning’s offerings for them.Now I’v
Love in the Time of Quarantine Chapter 29: Jaime
I’ve been tossing and turning in bed all night after listening to everything Angel and Maddie said tonight.“You three belong together.”“He loves you.”“He wants you back.”“What do you have to lose if you do call him?”I know what my heart wants. I also know what my heart is afraid is going to happen. How can I allow him to possibly hurt me—us—all over again?What’s the definition of insanity? Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result? Wouldn’t it be insane to let him back into our lives and hope it ends differently?Angel and Marta have both said he’s reduced his hours at the business. That they’ve hired new people. That he’s learned his lesson. Could it be true? Could he really have changed for us, even if he didn’t think we’d ever come back?I don’t know.We’ve been in bed since midnight, and it’s now 3 a.m. With a huge sigh, I get up and grab my robe, tying it tightly around me. I can’t lay here any longer. And if I keep shifting, I’m going to wake
Love in the Time of Quarantine Chapter 28: Andie
Jaime and I go about making dinner in silence. We’re a well-oiled machine at this point, moving easily around each other in our kitchen. Angel and her partner Maddie are coming over tonight for dinner and to play cards.It’s something we started back in college with Angel—a weekly card game. Each week, someone picks the game we play, and once a year, each of us is supposed to introduce a new card game. We use candy and snack foods for any games that require betting. It’s more about hanging out and having fun than anything else.Maddie and Angel have been very careful about who they let into their circle, as have we, so we all feel comfortable being around each other, even with COVID still going on.Unfortunately, this is how much of our life has been since Jorge left: a silent orbit around each other. We hold each other through the tears and the pain, but we don’t really talk.I mean, what’s there to say?We’re enough for each other—but not for the man we love.It hurts. And we’re grie
Love in the Time of Quarantine Chapter 27: Jorge
“Angel, do you have tomorrow’s shipment of bread all packaged? Carmello’s needs the delivery an hour early. I’d like to be able to have everything on rolling carts so I can just load up the trucks the second I get here,” I call to Angel.When she first started working with me, I had brought Angel on just as a delivery driver. But over the last two months, I have consciously tried to pull myself back from the business, and I’ve made Angel a partner. We have three drivers, a part-time baker, and two part-time packagers. I’ve cut my hours back so that I’m working nine-hour days, as opposed to the sixteen-hour days I was working before.The only reason that I’m driving tomorrow is because our early morning guy took the day off. Otherwise, I’ve even built in Wednesdays and Sundays as days off.“Yes, everything’s all ready. Just waiting for the last batch to finish cooling before we get it packaged. I’ll get that done in the next hour,” Angel tells me.I let out a huge sigh. “Ok. I’m heading
Love in the Time of Quarantine Chapter 26: Jaime
It’s been a week since our last interaction with Jorge. We’ve been communicating via text and notes left at the apartment. The morning after our breakup, Jorge was gone before Andie and I even woke up. He’d packed a bag and left a note saying he’d be in and out while we were at work over the coming week.He’s moving into an apartment over his parents’ restaurant. It used to be his dad’s office, and over the years, various family members have crashed there when they were in the doghouse with their wives or girlfriends.Not a bad place—but not exactly the kind of space you’d expect someone with a thriving business to live in. Still, with COVID still bad, Jorge decided to stay somewhere only family had been. Said it was safer.Trying to decide what belongs to who over text is awful.I’d honestly thought Jorge was the one. The guy I’d spend the rest of my life with. When we added Andie into our lives, it felt perfect. For a while.So we bought everything together—TV, couch, microwave. Even
Love in the Time of Quarantine Chapter 25: Andie
In that way that grief between people who love each other will sometimes turn sexual, when Jorge turns to Jaime and kisses her, she kisses him back.I lean in and kiss the side of his face. He turns toward me and—God—it feels good to kiss him. I’ve missed him so damn much. It’s been too damn long.Jaime brings his mouth back to hers, their kiss hungry and desperate. My hands go to the bottom of the hoodie he’s wearing and I rip it off of him.Jaime finds his mouth again, and I lean down, licking his nipples. He groans into Jaime’s mouth, his body tensing in arousal. He loves having his nipples played with. At the same time, I rake my nails down his abs.Jorge pulls back from Jaime’s mouth to look down at me. “Please. I need you both.” His voice is so full of need.I look at Jaime, asking if she’s okay with this. Because this is going to be an end, not a reconciliation. But I want this. I need him.Jaime nods, both of us catching the motion.Jorge surges from the chair, knocking it to t
Love in the Time of Quarantine Chapter 24: Jorge
Andie looks between Jaime and me, and I can tell she immediately understands what’s going on. She’s always had that ability—to take in a situation at a glance and know exactly what’s happening. I guess that’s what makes her such a good programmer.And an expert at calling me on my bullshit.Ever since the day I triggered Jaime’s meltdown, Andie’s been more distant with me. I think she realized that, even though the promises I made to her and Jaime were heartfelt, they weren’t ones I could keep.The time I managed to get after that? It felt more like it was for Jaime’s benefit than for Andie’s. As introverted and quiet as she appears, Andie doesn’t take shit from anyone.She gave me more rope than I deserved. And I guess I finally used it to hang myself.“How far are we into this conversation?” Andie asks calmly.I blink at her, caught off guard by how level her voice is.Jaime answers instead. “I told him he’s not treating us like priorities. That the last chance we gave him was the la
Love in the Time of Quarantine Chapter 23: Jaime
I’m sitting on the couch flipping through TV channels when Jorge walks in. It’s been two days since our failed date night, and this is the first time I’ve seen him for more than a passing second. He’s dressed in sweats and a tank top, hair wet from a shower—he must’ve just come back from a run.Andie and I have been sleeping in her old room ever since that night. With the hours he’s been keeping, I don’t really know what he’s up to anymore.Honestly? I don’t know if I can even muster the energy to care. Every time I try, it just ends up hurting.“Hey…” Jorge says tentatively, sitting on the arm of the couch.I glance over. “Hey,” I reply, then turn my attention back to the TV.“Um… where’s Andie?” he asks, like he’s not sure what to say.“Doctor’s appointment and then grocery shopping.” My responses aren’t angry—just short. I give the remote a voice command to switch to N*****x and start scrolling through options, skipping past the show I actually want to watch.Shadow and Bone. Can’
