Page 14 of The Loathing

“Yup,” I sigh, pulling the bar stool out and slumping down in it, rubbing my temples trying to relieve the ache that is currently radiating there.

“And you’re going?”

“Yeah, he is doubling the wage, I can’t do that to the boys... be good to give the company a little cash injection.”

“It makes sense,” she nods, rubbing her lips together.

“I feel like there is a but coming.”

“But… what about me?” she beams at me.

“Well, I haven’t really thought about it… I did think maybe a nanny but…”

She shakes her head from side to side quickly, “No chance, no nanny.”

“How about staying with Kaleb and Connie?”

She rolls her eyes at me, stepping over to me as she pulls out a stool and half sits on it.

“They’re going to Hawaii with her dad and best friend, they’re your friends and you didn’t even remember… you only saw them Sunday!”

“Look, I have a lot of stress,” I hold out my hands, “Shit, right.” Resting my elbows on the worksurface, I rest my head in my hands. “Wait, Connie and Kaleb are going too!? He didn’t mention that.”

“Oops, maybe you weren’t meant to know,” she shrugs apologetically and goes back to the fridge to put her soda away.

“Well, that leaves Nate or Keaton…”

“Really?”

“Really,” I nod, I know which one I would prefer but I am hoping she will make the right choice.

“Have you asked them?”

“Just about to,” I smirk, sliding my phone across the work surface and dialling Nate first. He answers on the first ring.

“Man,” his voice is soft as I hear the tv cut off and Jeff the cat purring in his lap.

“Nate,” I smile, tapping my fingers on the work surface.

“Everything okay?” his question is short and to the point, but there is a small slither of hesitancy in it.

“Yeah, just wanted a favor if that’s okay…”

“Yeah, yeah, sure, what is it?”

“So, dickhead Xavier is making me go to England.”

“Making you?” I hear him chuckle softly, “You’re a big boy Titus, I’m sure you can tell him no.”

“He is paying us double for me to go to the UK.”

“Go; fucking get on the plane now and go.”

“Exactly,” I smirk, and my eyes move to Arizona who is eavesdropping, rotating her hand in front of me wanting me to get to the point.

“Could you have Arizona while I’m over there? Or you stay here? I just don’t really want to leave her on her own… she is only twenty-one.” I was being over the top. I know I was… but still.

“I was assuming I was coming with you…” his tone was clipped, and I hear him moving around over the phone, the static growing before dropping out into silence once more.

---