Page 163 of The Loathing

They finally found their respect for each other.

And it was because of me and our baby.

Because neither of them would have let anything happen to me or them.

We all fall into a form of easy and light chatter when I see my mother get up and nestle herself in my father’s lap.

“I am still mad at you…” she whispers against his lips, “but I forgive you,” and I see my father deflate at having his wife back on his side. I watch as my father whispers something in my mother’s ear and she giggles like a schoolgirl.

Gross.

“Well, seeing as we’re sharing…” I clear my throat, my heart galloping in my chest and all eyes lift and settle on me.

“What is it?” My mother asks, her brows furrowed.

“I’m moving to New York.”

The room falls silent, and I can hear the low rumble in my father’s throat fill the room. I wince, panic coursing through me when a slow smile pulls on his face.

“Looks like the Archibalds are relocating!” His voice booms round the room.

“What the fuck?” I hear Titus shout and my father lets out a loud, rumbling laugh.

“You can’t get rid of me that easily, Titty. I’m your father-in-law,” he winks at Titus then wraps his arms round my mother and suddenly, all feels right in my life.

Every single piece of it.

* * *

TITUS

We step off the plane at JFK and as he promised, Kaleb was standing there waiting for us.

“You ready Twilight,” she nods, her hand tightening in mine. I know she is nervous, fuck, I am nervous but we both know this is the right move.

We have a week to ourselves before my father-in-law—also known as Satan—moves to New York.

I see Connie standing next to him literally jumping from foot to foot with excitement and my smile widens.

“Don’t be nervous, Little Red,” I whisper to her as we close the gap between us and my friends.

“Titus,” Kaleb booms as he wraps his arms around me and pats me on the back.

“Hey bud,” I smile as I embrace him and it’s not until now that I realise quite how much I have missed him.

I pull back then envelope Connie in my arms.

“Good to see you Titus, damn, we missed you.” She steps back and her eyes roam over my face, “England looks good on you.”

I smile before looking down at Amora and my thumb brushes over between her thumb and index finger.

“It does, doesn’t it,” I smile before turning my attention back to my friends. “Guys, this is Amora. Amora, this is Kaleb and Connie.”

Amora blushes as she holds her hand out for Kaleb, but he reaches for her and pulls her in, squeezing her but she doesn’t let go of my hand.

“Hey Red, how are you? So good to meet the girl that thawed my best friend’s ice heart.” He chuckles and then Connie sweeps in for a hug.

“I’m sorry, we’re huggers,” she beams as she links her arm through Amora’s and walks off. I catch her looking over her shoulder at me and she gives me a sweet smile.

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