Page 164 of The Loathing

“So, you fell in love.”

“Man, did I,” I laugh as Kaleb wraps his arm round my shoulders. “I fell so god damn hard.”

“How do you think Arizona is going to take the news?”

“I have no fucking idea,” I roll my lips and I feel a pang of anxiety slice through me.

I have no fucking idea.

We pull up outside a bar just down the street and I pinch my brows.

“Why are we here?” I ask and I look out the window at the bar we had my leaving drinks and lunch in.

“The guys are in here, they didn’t want to wait till later,” Kaleb shrugs, cutting the engine. I can hear Connie chatting away to Amora and all she does is smile. Fuck, her cheeks must be aching.

I hop out the car and rush to Amora’s side as I take her hand and lead her onto the sidewalk.

“Sorry about this… I had no idea,” I throw her an apologetic shrug and she gives me a wink.

“Don’t apologise, I can’t wait to meet everyone,” she pushes onto her toes and gives me a kiss on the cheek.

“Come on love birds, let’s go,” Kaleb calls as his fingers find Connie’s and we follow them into the bar.

I spot Keaton, Killian, Reese and Nate straight away. Keaton’s eyes widen and he looks shocked to see me, but I have no idea why and that makes my stomach bottom out and uneasiness swarms me.

“Titus,” Killian calls out, standing from the booth and shaking my hand, gripping it firmly.

“Nice to see you buddy, I hope all is well,” my voice is loud over the Friday evening chatter and Killian just nods. Nate holds his hand up, pushing his glasses up his nose and I know that’s as much as I am going to get from him tonight.

Keaton stays seated and smiles when my eyes land on him.

“Do I not get a proper hello?” I smirk as I wait for him to stand and after a while he does, but not without making it very clear he feels awkward.

“Hey man,” Keaton squeezes my shoulder then holds his hand out for Amora. “Are you going to introduce me?” he tilts his head towards my wife.

“This is Amora, my wife. Amora, this is Keaton” I wrap my arm around her waist and pull her into me and I can feel their eyes burning into me. “Oh, and Keaton.” I call out, “I think you may have put a dud condom in my bag as Amora is also pregnant.”

And that’s when I see everyone’s faces, their eyes wide and tension is thick in the air.

“What the fuck?!” I hear Arizona’s voice slice through me, and I freeze.

* * *

ARIZONA

I am numb.

I have already been forgotten by one parent and now I am going to be replaced by another.

No one is going to give a shit about poor, little Arizona.

Sure, I wanted my dad to find love again but not with a girl a little older than me. Even worse, he married her and knocked her up. Worse than that!? He told his friends before me.

But don’t worry daddy… seems I’m not the only one who kept a secret.

Switching my laptop on and making sure the door is bolted, I open up my webchat.

TallDarkandHandsome has entered the chat.