Page 27 of The Loathing

I laugh, the bottle rim still pressed to my lips.

“Okay, fair play,” I place my bottle on the countertop and sigh.

“I mean, a couple of drinks wouldn’t hurt before your flight, right?” she finally says, and I turn to look at her, my brows lifting.

“I suppose not,” I nod, facing forward once more and lifting my bottle to my lips, nodding my head to myself.

Silence fills the room for a few moments as Arizona finishes spooning her cereal hoops into her mouth then washes her bowl and spoon up.

“Shall we get you settled over at Keaton’s? It’s just you now… not Jeff,” I swallow.

“Oh, okay, Nate not going now?” she spins, her fingers wrapped round the edge of the countertop as her back rests against it.

“Nope, something important has come up by the sounds of it and he needs to get it sorted.”

Her lips roll as she gives a couple of soft nods. “I suppose we can go now then?”

“Come on then princess, let’s get you dropped and settled at Keat’s.” I sigh, hating that I have to leave her, but I know she will be fine. Draining the rest of my beer bottle, I drop it in the trash can on my way out of the kitchen and head for her room.

* * *

Loading my Jeep up, I have no idea what she has packed but it’s as if she isn’t coming home.

“You’re coming home, right?” I joke as I throw the last bag in the trunk.

“Of course, but I over packed. I have no idea what Keaton’s laundry schedule is like so at least I have more than I need,” she shrugs her shoulders up before she opens the passenger door and slips inside. I sigh, closing the trunk and hopping into the driver’s side.

“I’m going to miss you, kid.”

“And I’m going to miss you, but I think this will be good for us. You aren’t the best at letting go…” she smirks, chewing on the inside of her cheek as I pull out onto the road.

“You’re my baby, it’s my job to always protect you,” I say softly.

“I know Dad, and I love you for that, but you do also have a life and I feel like you’re not really living it you know?”

“You’re my life,” I grunt out.

“I’ll always be in your life, but you deserve to find a little more… don’t you think?”

I say nothing, rubbing my lips into a thin line as I turn the radio on and let my over thinking mind wander. Pulling up outside Keaton’s I inhale deeply before cutting the engine.

“Have I upset you?” Arizona asks, turning to face me and my heart hurts. I give her a tight smile.

“No baby, but sometimes, the truth does hurt.” I reach over and cup her hand in mine as I rub my thumb across the back of it and she smiles back at me, “You could never upset me, Ari.”

Opening the trunk, I unload the car while Keaton stands at his doorway and just watches me as he takes a sip of his coffee.

Lugging it up the stairs to his front door, I scowl at him. “Thanks for the help,” I scold, barging past him as Arizona stands just inside the door with her backpack on her shoulder.

“Do you need any help?” Keaton asks in a condescending tone, and it takes everything in me not to punch him in the throat.

“No thanks,” I roll my eyes, and stand close to Arizona.

“You all set old man?” Keaton asks, sipping his coffee while keeping his eyes pinned to mine at all times.

“Not really, but a job’s a job.”

“Let’s hope you don’t fall for your client like ol’ Kaleb did.”

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