Page 40 of The Loathing

Arabella opens the door, sliding across the back seat and I climb in after her.

“I’m Arabella,” she holds her hand out and Titus turns in his seat, gripping her hand and giving it a soft shake.

“Pleasure.”

“Oh, his accent,” she sighs, sitting back in her chair and pulling her seatbelt across her chest.

My cheeks flame red, dipping my head so my hair tumbles down and round my face as I give her a glare.

Titus reverses and pulls back down the driveway when his eyes find mine again.

“What about you, Twilight, do you like my accent?”

“Twilight?” I screw my nose up and I see his dimples before his eyes focus on the junction where he needs to pull out, the sat nav talking to him. “I wouldn’t say I like it… but I don’t dislike it either.” I shrug my shoulders up and turn my body to face Arabella.

“Have you read all the messages in the group?” she asks me, pulling her phone from her Dior canvas bag and starts scrolling.

“I haven’t, I’ve not been on my phone since this morning…” I pause, slipping my own phone out and unlocking it, “Why, what have I missed?”

“Anais and Xander…”

“Of course. And what about now?”

“They just bicker constantly and the fact that Parker is on that conversation and everything that is going on with your family… just think it’s a little insensitive,” she shrugs her shoulders up as she continues scrolling.

“It’s a distraction for us I suppose.”

“Are your brothers coming next week? It is my birthday?”

“I doubt it hun, there is so much going on at home… and well.” I sigh.

“That’s a shame, Parker still hasn’t said whether he is or not, but I’ll hound his ass at work.”

“Are these all your friends? Or family?” Titus asks as he begins to drive after pulling out at the junction.

“My parent’s friends, well, more my mother’s. My father just goes along with it for an easy life.” I giggle, “But we’re all friends with the original gang’s kids…” I nod.

“Right, okay,” he falls silent.

“Parker and Anais are Carter and Freya’s children; me and Amora work for CPH.” Arabella begins and I am sure Titus doesn’t give two shits about all of this.

“CPH?”

“Cole Publishing House.”

“Right, okay,” Titus nods as if trying to keep up.

“Me and my little sister Lola are Conor and Darcey’s kids… obviously,” she beams. “Then you have Faith, Hope and Ryder… they are Taron and Luna’s kids… Taron works on Carter’s security, along with my dad,” she keeps going and I just sit and listen. “Rafael is my Uncle’s kiddo, but they live in Aspen.”

“Oh, Aspen, never been but would love to.” Titus pipes in and he seems so at ease out of my father’s presence.

“Where are you from?”

“New York.”

“That’s on my bucket list, for sure.”

“Me too,” I sigh, “maybe one day, unless I’m dead… or kidnapped… again,” I turn to look out the window and ignore the burn in my throat at the words that just left my mouth and I have to swallow the bile that rises.

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