Page 47 of The Loathing

Her eyes meet mine as she looks over her shoulder before she shakes her head from side to side. “And don’t avoid my question.”

I smirk, kicking my own shoes and socks off before I sit down beside her, “Hope you don’t mind me sitting next to you.”

“Not at all,” she lets her own breathy sigh out. Rolling my lips, I let my feet slip into the cool water and ignore the shudder that wants to vibrate through me.

“And in answer to your question…” I pause for a moment as I let my hands splay onto the decked area, “I didn’t get in trouble.”

“I don’t believe you,” she squints as she turns to face me, the low afternoon sun in her eyeline.

“That’s your choice, Twilight.” I give her a slow wink and I let out a low chuckle when I see her nose crinkle up in disgust.

“Why Twilight?”

“Why not?” I shrug.

I don’t want to tell her it’s because she is the last small bit of light before darkness blankets us all. She is that light. The twilight. The moment the day meets the night. The sun kisses the moon. The most beautiful time of day.

“Would you rather Princess?” I nudge into her softly and a small gasp escapes her before she twists her lips and a comfortable silence consumes us.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

TITUS

“The man’s lost it.” I tuck my arm behind my head as I rest on my bed, holding my phone with my spare hand.

“He is just being protective, I’m sure.” Kaleb says, and Keaton agrees.

“Nah, I don’t think he is… there is something else going on and I’ll find out what it is.”

“Detective King,” Keaton jibes and I pull my arm from behind my head and flip him off.

Kaleb rolls his eyes, and Nate just stares into the screen.

“How’s Amora?” Kaleb asks, shuffling in his seat when Connie appears on the screen.

“Hey Titus!” She beams down the phone and waves.

“Hey Sunshine, you okay?”

She nods, “Are you?”

“I’m not too bad,” I yawn.

“How’s the jetlag? I remember Reese really struggled.”

“It’s kicking my ass,” I admit, scrubbing my face with my hand then dragging it down, letting my hands rub over my stubble.

“You’ll find your feet again soon,” she winks, “and I’m so sorry, totally gate-crashed your man chat.”

“It’s okay baby,” Kaleb croons, reaching up and grabbing her cheeks in his hands as he covers her lips with his.

“Vomit,” I hear Keaton spit, then pushes his finger towards the back of his throat pretending to gag.

“Don’t be bitter Keaton, just because you’re a loner.”

“Erm, I think we’re all actually loners apart from you, Kaleb.”

“Speak for yourself,” Keaton snorts.

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