Page 6 of The Loathing

“Yeah, but fuck, why are you up so early?”

“Connie woke me up with…”

I hang up and throw my phone into my unmade bed and shudder. I love Kaleb and Connie, but I don’t want to know what Connie may or may not have woken him up with. My phone beeps with the restaurant where are meeting and I shake my head from side to side as a soft chuckle catches at the back of my throat.

When I finally get myself dressed and downstairs, Arizona is sitting at the breakfast bar with a bowl of granola. I smile, my heart warming in an instant.

“Morning Sunshine,” I step closer to her and place a kiss on the top of her head, and she tuts.

“What? Too old to receive a kiss from your dad?” I place my hand over my heart and act wounded.

“A little, yeah,” she quips, rolling her eyes as she goes back to scrolling on her phone. She truly is beautiful. Her curly black hair sits shoulder length, her piercing light green eyes hide behind thick, black rimmed glasses and her skin is a perfect mix of mine and her mother’s. A ripple of old rage courses through my veins at the thought of her mother and how she could just abandon her daughter.

“Well, get used to it Sunshine because I will kiss you until my last dying breath,” I wink and pop the coffee machine on. “Want one?” I ask.

She yawns, taking another spoonful of her granola.

“Yeah, please,” she puts her phone face down and gives another yawn.

“Tired?”

“Exhausted, I’ve got a down day today and I’m back on for sixteen hours from tomorrow morning.”

“Joys of being a medical intern,” I smirk and hand her a cup of coffee.

“Thanks,” she mutters, and I’m not sure if she is thanking me for the coffee or the remark about her being an intern. “My internship and studies are killing me, I know I am a super genius and I managed to skip a grade or two, but working and studying for my exams are making me permanently exhausted.”

“You need a break,” I say softly, and she scoffs.

“Yeah, I wish.”

I shrug my shoulders up, “I’m third wheeling with Kaleb and Connie for lunch, want to come with?” I ask as I take a seat opposite her and take a mouthful of heaven in a cup.

“Why not take the busty blonde that snuck out this morning?” her own smirk pulling at her lips as she stares directly ahead, taking her own mouthful.

“You saw her then, huh?” I lift my brows high.

“Yup, I rolled in at six.”

“Awesome.”

“Look, you haven’t got to sneak them out or worry about me. I’m twenty-one, I don’t care who you bring home,” she shrugs her shoulders up, “as long as they don’t disturb my life, I honestly couldn’t care less, dad.” She stands from the breakfast bar, grabbing her phone and walking round towards me, wrapping her arms around my broad shoulders from behind, her cheek resting on mine.

“Night dad.”

“Night, Sunshine,” and before she can move, I turn quickly and peck a kiss on her cheek.

“Dad!” she shouts, pushing me away and taking her coffee upstairs.

I laugh until it fades, and I am sitting by myself, I look at my watch and it’s just turned nine. This morning is dragging, but I decide to finish my coffee then go to the office to kill some time until I am ready for my lunch date with Kaleb and his girlfriend.

Fuck my life.

CHAPTER FOUR

AMORA

“Amora!” my father’s bellowing bounces off the walls, but I ignore him. I’m getting pretty good at that. “Amora!” he shouts again, and I roll my eyes.

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