Page 87 of The Loathing

“Hey, my baby.”

“Dad!” she pouts and frowns.

“I told you, you’ll always be my baby.”

“Can you not?” she rolls her eyes.

“Where is my happy Arizona?”

“I am right here, I am just swamped with work honestly, I don’t ever feel rested.”

I sigh.

“Can’t you take some time off?”

She just laughs at me.

“Good one dad.”

“What? You must be able to take paid leave?

“I’m an intern dad, I don’t get vacation time.”

“I don’t believe that.”

“Anyway,” she huffs, “what’s new with you, why are you doing an Uncle Kaleb and hiding a girl away?” her brow lifts and I feel the intensity in her gaze.

“I’m not doing a Kaleb,” I tut, “things went a little south, this is just temporary.”

“That’s what Kaleb said,” I hear Keaton shout from behind Arizona and her eyes widen.

“What are you doing there? Shouldn’t you be at work?” I see Ari side eye Kaleb.

“Yeah, just had to pop home to see to something.”

“Anyway, what is Amora like?” Arizona asked changing the subject swiftly.

“She’s lovely,” my smile widens, and I didn’t even realize until Arizona picked me up on it.

“Dad… she’s a client.”

“I know that! It’s not like that, she is just a good friend. We’ve become close over the last few weeks.”

Just a friend.

Yeah okay, idiot.

A friend who you had an earth shattering, life altering kiss with.

A friend who you can’t go a minute without thinking about.

“Dad, did you hear me?”

“Sorry?” I blink a few times.

“When are you going to be home?”

“Uh, I’m not sure yet darling, few more weeks I think.”

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