Page 31 of Loyal

Me: I’m going to order Chinese. What would you like?

Loyal: Tell me what you guys want and I’ll set it up.

After figuring out what we want for food, I set down my phone.

“He will be here shortly.”

“Cool. I’m going to go text my friends until he gets here.”

“Sounds good.” I smile as she walks out of my room.

While I wait for him to show up, I fold the rest of the clothes, my mind racing. They’ve seen each other in passing all week since the disaster of a dinner, and every time Loyal has been nothing but polite and calm when she throws him attitude.

Would it be asking too much for tonight to go better?

When I finally finish folding and putting the laundry away, the doorbell rings.

Farrah and I step out of our rooms at the same time and head downstairs.

I frown when I see Farrah in her sleep shorts and a tank with no bra, but it’s how we always watch movies together. Part of me wants to tell her to go change, but I also don’t want to cause a scene with Loyal at the door.

So I ignore it and head toward the front of the house.

“Hey,” I say as I open the door.

“Hey,Mami,looking good,” Loyal says as he kisses my cheek.

“I thought I said I wanted delivery,” Farrah mutters.

“You did. The guy pulled up to the house right when I was getting off my bike. I just grabbed it from him,” Loyal says without missing a beat.

Farrah nods but looks unconvinced.

Loyal comes inside, and I lock the door behind him.

“Eat in the living room?” I ask.

“Sounds good. I’ll grab plates,” Farrah says, already heading into the kitchen.

“How are things today between you two?” Loyal asks quietly.

“To be determined,” I mutter, making him smirk.

“So Loyal, what do you like for movies?” Farrah asks when she comes back.

“I like a little bit of everything. As long as it has a good plot, I’m game.” He shrugs as we start dishing food onto our plates.

“Rom-coms?” she asks.

“Sweet Home Alabamais better thanThe Notebook,” he declares.

“Wait, you’ve watched both of those?” I ask, in surprise.

“Yeah.” He nods as he takes a bite.

“Wait, why is that one better thanThe Notebook? It’s a classic,” Farrah asks.

“Don’t get me wrong,The Notebookis great, but it’s depressing as fuck. I rather not watch something where the woman doesn’t remember her life. Then for them to die side by side at the end? No thanks,” he says, shaking his head.