Page 100 of Losing Faith

“They called yesterday, some bullshit about wanting to alter it, but I know how this goes. They’re giving you time to fuck up. Making you a model citizen is mylast resort. The Major League isn’t just about hitting a ball and having a pretty face, Booker.”

I can see his nerves skyrocketing as he runs a hand down his face. “I should’ve signed when you told me to.” He sounds like he’s about to cry and my dad heart practically bleeds for him. He’s spoiled and bratty and doesn’t care about much, but he’s mine.

“We’re going to fix this, but I need you to work with me.”

He quickly nods in agreement. “I will. I swear.”

I nod in return before opening the door and he thanks me profusely.

The minute the door is closed, Belle is screaming with a laugh and all of my worries and stress fades.

I walk into the kitchen but come to a stop when I find both girlscoveredin flour. Their laughs sober as they turn to me. Isabelle slowly drops her hand full of flour I’m sure she was about to throw. Lisette looks guilty as she stands in front of the counter in an empty attempt to cover the mess.

“She started it.” Lisette points at my five-year-old who’s jaw drops.

“I didnot.” She scoops up some flour before throwing it at Lisette’s back and it covers the rest of her hair. “Liar.”

A smirk grows on Lisette’s face and I shake my head at the pair of them.

“I can’t leave you alone for one minute, huh?”

“It’s been five minutes.” Lisette shrugs. “I never claimed to be a responsible adult.”

She smiles and with a face like that, I couldn’t be mad if the entire house was drowning in flour.

“Are we in trouble, Daddy?” Isabelle asks quietly.

Lisette lolls her head to the side, a mischievous smirk on her face. “Arewe in trouble, Daddy?”

And there goes all hope of tryingnotto get hard in her presence. I shake my head at her before closing the distance between us. Her eyes grow with something likeexcitementas I stop in front of her.

“You’regoing to be in trouble if you keep on calling me that,” I warn quietly and for once, she doesn’t say anything in return. She tries, her mouth falls open but words are never spoken as her eyes land on my lips.

“How’d this happen?” I look up at Isabelle, desperately trying to distract myself from Lisette, who’s still watching me.

“We were going to make our apple cinnamon cupcakes for Thanksgiving, but thenLissystarted putting flour on my face.”

I glance around the kitchen island and floor. “And that resulted in the entire bag of flour covering my floors?” I look back down at Lisette.

“She threw it back and Imayhave taken it a bit overboard.”

I glance at my daughter who could be mistaken for a damn snowman. Lisette follows my line of sight and stifles a laugh.

“This doesn’t look like it was a fair fight.” I walk over to the bag of flour and there’s surprisingly some left. Without thinking twice, I scoop up some flour from the counter and toss it in Lisette’s face. Her jaw drops before Isabelle fills the kitchen with her laugh.

“That’s because you clearly had an advantage on my kid.” I grab more and throw it at her again. “And that’s for the teasing nickname. Clean my kitchen.”

A laugh bubbles from Lisette as she starts to scoop up flour from the counter.

“Don’t even think about it, Lisette,” I warn.

She raises her hand slowly.

“I’mnotkidding. Don’t—”

I don’t get to finish my sentence as she tosses the flour at me. My eyes fall shut as their laughs fill my ears. I feel more flour being thrown at me and stand there with my eyes closed as they have their fun.

When I look down at myself, my black suit is now covered in white. My eyes meet Lisette’s and as she looks down at my outfit her eyes slowly widen, as if she somehow just remembered I’m in a four thousand-dollar suit.

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