Page 101 of Losing Faith

She chews on her lip nervously. “Why are you wearing that at home anyway?”

“I was in the office today,” is all I say.

“It’s just flour,” she says, quieter now.

“Yeah, well, now you’re in trouble.” I stalk towards her and a smile grows on her face as she walks backwards. “Don’t make this harder for yourself, sweetheart.”

She takes off running into the living room with a laugh and I walk after her at a steady pace. My long strides quickly catch up to her as she corners herself.

“JJ, wait.” She puts a hand up between us. “Your kid is watching, don’t do—”

Her scream cuts off her sentence as I toss her over my shoulder.

“JJ!” She squirms in my arms, hitting my back and pleading to be let down.

I ignore her as I walk to the backyard while tapping a few buttons on my phone. I slide the back door open and Isabelle runs after me with a laugh as I watch the pool cover retract back.

“Don’t you fuckingdare, Jackson Jones,” Lisette warns.

“What did I say about saying bad words?” I taunt, a smile creeping onto my face and she doesn’t get to respond as I toss her into the pool.

Isabelle is hysterical beside me and I can’t help but laugh with her as we watch Lisette in the deep end. Her arms flaunt frantically, but when she coughs, my laugh quickly sobers.

“Can you swim?” I kick my shoe off in a panic and when she screams for help, my other shoe is still on as I jump in for her. I quickly wrap an arm around her, but in a panic, she shoves me under the water.

When my head breaches the surface I hear herlaughing.

“You fucking asshole.” I throw water at her and she laughs up a damn storm.

“That’s not funny, Lisette,” I say more seriously and she simply rolls her eyes at me.

“Icould’vedrowned. You didn’t know I could swim. Now you know not to throw people into pools for fun.”

With a hand on her shoulder, I shove her under the water again. A splash comes from beside me and I quickly turn to get Isabelle. Her head breaches with Lisette and they both laugh.

“Daddy, I don’t need your help.” Isabelle tries to push me off, but I keep a hand on her as I tread water.

“It’s twelve feet, Belle. Let me help y—”

“I know how to swim.”

My hand slips as she pushes me off and takes off swimming a few feet ahead of us. I stay close to her and when I turn to check on Lisette, a smile is on her face as she watches us.

“Such a helicopter parent,” she teases.

“Call it what you want, but I’d rather she not drown.” I swim a bit further from Lis to catch up with Belle.

“Oh, but to hell with me?”

“Apparently not since I’m in here with you,” I shoot back.

Isabelle clearly gets tired as she swims back to me to cling to my arm.

“Quick break.” She takes a few breaths before diving under the water.

“Okay, no.” I pull her up before she can swim off. “Everybody out. We don’t even have bathing suits on. Come on.” I swim in front of Belle and she climbs on my back before I quickly make my way to the stairs.

I help her out before stepping out of the pool in a soaking suit. I shake my head like a dog in Belle’s direction and she giggles while doing the same.

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