Page 111 of Losing Faith

“I don’t care how you’d feel,” she counters.

“Stop being like that,” he throws back.

“No.”

I step in again. “Why are you being so difficult?”

“You’re a man. You deserve no peace.” She rolls her eyes before turning to her brother. I can see her anger growing and it’s clear now this is more than her just sleeping over. “You said you trusted me. Making your friend watch me does not feel like that.”

When I see a gloss covering her eyes, I feel my face soften.

“It was anaccident!”Her voice breaks now and I go still.

“Lisette—” he tries to start.

“Whatever.” She blinks her tears away, picking up her phone as she aimlessly scrolls. “I’ll spend the night here until you get back, then I’ll go to your house where you can watch me until Wednesday like we discussed. Have a safe flight.”

I look over at her brother and he lets out a defeated sigh, his shoulder slouching. “Can you come outside so we can talk?”

“Have a safe flight, Sire.” She turns on her heels, walking to the back of the house.

The room feels thick and when Isabelle walks in, she raises her brows. I have to bite back a laugh and shake my head, silently telling her to stop.

Her brows rise again before she shrugs. “I’ll go check on her,” she says as she pivots.

Sire lets out a defeated sigh as he runs a hand down his face. “She doesn’t get it.” He shakes his head at himself.

“Get what?”

“Everything.” His eyes meet mine and he looks torn. “If she found me like that—” he cuts himself off before trying again. “I feel like I can’t breathe when she’s not near. My brain keeps replaying images from how we found her and it’ssuffocating. Having her in my sight is the only thing stopping me from looking for an escape at the bottom of a bottle.”

I go still, knowing this is the first time he’s ever opened up to me about his addiction. I realize now how badly this is really affecting him.

He takes in a deep breath and it’s like he can breathe better with that off of his chest. “Sorry,” he mumbles, running a hand through his hair.

“Don’t apologize,” I reassure him. “I think you two need to talk, but not tonight. Emotions are too high. I’ll keep an eye on her, but if she says she doesn’t need to be watched, then she doesn’t need to be watched.”

“You really believe that?” he nearly whispers.

I study him for a beat before shrugging, honestly not knowing what she needs.

“I’m not going to stand here and act like I understand what either of you are feeling, but I was there, too. While my relationship with her doesn’t hold a candle to yours, I was scared, too, but when she was standing here a second ago with tears in her eyes,beggingyou to believe her, I did. If she says it was an accident, then that’s what it was. I completely understand not trusting her. I don’t think she’s fine either, but you need to approach her in a different way because clearly this isn’t working and you’re only going to push her away.”

It looks like a hundred thoughts run through his head as he lets my words sink in. After a beat, he nods, but he’s clearly still lost in thought.

“Call me if anything.”

I smile at his words. “Nothing is going to happen. I got her.”

He smiles as if half of his worries were shaved off and there goes the guilt again because it was my selfish need to have her near that made me suggest she sleepover,notto put him at ease.

“I appreciate it, man.” He closes the distance to hug me and I feel like the worst friend ever because the only thing on my mind is whether or not Lisette will be in my bed one of the next five nights.

“It’s no problem,” I force out.

Sire lets out a breath before he pulls away. “Let’s go find the brat.” He walks off and I follow behind, biting my tongue so I don’t confess like a damn sinner.

Calm down.

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