Page 116 of Losing Faith

You always get an amazing week before it all comes crashing down. It’s like clockwork. Inevitable.

Images of Jackson’s arms around me holding his kid push my dark thoughts away. He looked so happy holding us.Ifelt so happy letting him hold us, but there the thoughts went again, snatching away the hope he gave me.

My head keeps telling me this will never work but every smile he puts on my face makes me think otherwise. Like maybe he’s right.

He’s not. You’ll tarnish them.

As I make it to the last step, my eyes land on his parents as Isabelle opens the door for them. My eyes land on the rings on both of their hands and I’m only reminded how different our lives are.

His parents are still married.

Me and my bio sisters have different sperm donors.

His parents arepresent.

Mine were absent addicts whom I haven’t spoken to since I was a teenager.

They seem happy.

I wanted to die at the ripe age of ten, just a few years before I started using drugs to cope.

“And who is this lovely peach?” Jackson’s mom’s eyes light up as she looks over at me.

I force a smile and suddenly grow uncomfortable with both of his parents watching me, eyes wide in surprise and suspicion.

“This is Lissy.” Isabelle beams. “I’m going to negotiate with Daddy that they get married.”

Her grandma’s face mirrors my shock. She hasn’t brought that up since she caught us kiss, but hearing her words still shakes me to the core.

Jackson’s mom looks behind me, and when I hear a set of footsteps, I know it’s her son she’s watching.

“What is this I’m hearing about getting married?” She raises her brows at Jackson. She looks over at me now, but she’s still struggling to shake the shock from her face. When her eyes scan down to the scars on my leg, her eyes widen before she looks up at me again.

NowI really don’t want to be here.

Jackson steps beside me, and since I’m still stuck in place at the end of his steps, he lightly pushes the small of my back, forcing me to walk with him. “Princess, we’re not negotiating that. Lissy is very smelly and I don’t like weddings,” Jackson teases lightly and his daughter laughs at his jab at me.

“But weddings are so pretty.” She begins to rant about one of the Disney princesses’ wedding as her dad introduces me to his parents.

“This is Lisette,” he says as he leans over to kiss his mom’s cheek while whispering in her ear. “Ignore your granddaughter.”

He forces a smile as he pulls away. “Lisette has been tutoring Belle and her plans fell through. She’s joining us for dinner.”

“And why does your kid think you’re marrying her?” Jackson’s mom says with something in her eyes I can’t quite decipher.

“Stop it,” Jackson mumbles. “She’s afriend. The friend I told you was joining us.”

She raises her brows like she’s unamused. Jackson hugs his dad next as his mom turns to me.

“Well, I’m Ivy. It’s nice to meet you, Lisette.” She leans in, and I wasn’t expecting a hug but find myself reciprocating it anyway.

“Hello,” Jackson’s dad starts, wrapping an arm around his wife while extending his hand to me. “I’m Jones. It’s nice meeting you, Lissy.”

I shake his hand before turning to Jackson, but he beats me to it. “Yes, I was named after him. My mom’s dad is Jackson. It’s really corny if you ask me, but just smile.” He forces a smile before his mom playfully shoves him away.

“We gave your name a lot of thought.”

“Did you though?” He teases her. “You just took it from the two important men in your life.”

---