Page 145 of Losing Faith

He doesn’t say anything as I walk into the kitchen. I lean against the counter as I watch him.

“What is she doing with her art?” I ask. While I want to hear it from Lisette because she seemed really excited, I’m simply trying to make conversation.

“She got the idea to sell them, and like every idea, she’s going full send with it,” he mumbles.

I glance into the living room, and with all the pretty packaging from pink bubble paper and thank you stickers she got, she definitely went full send.

I almost choose to leave him alone at his tone, but he speaks up again. “She’s having a really high high day.”

“High high day?” I push off from the counter, but he shakes his head like I shouldn’t be concerned.

“She’s sober,” he reassures me. “That’s just what we call it for, well, you know how she gets…” he trails off before pulling in a breath. “This one is just more manic.”

I feel my brows furrow before I take a second to think of his words, looking back at her other good and bad days. “She’s bipolar?” I voice as the thought enters my head.

His head snaps over to me. “Keep your voice down.”

I glance over my shoulder for what he’s looking at, but we’re alone.

He lets out a sigh as he looks back at the dishes. “She has bipolar depressive disorder, but don’t bring it up anddon’tmention the words bipolar or mania around her,” he warns. “It’s genetic and she hates that she got it from her. It’s a huge trigger, so please don’t tell her I told you. I thought you knew.”

I nod in understanding, assuming he meansheras in her mom.

“She has really low lows and really high highs,” he explains. “I’ve been waiting for this one to hit after she relapsed. It’s why I stayed up with her all night, keeping an eye on her and stuff. Waiting for her to plummet.”

“What does she need?”

Sire glances over at me and simply watches me. “When did you start making a move on her?”

I falter at the sudden change in topic, but I guess he actually thinks I was moving in on her when she was vulnerable. “A few weeks before we went to the park with Athena. I was going to tell you that day.”

He nods, clearly remembering.

“Is this the part where you apologize for thinking that low of me? As if we haven’t been best friends forsevenyears?” I accuse, but he ignores me.

Instead he turns back to the last few dishes. “She just needs us close. She’s extra impulsive and oblivious, and that mix can be dangerous. She just thinks she’s having a good day and she is… only she thinks she’s unstoppable. After we got breakfast yesterday, she was super happy with her ideas about moving and selling her stuff, talking about how it’s the best day ever. It carried on all night into today. Nothing can knock her down, but the lack of sleep isn’t good for her. I’ve been trying to bring her down to Earth, but she just thinks I’m kidding, so when she tells you about her plans, remind her to be realistic.”

“I’m not going to take her joy away.”

“I’m not asking you to. I just—” He lets out a breath. “Forget it.”

“No. What is it?”

He sets down the plates in his hand before turning to me. “Bringing her down to Earth will help when she feels down in a few days. It won’t feel like everything good is suddenly gone because it was never there. She’s just seeing everything through rose-tinted glasses right now.”

I simply nod in response because I don’t want to agree. He said she needs us to stay close and keep an eye on her, so I’ll do that, but if she’s having a good day, we should let her.

Sire puts the plate into the cabinet and he really does look exhausted.

“You should get some sleep.”

He doesn’t respond and I don’t add anything else.

A few minutes later, Lisette walks into the living room with a bright smile on her face, and Sire’s words about her having ahigh highring in my head.

“This dress is expensive as shit.” She runs her hands on the silk. “I love it.”

I stifle a laugh as I close the distance between us to steal a kiss. “You’re beautiful.” I pull off the tag I forgot.

---