Page 172 of Losing Faith

His eyes snap up to mine, anger written on his face. “Is this fucking funny to you?” He grabs my face again and it’s no use pushing him away. “This is getting out of hand, Lisette.”

“Don’t do this in front of them,” I warned him.

“Youchose to do this in front of them by coming over here like this,” he countered. “Maybe an audience will work. Why didn’t you come to me? Bay called me and I know you were drunk all of last week. What the hell are you doing? Where did you even get the pills from? Jackson warned Ben to stay away. Is he a fucking idiot or are you?”

I don’t answer him, and as I try to look away, he forces me to face him again.

“Answer me, Lisette.”

“Do you think it’s easy?” I snap, pushing his hand away from my face.

“No,” he retorts. “I know exactly how hard it is, and I know how much harder it’s going to be if you choose to get high again tomorrow and the day after that. Look at what you are doing. Hiding away with Jackson instead of sticking to our plan isn’t going to help.”

“You two,” Sage voices gently. “Stop yelling.”

“Don’t blame this on, Jackson.” I rise from the couch and I feel myself stumble, but I hold myself up on the arm of the couch. “This has nothing to do with him.”

“I think it has some part to do with him. You don’t need a relationship right now, Lis, you needhelp.”

“Maybe I don’t want help!”

“Maybe that’s the fucking problem!”

“Well, if I’m such a problem, then maybe you should’ve let me overdose!”

Sire goes still and my chest heaves as my anger boils.

“You don’t mean that. Take it back,” he warns, but I don’t make a move to do so. “Take it fucking back, Lisette.” He charges for me.

Liam steps between us, and it isn’t until he pulls Sire away, that I realize how close we are. “Back up,” Liam warns.

“Stay out of this, Walker.” Sire shoves his hand from his chest and Liam surprisingly remains calm.

“Sageasked me to separate you two, so chill the fuck out,” Liam bites out. “I don’t give a shit if you two kill each other, but my fiancée has tears in her eyes, so both of you stop fightingnow.”

Sire lets out a defeated breath before turning to Sage, but I don’t look at her. Sire tries to move past me, but I step in his way.

“Maybe I—”

“Don’t say something you’re going to regret, Lisette.” Liam tries to cut me off, but I ignore him.

“Look at how you react.” I point to Sire, my heated gaze on him. “Maybe I don’t come to you because this is what you do.”

“Don’t give me that bullshit. I’malwaysso supportive and you know that, but it comes to a point where it’s frustrating, Lisette. I know you know how I feel because you were there for me time and time again. Whenever I fucked up and lied about being sober, you were beingtentimes as irritating as I am right now. You just hate the roles being reversed, but guess what? You’re stuck with me.”

He shoves past me to Sage and I storm out of the room. I’m nearing the door when my vision blurs again, but I use all my strength to stay focused on my exit. My movements feel sluggish, like I’m walking through quicksand, but I keep going the last few feet. I hear footsteps from behind me, and I think it’s Sire, but Liam steps beside me, grabbing my arm when I tilt to the side.

“You can barely walk. Where are you going?”

“Why the hell do you care?” I grab the door, but I can’t get it open. I let out a defeated breath and keep my gaze on the door.

“Sage cares,” he corrects me. “She asked me to not let you leave, so that’s what I’m doing.”

“You let her walk you like a damn dog. Grow a pair and mind your business.” I try to open the door, but with one of his hands on the door above my head, it doesn't budge.

“You’re the only one of her siblings who I genuinely like,” Liam says and I feel my brows furrow as I turn to him. “I don’t know shit about addiction other than how bad it is for you. You have your entire life ahead of you, Lisette, and you probably feel like you have nothing right now, but considering how torn you were moments ago about Jackson and his daughter, I think you have a thing or two to fight for.”

I keep my gaze on his and I’m surprised to see his eyes soften.

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