Page 188 of Losing Faith

I feel my brows furrow as I pull away from Isabelle, but Jackson ignores him as he looks at his daughter. “Isabelle just canceled her sleepover with you.”

“No, I didn’t,” she counters, reaching for the phone, but Jackson keeps her back.

“How come?” Sire asks on the other end.

“I didn’t cancel Uncle Sigh.”

Jackson puts a hand up and she crosses her arms on my lap as he talks to my brother. “She keeps cursing so there won’t be any sleepovers.”

Sire is quiet and I watch as Jackson gives his best scold to Isabelle.

“Did she call you a little bitch?” Sire asks and I can hear the smile in his voice.

“Yes,” Jackson bites out and I need to hide my smile from him as I imagine the kick Sire is getting out of this.

“Well, she’s sorry so—”

“She’s not sorry,” Jackson counters.

“I am,” Belle says, and I step in when I realize she’s about to cry.

“She’s sorry. Stop it, JJ.”

“Don’t start crying now.” Jackson keeps his eyes on her and my heart crushes as I pull her into my arms. “Put her down.”

“No.” I glare over at him. “She’s sorry and she’s having her sleepover. Stop it.” I hold her tighter and before Jackson can voice a complaint, Sire speaks up again.

“Is that my sister? I told you to call me if you heard from her. Are you two home?”

It sounds like he’s moving around on the other end. I shake my head before Jackson can answer. He opens his mouth but nothing comes out as he decides whether or not he’s going to lie for me.

“Hello?” Sire voices when no one says anything.

I snatch the phone from Jackson before moving Isabelle so I can stand.

“I’m fine.”

The rustling on the other end stops and Sire is quiet before he responds. “You scared the shit out of me, Lis. Turn your location back on.”

“I don’t see why you need it.” I walk further into the house as I listen closely and I catch the sigh he lets out.

“You’re angry,” he states more than asks.

I let out a scoff at his words. “Let me tell you you’re just like your mother and see how much joy you’ll be filled with.”

“I only said that because—”

“Because you wanted to hurt me,” I finish for him.

“Because you needed to hear it,” he counters. “You want to get high right now, don’t you? You’re probably pushing Jackson away. Picking fights and barely tolerating Isabelle. They don’t deserve that and you’re going to hate yourself for hurting them when you’re sober. Come stay with me.”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about.” I shake my head at his words. “I’m not taking it out on Belle and I’m nottoleratingher.”

“Not yet you’re not.”

He’s right.

The doubt yells at me and I hang up on him.

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