Page 197 of Losing Faith

I stifle a laugh as I close the distance between us and almost immediately her hug eases the pain in my head. I take a deep breath with my nose in her hair before scrunching my face. “Yuck.”

She stifles a laugh and I kiss her before setting her down.

“Someone is in desperate need of a shower.” I ruffle her hair and she smells the ends of it before smelling her underarms.

“It must be you, Dad.”

I open my mouth, but nothing comes out and Lisette lets out a quiet laugh from behind us.

“I just showered. It’s you, little piggy.” I squeeze her cheek before guiding her big head out of the living room so I can talk to Lisette. “Go get ready for a bath, I’ll be up in a minute then we can have breakfast.”

“I can shower myself.” She seems to be reminding me.

“I’m aware of that, but—”

“So you’re aware that I’ll do it by myself like a big girl.” She sends me a pointed look and I am truly not ready for her to be a teenager because she has enough sass to last two damn lifetimes.

“Please go pick out your outfit and I’ll be up to help you shower.”

“I don’t need help.” She walks off, but I call out to her.

“I want to make sure you’re okay. Pick out your outfit and wait for me before you get in the shower, okay?”

She remains quiet and I know she’s plotting to fill the bath to the brim with water and enough bubbles for three showers.

“Faith.Carter.”

“Okay, Daddy,” she drags out and I can just imagine her eye roll.

“Watch the attitude, little ma’am.”

I can hear her sigh and I take a step after her, but stop short at the sound of Lisette’s laugh. Letting out a breath I walk back into the living room to find Lisette smiling at me.

“You two are so entertaining to watch.”

“Don’t encourage her. She turned five and is just plain fuckingrudesometimes. I have no idea where she gets it from.” I roll my eyes at her and Lisette only laughs harder.

“You look just like her when you do that.”

“She looks like me.” I bite back a smile when I catch myself rolling my eyes again. Pushing aside my incredibly sassy child, I step in front of Lisette.

“Come on.” I hold my hand out to her and she takes it as I pull her up.

“Where are we going?” She smiles up at me and she looks so damn precious, but I remain strong.

“You’re going to get rid of the alcohol and pills then hang out upstairs until your high wears off.”

She takes a step back, but I speak up before she can.

“The deal was you see Isabelle while you’re sober,” I remind her slowly. “You’re not sober so you can stay upstairs. You don’t get to go get high and do what you want. Our agreement remains.”

She lets out a scoff as she looks off to the side. “So I need to sit in timeout upstairs?”

“It’s hardly timeout,” I point out. “There’s an arcade up there along with a movie room. You can also go downstairs to the gym if you’d like or out by the pool. The house is big enough for all of us. Go where you’d like, but you don’t get to go near Isabelle.”

“Whatever.” She tries to walk off, but I step in her way.

“No, it’s notwhatever.” I lean over to catch her eyes with mine. “You lied to me and I have yet to hear you take accountability for that. I refuse to enable you and I have every right to be upset, which I am,” I point out.

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