Page 198 of Losing Faith

Her eyes dart to mine before they soften. Her shoulders slouch as she takes hold of my hand. “I’m sorry… I just—”

“Uh uh.” I pull my hand away gently. “Don’t apologize after I point it out. Like it’s an afterthought. I don’t deserve that.” I stand up straighter as I step away from her. “Bring the alcohol and pills down then go back upstairs. We can talk tonight.”

She nods in return before her eyes prickle with tears. I look away, knowing I’ll give in if I see her cry.

“I’ll wait here.” I walk over to the couch, my heart physically hurting as I hear her walk off.

I’m pacing the living room as soon as she’s out of sight. Sire’s voice is on a loop in my mind and I force myself to keep that same voice in the front of my mind, preparing myself to catch any signs of her manipulation. As much as I want to believe her, he knows her better than I do and I looked right past her when he noticed she was high within a few seconds.

When I hear her making her way back downstairs, I take my seat again. Turning to the entrance, she walks in with a water bottle and a half-empty bottle of Tito’s.

“This is it.” She turns for the kitchen and I follow after her. Leaning against the counter, I watch her spill it down the drain. At the sight of the pink blush crawling up her neck, I close the distance between us.

Remaining behind her, I set my hands on either side of her before kissing her cheek gently. “You havenothingto be embarrassed about.”

She shakes her head in return before wiping her cheek. “Really?” Her voice breaks. “Because being told togo upstairsby my boyfriend is pretty embarrassing and degrading. Don’t speak to me like I’m a fucking child.”

Moving my arm aside, she storms past me.

“Lissy.”

“I get it, Jackson. I’m high, I lied, and you’re mad. You’ve made that clear.”

“Lisette.”

“What?” She spins on her heels and my eyes drop to the ground.

“The pills.”

She remains quiet and as I drag my eyes back up to her, she shakes her head. “I don’t have any more.”

I watch her carefully as I try to decide if I believe her. “Sire said—”

“Of course, you believe him over me.” Her eyes fill with anger.

“Lis—”

“I don’t need you either.”

I take a step back at her words and I know she doesn’t mean that. I remind myself she’s just high, but the anger in her eyes still hurts.

“You said you’ll be my solace, but it’s clear that was a lie, so I’ll just go.” She storms off and I quickly follow after her.

“Lissy, wait.”

She storms upstairs and I hurry after her.

“Where are you going to go?”

She ignores me.

“Do you want to go to a meeting?” I suggest, but when she rolls her eyes, my shoulders slouch because I don’t know what the right thing to say is here.

She pulls her hoodie on before turning her angry gaze on me. “You said I can’t be near Belle if I’m high. I’m doing as you wish.” She snatches her phone from the bed before getting her bag and heading for the door.

“Don’t flip this on me and do not bring her into this,” I warn, but she storms out of the room. “Please stay so we can talk.”

We reach the top of the stairs when Belle calls out to me.

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