Page 21 of Losing Faith

He smirks down at me. “Fair enough.”

I nod in return. “Find another tutor and find another way to say thank you.”

His smirk grows into a smile. “I’ll get you another bouquet as my bribe and find another way to say thank you,” he counters.

His eyes search mine and slowly, his smile fades. “Your brother wouldn’t tell me what upset you, but I hope the flowers make you feel better.”

I nod in return as I take a deep breath of the bouquet. I plaster a smile on my face as I let out a relieved breath. “Ahhh, I can already feel the sadness seeping out of me. These are great.”

He laughs softly before turning more serious. “I don’t like burning bridges with people my daughter likes, so I’m sorry I kept pressing you about it earlier and upsetting you.”

I shake my head at him. “I’msorry for being a bitch.”

He quickly counters. “It was none of my business, I should’ve left you alone.”

“Yeah, but you care and I appreciate that. My brothers have good friends.”

A smile touches his lips.

“I told Belle you’ll get her ice cream if she passed her spelling test. Don’t make me look like a liar.” I point at him.

“We wouldn’t want that.” Before turning away he adds, “Thanks again,notDemeter Lissy.”

A laugh escapes me, and I close the door on him. I rest the bouquet on my table and shake my head at the sight of the irises before grabbing my phone.

The first ring barely goes through before Sire answers the FaceTime and I can’t help but smile. “Sitting around and waiting for me to call, huh?”

He rolls his eyes at me, but I can see the smile he’s biting back. “Talk to me.”

I flop onto my couch as I give in. “Harmony and I have been hanging out.”

His brows furrow. “Harmony as in—”

“As in my baby sister.”

He nods slowly as his gears start turning and I catch him up on the last few months of my life I’ve been keeping from him. He looks shocked by the end of it and I know it’s because I usually tell him everything. When I add what happened today with Ana, I can see his annoyance growing.

“I still hate them.” He rolls his eyes and I hold back a smile.

It truly makes me feel good knowing I’m not the only one who still holds resentment towards them, but it makes me feel even better because he gets it. His bio mom is worse than mine, so he understands every loathing ounce within.

“I know Harmony was a baby when we moved in with the twins but if bonding with her is causing this much commotion, just leave.”

I shake my head at him, knowing he would say that. “She’s a kid, Sire. When we moved in with the Hales, I didn’t know any better. Now I do andshe’sthe one who wants to be in my life. Ana is a bitter bitch, and her mom is still using. I can’t shut her out.”

He gives me a knowing look. “If it’s costing you your mental health and sobriety, yes you can.”

“Harmony is not the problem,” I counter. “I know what I’m doing. Plus, I like her. She’s like a mini-me.”

He rolls his eyes now. “So she’s an annoying brat? Love her already.”

I stifle a laugh at him. “It’s weird because she’s the youngest and I know I’m technically the oldest to them, but withourfamily, I’m the youngest so she really is just like me. She looks like me too, it’s weird.”

A smile grows on his face as he watches me. “You like her,” he voices as if he’s just realizing.

“She’s cool, I guess.” I brush him off but the truth is, I can totally see myself being an older sister to Harmony.

At the sound of princess music and Isabelle singing along, I change the topic. “You told Jackson not to flirt with me?”

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