Page 48 of Losing Faith

“Yup.” She smiles proudly. “We had some leftover and I was going to give it to KC, but Daddy said we should save them for you.”

“That was really nice of him, thank you.” I glance over at Jackson just as he lets out a defeated sigh and turns his phone off. He turns to look at us and he’s clearly annoyed with something, but his eyes soften as he looks at his daughter.

“I wanted to give her the flowers.”

I look back over at Belle and she sticks her tongue out at him. “Too slow.”

I hold back a laugh and Jackson sticks his tongue out at her in return. He looks over at me and nods for the passenger seat. “Come on.”

I climb in and hold the flowers out to Jackson. “You look like you need them more.”

He smiles down at me before putting the car in drive. “I’m fine.”

I nod to myself as I put my seatbelt on and rest the bouquet on my lap. “Considering you told me you were fine when I didn’t ask, makes me think otherwise. Don’t tell me you caught my depression.” I hold my heart in faux fear and Belle speaks up from behind us.

“Is depressioncontagious?”

I glance up at her in the mirror and she holds the front of her shirt over her nose.

I laugh to myself quietly as I decide to mess with her. “Yup, you have approximately five days left.”

Her eyes widen, but before she can freak out, her dad steps in. “She’skidding. I wouldn’t let her near us if she was contagious, penguin.” He looks over at me and shakes his head. “Do you ever know when to stop?”

A soft laugh escapes me as I open the box of fried Oreos. “You have so many chances to mess with her and never do.”

“I know how to pick my battles. We’re trapped in this car with her for an hour, do you want to hear her cry about being contaminated with depression for an hour?”

“Fair enough.” I nod to myself before taking a bite of the Oreo and they taste amazing.

Jackson’s phone goes off again, and he glances down at it before rolling his eyes.

“Let me guess,” I start, wiping the corner of my mouth of Oreos. “Girl problems?”

A smile grows on his face, but he doesn’t answer me as he keeps his eyes on the road, so I go on.

“Is she not taking the hint?”

Jackson shakes his head at me, clearly biting back a laugh.

“I can totally act like a crazy girlfriend and call her if you want.”

“Let’s not.” He shakes his head at me, a short laugh escaping him. When he turns to steal a glance at me, my jaw drops.

“Don’t tell me you were being irresponsible and got her…pregnant,” I whisper my last word. “You’re not ready for a kid, Jackson Jones.”

He bursts with a laugh and I can’t help but laugh beside him.

“I’m afraid you’re five years too late with this speech.” He lets out a long breath before turning more serious. “It’s not girl problems, but at this point, I wish it was. I would gladly deal with an accidental pregnancy than this kid, right now.”

My brows raise at his bluntness. “Wow, what the hell did she do?”

His brows furrow, and when he glances between me and the road, realization crosses his face. “Wait no, I wasn’t talking about Belle. I meant one of my clients, oh my god. That sounded so bad.” He steals a glance at the mirror and I can’t help but laugh at his face, but Isabelle is watching something on her tablet, not hearing a word from us.

“I love you, penguin.” He sounds so sorry and I bite back a laugh.

When Isabelle doesn’t reply, I turn to look at her and her jaw drops as something happens in the movie she’s watching.

“I still can’t believe Scar kills hisbrother.” She shakes her head in disbelief before looking up at us and her brows pull together. “Did you say something?”

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