Page 73 of Losing Faith

“They’re cool, huh?” She flexes her arm and Jackson mumbles a “Jesus Christ.”

The video ends and I can’t wipe the smile from my face.

“Was that Isa?” Sire asks. “She’s so damn perfect.”

“Right?” I shake my head as I type out a response.

Stop itttt, she is SO cuteee! I’m going to buy her a few crop tops.

Lisette… please. I thought I had ten more years before this stage. Stop.

I quietly break into another laugh, the weight in my chest slowly easing.

“What areyousmiling at? What else did he send?” He tries to snatch my phone but I’m quicker than he is.

Holding it to my chest, I bite back a smile. “Your friend is sending me nudes.”

He rolls his eyes before he leans on his elbow. “If he likes his dick, he better not be,” he grumbles.

As I watch him, I slowly realize he’s serious about Jackson needing to stay away from me.

“What if he and I were a thing?” I voice out of curiosity.

He lets out a scoff. “What if he and I fought for even thinking about it?”

I keep my smile in place, not giving him a reason to believe I’m being serious. I know this is just him being an older brother, but I keep my lips sealed before I can tell him just how badly I want his best friend.

Sire looks between my eyes carefully and I think he can see all of my thoughts until he looks away. “He’s a good guy, great even, but we’re best friends. It’s code; you don’t do your friend’s sister. It’s fucked up.”

I nod in return. Laying on my stomach next to him, I rest my head on my arm as I look over at him. I keep my eyes on him for a beat, mindlessly watching him as he watches the sky.

“I never tell you how much you mean to me, but you really are the most important person in my life,” I whisper, reminding myself to tell him more often.

A small smile touches his lips as he gazes down at me. “Come here.” He opens his arm to me and I let him hold me. “Everyday you wake up and fight is another day I’m proud of you. Even on the days you rot in bed, I’m still proud.”

My nose starts to burn as all of the feelings come to the surface, but I keep the tears at bay as I bury my face in his chest.

“You matter, Lis,” he whispers against my hair. “Somuch.”

I nod in return, not trusting my voice.

After a beat he says, “Movie at my place tonight?”

I almost tell him I’m too tired for a movie and I’ll fall asleep on his couch; then I realize he knows that. “Yeah…” is all I say, appreciating the subtle approach he takes to keep an eye on me. I would’ve denied, but his company is more comforting than the feelings that’ll come when I’m home alone.

I don’t know how long I stay in his arms, but after a while, I feel a drop of water land on my head. I look up at Sire, but his eyes are on the sky. In an instant, it begins to pour down on us.

I break into a laugh as he shakes his head disappointedly.

“Come on.” He tries to stand, but I pull him back down.

“No, let’s wait.” I watch the sky as my hoodie gets heavy with the rain. A smile touches my lips as I feel it soak into my shirt. “You know, I read somewhere that rain in the desert is a sign of blessings that’ll come after hardship.”

I glance over at him and he gives me a bored look.

“We’re not in the fucking desert.” He pushes his wet hair off of his forehead.

I break into a laugh as he stands to his feet.

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