Page 92 of Losing Faith

“She is.”

He takes a step back as if my words physically hurt him and I realize that came out wrong. “Fine.”

“Jackson—”

“No, you’ve made yourself abundantly clear. I don’t want to be with someone who doesn’t want my daughter a part of their life.”

“That’snotwhat I meant.” My shoulders sag.

“Well I meant it,” he bites out. “I don’t want you.”

I let out a scoff at his anger. “Really?”

“Really.”

“So why do you keep looking down at my underwear like you can’tfathomthe thought of me sleeping with the man you just threatened?”

Before he can reply, there’s a heavy knock on the door. Jackson covers my lap with the blanket before taking a step away from me as the paramedics walk in with my brother.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Lisette

Ikeepmyeyesonmy iPad, ignoring the way my brother is staring at me from across the hospital room. In the corner of my eyes I can see Vidia tell him something, but with my headphones on, everything around me is perfectly silent.

She reaches for his hand, but he pulls away from her touch. My curiosity gets the better of me and I subtly press the button on my headphones, turning off the noise canceling.

“She’snotokay, Vid.” He shakes his head. “Please stop saying that. I know you’re trying to help, but—” He cuts himself off.

I keep my eyes on my screen as I draw, trying not to let on that I can hear them.

“You haven’t left this room since we got here,” she says gently, and I can make out her figure in the corner of my eye as she crouches in front of Sire. The twins only just left, but he’s against leaving the building.

“It’s been three days, baby,” Vidia continues. “I know you want to be here for her, but you need to be there for yourself. We’ll be back in an hour tops. Please come home.”

He covers his face with his hands, and when the guilt begins to eat at me, I turn my hearing back off.

It isn’t until I finish my drawing that I notice someone shuffling in my peripheral. Looking up, my brother stands by the door talking to Jackson. I let out a defeated breath as I pull my headphones off.

“I’msure,” Jackson reassures my brother of something.

In front of them, Vidia seems to be holding her breath as she watches Sire. After a beat, he nods and her shoulders sag in relief.

“Thank you.” She takes his hand before the three of them turn to me. Vidia smiles brightly as she gives Sire a light push.

He clears his throat. “I’m going to go shower and stuff.” He watches me carefully. “I can bring you back some food. Just text me what you want.”

I shake my head in return. “I’m not hungry.”

Beside him, Vidia’s shoulders slouch as she looks up at her boyfriend and I can see from a mile away as his worries come back.

“Actually, I’ll have fries and a milkshake. It doesn’t matter where you get it from.”

A smile touches Sire’s lips for the first time in days before he walks out with Vidia.

I watch them leave before I drag my eyes to Jackson. In one hand is a bag, and in the other he holds a bouquet. I don’t need to see them to know they’re not real.

“You’re scared of hospitals,” I remind him.

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