16. Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Fifteen
Lisette
I ’m walking to Jackson’s car when I see Isabelle looking out her window. When her eyes meet mine, her entire face lights up as she starts wiggling in her seat.
“Lissy!”
I let out a laugh as I reach into the car to give her a high five. “What’s up, kiddo?” I squeeze her fat cheeks and she giggles in her seat.
“Dad said we were coming to pick up a surprise person, but I’m so glad it’s you.”
I glance over at Jackson, but he’s not paying us an ounce of attention as he aggressively types into his phone.
When I look back over at Isabelle, she holds up a bouquet of blue crocheted flowers and a smile touches my lips.
“Daddy said you were feeling sad again.”
I take the bouquet from her, and she reaches over to grab something else. She holds out a box to me now, and I take it from her. When I open it, I realize it’s fried Oreos.
“Did you make these?”
“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 depression contagious ?”
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’s kidding . 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 his brother .” She shakes her head in disbelief before looking up at us and her brows pull together. “Did you say something?”
“Daddy said he loves you.” I fill her in and she smiles before looking back at her screen.
“I love you both, too.”
I look back over at Jackson and his cheeks have a light blush to them.
“What?” I ask when I notice him gripping the steering wheel.
“You need to stop calling me that.” He keeps his voice low, and I feel my confusion grow before it hits me and I bite back a smile. “I’m being serious.”
I hold back my laugh as I look forward. “Whatever you say, Da—”
“Lisette,” he warns, and my laugh escapes me. “I will gladly leave you in the car while we go apple picking.”
I turn to him, and he glances between me and the road, his expression completely serious.
“Not the kind of punishment I was hoping to receive from you, Daddy.” I slowly run my hand down his arm before breaking into a laugh. “Okay, that one was a bit much,” I admit, but when I focus on him, his jaw ticks before he shifts in his seat.
I glance down between his legs when he shifts again, and it’s my turn to blush when I see him getting hard. I face forward and decide, for once, that I need to shut my mouth.