59. Chapter Fifty-Eight
Chapter Fifty-Eight
Jackson
I step into my room from the bathroom quietly, but as I turn to my bed, Lisette is already awake, a smile on that pretty face.
“This is a great sight to wake up to.” Her smile grows as she gives me a once-over.
I bite back a laugh as I adjust the towel around my waist. “Did I wake you?”
She shakes her head, her eyes still on my frame.
After I put Isabelle to bed last night, I called Lisette and within the first few minutes of talking to her I knew she wasn’t okay. I invited her over just to have her near and talk, but I’m glad she slept over because I genuinely like waking up next to her, and she looks like she feels better.
A smile touches my lips as I close the distance between us. I lean over and plant a soft kiss on her lips. “Beautiful.”
As always, she rolls her eyes at my affection before snuggling into her pillow again. I quickly steal another kiss before grabbing the clothes I laid out on the bed.
“You can get dressed out here.” She stops me as I’m about to walk off to the closest.
I turn to her and she watches me carefully as I set my clothes back down on the bed. I wait for her to look away or at the very least act like she’s not watching me, but she shamelessly keeps her gaze on my half-naked body.
I reach for my towel and still, she doesn’t look away. “I’m not wearing anything under this.”
She nods slowly. “I was hoping you’d say that.”
I stifle my laugh as I pull my towel off. I watch her carefully as her eyes trail to my lower half. I suddenly feel my body heat as she watches me, but I refuse to show her just how shy she makes me.
Instead, I walk over to the bathroom door to hang up my towel. I can feel Lisette watching my every step as I walk back to the bed and tug my boxer briefs on. At the sound of her soft sigh, I bite back a smile as I steal a glance at her.
She leans on her elbow as her eyes trace my frame. “Can I have another kiss?”
I smile over at her as I apply my deodorant. “You can come get one.”
She clearly bites back a smile and I nonchalantly grab my lotion as she crawls over to me. She kneels on the edge of the bed and a second barely passes before she grabs the hem of my briefs and pulls me to her.
She looks up at me through her lashes like she’s waiting for something. “I’m here.”
“So kiss me.”
Her eyes narrow as she sits up and reaches for me. I don’t lean over and with our height difference and my low bed, she struggles just a bit. I let out a low laugh as she sets her hands on my shoulder to climb me.
“You’re so needy.” Giving in, I lean over and catch her lips with mine. Wrapping my arms around her waist, I lift her from the bed and she quickly wraps her legs around my waist.
My phone starts ringing and Lisette lets out a sigh as she drops her head onto my shoulder. “Please send them to voicemail.”
I stifle a laugh as I reach for my phone. When I see it’s Vidia, my brows pull together because she never calls me.
“Hey,” I say into the phone and Lisette’s brows pull together as she watches me.
Who is that? She mouths, but I shake my head as I wave her off.
“Hey, Jackson.” Vidia hesitates on her end.
I try to set Lisette on the bed, but she shakes her head, tightening her grip around me.
“Is Lis with you?”
I glance over at Lisette. “Yeah, what’s up?”
“Well…” Vidia starts again. “I just didn’t want you to be ambushed, but Sire is on his way. Lisette was drinking yesterday at the photoshoot and I just told Sire… he’s pretty mad.”
I go still and Lisette mindlessly cups my face, running her fingers along my jaw and beard. I scan her face and she doesn’t look hungover. My mind trails back to yesterday and I don’t pick up on any signs that she could’ve been drunk.
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah.” Vidia lets out a quiet sigh. “He should be pulling up soon, but it’s going to get messy so I just wanted to let you know in case Isa was home.”
I nod to myself and Lisette leans forward to kiss me, but I turn my head away. “Thanks for the heads up.”
We end the call on that and I toss my phone aside before looking down at Lisette.
“Who was it?”
I scan her face, watching her reaction carefully. “How was your photoshoot yesterday?”
Her brows slightly pinch before she shrugs. “Fine.” She tries to kiss me again, but I turn away.
“I’m trying to talk to you. Can you stop kissing me?”
A furrow grows between her brows as her eyes narrow on me. “Who was that?”
“How was the photoshoot?”
“ Who called you, Jackson?” Her temper quickly grows and I shake my head at myself for not seeing it.
“When you came from your photoshoot I asked you if you were okay and what did you tell me?”
We both stare at each other, her eyes filling with guilt and anger as I force mine to remain understanding, but I’m so mad at myself. I thought she was only tired yesterday because that’s what she told me and that’s what I excused her slurred words for. Tiredness. That’s the main reason I asked her to sleepover.
“I asked you a question.”
She tries to climb off of me, but I keep her in my arms.
“Let me down.”
“Answer me.”
Her eyes meet mine and I prepare for her harsh words, but she surprises me when I see the tears in her eyes. “I lied.”
I nod in return as she blinks her tears away. “It was just so hard.” Her eyes drop as a pink blush covers her face. “I couldn’t face my siblings, but I needed to be there, or they’d know I wasn’t sober.”
I nod in response before setting her on the bed and we both remain silent as I finish getting dressed.
I’m putting my deodorant and lotion back in their place when she speaks up behind me.
“Are you mad at me?”
I shake my head in response as I reorganize the top of my dresser three more times. When a sense of ease passes through me, I speak up. “I wish you hadn’t lied.”
“But are you mad?”
I turn to her and when I see her picking at her nails, I close the distance between us and cover her hands with mine. “No, sweetheart.”
Her eyes meet mine and she doesn’t look like she believes me for one second.
I lean over and kiss her gently. “I promise, mi reina.” I kiss her more firmly before lifting her into my arms.
She wraps her arms and legs around me before I lead us out of my room.
“We can’t continue like this, Lisette.”
She buries her face in my neck as she holds me closer. “I know. I’m going to get better.”
Rubbing her back gently I kiss her cheek. “You keep saying that, sweetheart, but what are we going to do to make sure you get better?”
She’s quiet the entire way downstairs. When I get an alert on my phone, I know my camera just picked up Sire’s car pulling in. Heading for the door, I quickly open it before he can knock and wake up Isabelle.
“Lis, can you get down for a minute?”
“Why?” She runs my hand in my hair as I drag my eyes up to her brother.
He shakes his head at us before his eyes settle on Lisette. “Just put her in my car.”
I feel Lisette go still before her grip tightens around me.
“Lissy, get down so you can talk to your brother.”
She shakes her head and I pull away to look at her. She looks between my eyes frantically before kissing me. “Let’s go back upstairs.”
“Look at me,” Sire demands and I feel my brows furrow at his tone.
“Okay,” I start when I feel the shift in the air. “I know you’re mad that she was drunk yesterday, but my daughter is sleeping upstairs and this neighborhood is way too quiet for either of you to cause a scene.”
“We’re not going to make a scene because Sire is leaving.” Lis hugs me close again as she rests her chin on my shoulder.
In front of me, my best friend shakes his head at us before walking around me to look at Lisette. “I knew it.”
“Stop it, Sire.” She shifts to hide her face from him.
“What?” I turn to look at him, but he grabs Lisette’s face, forcing her to look at him.
“Tell him or I will.”
She tries to move her face from his grasp, but he keeps a firm grip on her jaw.
“Get off of her.” I move his hand and replace it with my gentle touch as I hold her. “Tell me what?” I look at her and she starts tearing up as she rests her forehead on my shoulder.
“He already knows I'm not sober. We’re working on it, Sire.”
He runs a hand down his face before looking up to the sky and taking in a slow breath.
“Lisette, please get off of him.”
She shakes her head in response before clinging to me like her life depends on it.
Sire takes a step toward me, but I take a step back. “What is going on?”
“She’s high, Jackson. That’s what’s going on. Put her in my car, please .”
I turn back to Lisette, cupping her face in my hands. She gazes up at me, tears in her eyes, but I don’t see it. “Is it true?”
“No.” She shakes her head and beside me, her brother throws his hand up in defeat.
“She’s a liar. You’re seriously going to believe her over me?”
“You’re an addict too,” Lis points out.
“Hey,” I warn, but they both ignore me.
“And which one of us is sober?” Sire counters.
“Get off of your high horse.” Lisette turns back to me, rubbing my jaw gently before kissing me. “Don’t listen to him.”
I scan her face, torn between who to believe.
“This is fucking ridiculous.” Sire lets out a scoff. “She has you so damn pussy whipped, Jackson. I can bet my life on this. I know her and she’s high.”
“No, you don’t,” Lis bites out before hugging me again.
I shake my head at his words. “I was with her all night, Sire. How?” I look back over at Lisette now, searching my brain for something I could have missed.
He shifts his glare to Lisette and she turns her face away from him. “She probably tried to sober up after the photoshoot, fought all day and after she did, she felt good, but then she couldn’t sleep. She climbed out of bed, and said she needed to use the bathroom.”
My heart sinks as I watch the tears build in her eyes as he recites exactly what happened yesterday.
“She got high, but most likely woke up a few hours ago and just needed one more. Then she woke up this morning with the prettiest smile on her face.”
I feel my shoulder slouch. “Get down, Lissy.”
She shakes her head repeatedly as she buries her face in my neck again. “Please,” she pleads.
“Get down so we can talk.” I drop my hands to my side, but with her grip, she remains around me. “Lisette.” I tap her hip and she picks her head up, tear tracks on her cheeks and my heart nearly breaks.
“Okay.”
I nod gently before hugging her again.
“Jesus Christ.” Sire covers his face with his hands before he snaps. “It’s crocodile tears, Jackson. Isa pulls this shit on you every other week and you don’t see it with her either. She’s an addict. She’s lying to you and those aren’t real tears.”
“Shut up, Sire!” The anger in her voice is almost unrecognizable. When she turns to me, her eyes are soft again and her tears are back. It’s like watching two different people.
“I want to stay with you.” She leans forward to kiss me, but I lean away.
“Why?”
“What?” Her brows furrow and as she rubs my facial hair, I move her hand.
“Why do you want to stay with me?” I ask again.
She sniffles quietly as she kisses my hand. “I don’t want to fight. I’m tired of fighting.”
Sire opens his mouth, but I put a hand up as I respond. “He doesn’t want to fight with you.”
She keeps her eyes low and I hold her chin, tilting her head up to me. “I’m happy here with you,” she confesses.
“You’ve been high and drunk here with me,” I correct her.
Her eyes drop and it’s clear her mind runs with a hundred different things. She lets out a sigh before her eyes meet mine. “You’re right.” She nods gently as she cups my face and runs her thumb to smooth out my eyebrow. “I just needed one day of quiet, but I’m done.” She looks between my eyes and I want to believe her. So badly that I nearly do.
“I promise, JJ.” She meets my eyes and I can feel myself slipping. “I don’t have any more pills with me. I took the last one this morning. You can dump the rest of the alcohol I have and I’ll stay here with you. I won’t leave and I’ll get sober. I’ll be better for you. For Belle.”
When I see the tears building in her eyes again, I force my eyes shut and weigh my options.
“I just—” Her voice breaks and there goes my heart, shattering at the pain I can hear. “I just need someone to believe in me.”
“I believe in you,” Sire says from beside us.
When I look back at Lis, Sire reaches for her face, but she moves away from his touch. He shakes his head before he drops his hand.
“Why don’t you want to come with me?” He sounds torn as he keeps his eyes on her.
“I want Jackson.”
“I never said you couldn’t come back. Why are you so opposed to coming with me?”
She doesn’t answer him.
Sire leans over to catch her eyes with his, but she looks away before resting her forehead on me again.
“You and I both know I can get you sober, Lis. You just don’t want to get sober.”
I watch them carefully, but at the sound of Isabelle’s faint call for me, we all turn to the house. Lisette is quick to climb off of me, but as she steps for the door, Sire grabs her arm.
“Give me five minutes,” he pleads.
She tries to pull away, but I step in her way.
“The deal was you see Isabelle sober,” I remind her. “You broke that deal, so give him five minutes or you need to leave.”
Her eyes drop to the ground as she takes a step back to face her brother. Stepping away, I call into the house to tell Belle to give me a minute.
“Winter is worried about you.” Sire keeps his voice hushed as he leans over, trying to get her to look at him, but she refuses. “Bay is scared too. Why won’t you answer their calls?”
“Is this what you want to waste your five minutes on?”
He’s quiet as he watches her. “Call me when you’re ready, Lisette. It doesn’t matter the time or how drunk or high you are. When you go back in there and take out your anger on that little girl then feel like shit for not coming with me when you had the chance, call me.”
“Daddy?”
Lisette turns on her heels and as I open the door, she scoops Isabelle into her arms, rushing off before she can greet Sire.
I let out a tired breath as I turn back to my best friend.
“She’s lying to you,” he states, his voice monotone and tired.
“What?”
“Lisette.” He nods towards the door. “She didn’t take her last pill. She’s still hiding some in your house somewhere.”
I shake my head in return, refusing to believe that show she gave me was just that. A show. “How do you know?”
“Because I was her, Jackson,” he deadpans. “Did she ever tell you about our fight? The one we had a few years ago and didn’t truly resolve until earlier this year?”
“No…”
He nods as he glances over at the house. “I relapsed right before I signed you as my agent. I wasn’t on vacation that summer, I was in rehab and when Lisette tried to help me, I threw her suicide attempt in her face. I said something that was unforgivable because I didn’t want to be saved. That’s what she’s doing now. Pushing me away, being cruel.”
He looks torn as he continues. “She’s not doing that with you because you’re her escape. She knows I can help so she’s pushing me away. She knows she can get away with murder with you so she’s manipulating you. The same way I used to manipulate August. We’re addicts, Jackson, and we can be your worst nightmare.”
“I’m not going to force her out.”
“And by doing so you’re enabling her.”
I open my mouth to defend myself, but he beats me to it.
“I’m going home because she needs to want to get sober. She needs to see she has nothing before she fights for something and as long as you continue to forgive her, she’s going to continue to fuck up and beg for your forgiveness that she knows she already has. She’s going to tell you it was just one drink. Or her last pill. She’s going to yell at you and then pretend to cry. When you threaten to call me, she’s going to confess one small thing. She’ll sit there, high as a kite, and tell you she only had one drink. She’s going to make you think her small confession counts for something so you can think she’s being honest. She’s going to manipulate you and tell you to keep her secrets because she needs someone in her corner. She’s going to ruin your relationship, Jackson.”
He digs into his pocket before handing me a small nasal spray. “I’m really hoping you won’t have to use that and I’m wrong.” With that, he walks away, leaving me stuck in place.