Page 11 of Prove Me Wrong
Flinching, my gaze snaps down to the little girl holding on to me, but her attention is taken by something else. Her tiny hands are fisted in the loose material of my linen pants, blonde curls pulled up into space buns. She giggles loudly.
Eyes lifting, they meet striking green ones as my new neighbour walks over with a tray of four coffees in his hand. “I’m so sorry.” His husky voice is deep and smooth, sending a shiver down each of my vertebrae like a whisper of wind. Gooseflesh covers my skin as I control my thrumming heart, knowing that him nearing me is heightening my anxiety. I take in his light grey tee that shows off very defined muscles beneath, dark chino shorts, white runners and golden hair looking slightly tousled
My eyes momentarily flicker to his left hand, taking note of the absence of a wedding band before lifting back to him, offering a small, shaky smile.
“I don’t mind.” My voice is soft as I glance back down at the young blonde toddler attached to my leg like a koala. “She’s gorgeous.”
He places the paper cups down on an empty table before crouching. Reaching out, my leg shivers as he picks up the little girl who tries putting her hand in her mouth. He bats it away. Gaze meeting mine once more,I feel the stutter in my thick pulse, jolting me slightly. “I’m Noah. Noah Sterling.”
Holding out a large, calloused hand, I hesitate to shake it, and the pinch in his forehead proves that he noticed my reluctance.
“Mia Baxter,” I return almost inaudibly. My nerves shoot through me like tiny fireworks whooshing around my veins.
The side of his mouth quirks, flashing me a dimple. Noah pulls back his hand and looks to the little girl on his hip. “This is Jade, my daughter.”
Jade’s bright green eyes meet mine and she puts her hand in her mouth again. Letting out a soft giggle, I grin widely, wanting to record the sound and listen to it on repeat. She is adorable, with round eyes like coins, framed in tiny golden lashes and brows. There’s a small splash of freckles dotting her silky skin, and a blush spreads across her flat cheeks.
Out of the corner of my eye, I notice Noah watching me. Anxiety creeps up my throat like hot bile stinging its way up. I haven’t been this close to a man in a long time, and I can’t tell if I’m anxious because I don’t know him, or if I’m nervous because a part of me wants to know more about him.
“How old is she?” I ask before glancing back at him. “Sixteen months.”
Jade pulls away and wraps her arms around Noah’s neck. The door to the café chimes. I glance over my shoulder, watching Sinnett walk in with a clenched jaw. Inky hair falls into his intense eyes; I feel his iciness from here.
Stopping at my side, Noah’s gaze sweeps over my brother. Sinnett is an inch or two taller than Noah, and I don’t doubt it inflates Sin’s already overstated ego. Noah just smiles, eyes shuttering vaguely before a crease deepens on his forehead. “Wait, I know you. You’re Sinnett Baxter, halfback for the North Sydney Wolves.”
Sinnett’s body tenses beside me, like it usually does when people recognise him in public, before his shoulders slacken and he huffs out a laugh. “And you’re Noah Sterling.”
My eyes simply blink at Sinnett as he reaches out, shaking Noah’s hand firmly with a wide grin. “I’m surprised you recognised me. Most people don’t, and I count it as a blessing,” Noah muses. Sinnett snickers, and I look between the two of them, confused about what is going on.
How does Sinnett know who Noah is?
“You should. You don’t know how frustrating it is to have people chasing you down everywhere you go for a photo,” Sinnett adds, running a hand through his dark strands. “You get used to it after a while, though.”
Noah laughs as my lips part. “I’m sorry, but how do you two know each other?” I ask, and they both look at me. Noah’s expression is kind, whereas Sinnett’s sharp face looks very unimpressed.
“Noah is a Supercars driver,” Sinnett offers, and my mouth closes tightly. “Used to watch the races with Grandad when we visited.”
“Yeah, your grandad was one of my biggest fans,” Noah supplies with a dimpled grin. “He never missed a race of mine, always telling me that I was one of the greatest.”
“You did win the championship two years ago,” Sinnett muses.
Noah’s features drop a little, and I notice the darkness deepening his brilliant apple irises—a similar storm that haunts my anxious face, too. There must be something there that he’s holding onto. “I did, but now I only fill in when the team needs me as their secondary driver. I cut down when I had this little one.” Noah grins and kisses Jade on the forehead.
My heart warms a little at his gentleness with his daughter, and I have to smother the feeling like dousing myself with ice-cold water. I don’tknow Noah, and I can’t afford to get close to anyone. I don’t want to get hurt again.
I won’t get hurt again.
“Well, it was great to meet you both,” Noah says before retrieving the tray of coffee from the table. “My friend is leaving town today and she wants to see everyone before she goes, so I'd better take them their morning caffeine.”
“We shouldn’t hold you up,” Sinnett offers, and Noah flicks me a quick smile.
“It was nice meeting you.” Noah’s eyes bore into mine for a few seconds, and my hands tingle with nerves. “I’ll see you around, Mia.”
“You, too,” I whisper.
Noah leaves with Jade on his hip.
When he's out of range, I feel as though I can breathe easier, as if the air has thinned out and dropped a few degrees. Sin’s hand touches my shoulder. “Did you order for us?” he asks, hand dropping to his side.
