Page 22 of Prove Me Wrong
He sighs. “Come on, I’ll show you everything you need to know before I have to leave.”
His eyes linger on mine, and I catch the smallest smirk before Noah moves towards the kitchen cupboards and starts opening them.
Noah starts pointing out where he keeps the items I'll need. Where Jade's medicine is kept above the fridge, where to find everything I’ll need to clean, and what to feed her for her lunch and snack. He shows me where to change her, and where to put her dirty clothes in the laundry, which has a pile of clothes on the bench. I make a mental note to fold it for him. And finally, what are her favourite toys to play with.
His house is tidier than I imagined for a single dad. The walls are painted plain white, light timber flooring brightens up the entire place with pale blinds, silver accents and the occasional splash of colour. Contemporary furniture in monochromatic shades adds to its newly built feel, along with the flat screen TV and small stone fireplace in the living room. It’s completely different from my gran’s place. Although her house is outdated and in need of some maintenance, Noah's house is fresher and something straight out of a home renovation magazine.
“This is where Jade plays if you need to leave the room to make her food or something.” Noah points out the smaller enclosed area filled with stuffed toys and drawing things. “It’s so that she can’t escape and cause mischief.” Noah wriggles his fingers on Jade’s side, causing her to giggle.
I smile without realising, and Noah’s eyes watch me before pulling away and clearing his throat. “I’ll show you her bedroom where she’ll nap at one for an hour and no longer, otherwise she’ll turn into a gremlin at night.”
“Better have her fed before midnight, then,” I quip softly.
Noah’s grin reappears over his shoulder that shakes with amusement.
Trailing up the wooden stairs, we pass a closed door which I assume is Noah’s bedroom, before coming to the one painted a pale green shade. Animal stickers decorate the walls, along with race cars. I can't help butgrin. The small bed with rails has been pushed into a corner, matching the set of drawers and chest overflowing with even more toys.
“Her clothes are kept here for when she needs new ones.” Noah points to the drawers. “Tops, bottoms, jumpers, dresses, then underwear and socks.”
I try to listen, but my eyes are caught on the framed photo of Noah with a blonde-haired girl sitting atop the wooden drawers. I can’t feel my chest moving as I stare at their wide smiles, happiness ribboning their younger features as they stand together. Noah’s hand is resting on her round stomach, the girl’s head tilted on his shoulder. I don’t know why, but my throat constricts a little as I gaze at their expectant faces.
Noah goes quiet. His body stiffens when he realises what’s grabbed my attention. “That’s Jade’s mum, Emerald.” His voice is hoarser than before. I notice the sharpness of his gritted jawline. “I thought to keep it here so that Jade can remember her. Out of respect.”
Looking sideways at him, there’s a darkness coating Noah’s fair features. It’s one that I’m very familiar with. The shadows that haunt your life from previous memories that you can’t seem to shake off. The monster that’s trying to steal your light, reminding you that you’re a little broken inside. Some more than others. I feel it every time I think of Ryan and my time at university. It’s not something that I can control. And it looks to be something that Noah is silently struggling with as well.
My mouth tightens as I look back to the framed photo. “She’s really beautiful,” I say quietly, ignoring the way my hands are clammy and balled into fists. Noah inhales sharply, rubbing at his stubble. “Yeah, she was.”
My eyes close.
Was.
Dozens of questions flood my mind, wanting to know what happened to her, but from Noah’s response, I can tell he’s just as afraid of sharing his memories as I am.
Biting the inside of my cheek, I tear my eyes off the girl and move to the child-sized racing helmet sitting beside it. Plucking it off the dresser, I hear Noah huff out a gentle laugh. He steps closer to my side. “I got this for Jade at the start of the season last year.”
The helmet is orange, grey and white, and covered in sponsor stickers, his team Reign Racing’s logo, and the number thirty-four. My lips twitch. “You’re number thirty-four?”
“Yeah. When they need me to race, that’s the number I use.”
I look up into his eyes, blushing. “I don’t really know much about Supercars,” I admit.
Noah’s smile broadens as he takes the helmet from my hands. “Really? Not even with your grandad being my biggest fan?” A twinge of sarcasm coats his words.
My insides heat as I gaze up into his blazing irises. “Sports has always been Sinnett’s thing.”
Eyes lingering on me, my fingers tingle when Noah asks, “And what’s your thing, Grey?”
My throat tightens at his name for me. Licking my bottom lip, my cheeks burn as I answer quietly, “Piano.” It feels like I'm admitting a secret no one is supposed to know.
Noah’s green eyes narrow onto mine, a smirk curling the corner of his mouth. “I get the feeling like you’re really talented, but you downplay your skills to be very average. Would I be right?”
My mouth opens, causing Noah to chuckle. Tongue poking the side of my cheek, I can’t fight a grin from consuming my face. “Fine. I might be slightly better than average,” I disclose, causing him to laugh harder.
“I knew it. But piano sounds like it’s hard to learn, especially if you have fat fingers like I do.”
“You definitely don’t have fat fingers,” I say with a shake of my head.
His smile broadens to show off his dimples that make my pulse jump. “You’ve checked out my hands, Grey?” Eyes flaring, my blood simmers as Noah simply chuckles. “I’m kidding. I just think I am better suited to cars than musical instruments. But I would love to hear you play sometime if you’ll let me listen.”
