Page 55 of Prove Me Wrong
Jason chuckles, pushing Nathan towards his car.
Caleb goes to follow him, but I stop him. “You heard, didn’t you?”
His blue eyes burn into mine. “Don’t know what you’re talking about, Daddy Noah.” I roll mine as he snickers. “Yeah, we heard. Thought Nathan could use the win.”
“So youdohave a nice bone in your body…”
He snorts a laugh. “Yeah, one, and the ladies love it.” He winks at me before trailing off to Nathan’s car, leaving me shaking my head.
Grabbing the ball, I walk towards my car when my phone dings with a text. Frowning, I pull it out, hoping it’s not Mia telling me that Jade’s fallen asleep, because I really want to cuddle her after my talk with Nathan.
My legs freeze when I see the name of who sent me the text. Ice chills my blood, draining from my face as I read Mum’s name.
JUDITH: Noah, call me when you can.
I swallow down bitter bile as my pulse shocks me with each beat. It feels like sludge is being pushed through my veins as I stare down at the bright screen.
“Noah!”
Jaw tightening, my breathing becomes shorter and quicker as my mind starts reeling with all the possibilities as to why she wants me to call her when we haven’t spoken in almost two years.
Has she not gotten the hint that I don’t want anything to dowith them?
“Noah!”
I tilt my chin to see my friends waiting for me over by the cars. Jaw ticking, I shove my phone into my pocket and stalk over.
Nathan frowns, knowing that something is up, but I don’t offer any information.
“I’ve got to go,” I mumble, placing the ball into Nathan’s hands. “Call you tomorrow, man.”
Grabbing my keys, I move to the driver’s side when Nathan’s voice rises over the top of the car. “Hey, are you okay?”
I nod, flicking him a quick, fake smile, not wanting him to worry since he has much heavier things to deal with right now. “Yeah, I just have to get home. Didn’t realise the time.” My voice is clipped, but it’s not directed at my friend. It’s at my mum who just randomly decided to contact me again after all this time, and I really don’t want to know why.
“All right. I’ll text you later.”
“See you, man,” I murmur before sliding into my car and slamming the door closed. I don’t want to call her yet, and honestly, I just want to be alone right now, even though Jade is waiting for me at home with Mia and her gran.
Flicking on the ignition, I pull out of the park and take off. Driving has always been my coping mechanism, even when I was karting as a little kid. I feel alive when I drive. My anxiety seeps away when I’m behind the wheel. It’s exhilarating and thrilling and therapeutic.
Passing through the main street, I keep driving away towards Diamond Falls, a secluded, peaceful place that I like to come to when I need some space for myself. I haven’t been here since Jade was born, but I’m struggling to deal with this message. There’s a reason I cut my parents out of my life. Their incessant pressure was becoming too overwhelming, and then, when Jade was born, they made her out to be the biggestburden in my life. I hated them, and I still do. Nobody is going to tell me how to run my life.
Rolling down the windows, I let the wind blow through my hair, making me feel calm and rife. It pushes through my strands as I lean my head on my hand. Blasting rock music, I fly down the one-lane road. It’s dark out, and my car lights definitely aren’t strong enough to pick up animals from a long distance, but I keep speeding anyway. I just need this to take my mind off that text.
Pulling up at the quaint woodland space, I turn off my car and bang my head on the steering wheel, trying to control my anger and racing inner thoughts. Clamping my eyes, I listen to my heavy breathing and the blood rushing to my ears. Biting the inside of my cheek, I lean back, exhaling shakily before picking up my phone and calling her.
I just need to hear her voice right now.
“Noah?” Mia’s quiet voice comes through, and it does something to my insides.Melts them, I think.
Swallowing down the formed lump, I sniff. “Hi, Grey.”
“Are you okay? Do you need me to pick you up?” Worry is evident in her lilt, and it settles my pounding pulse.
“No. I’m in my car already.”
“Oh,” she lets out softly. “Are you on your way home?”
