Page 66 of Prove Me Wrong
“It’s okay. I wasn’t really expecting her to be.” He exhales before rolling onto his back again. Covers showing off half of his bare abdomenand chest, I have to keep my eyes from moving down the screen. As much as I want to look, it doesn’t feel right when he’s being this open. “You should go back to sleep.”
“You need to as well.”
Noah’s mouth ticks, and I get the feeling that he won’t be for a while still. “I can stay on the line with you if you want?”
Gaze stilling on mine, he smiles, and it’s real and honest. “I’d like that.”
“Okay.” I place my phone against the pillow and switch off the lamp. My screen goes dark as his camera disappears, but I can hear him breathing. I somehow feel so close, yet so far away from him. And I hate it.
“I think you were exactly what I needed when I met you, Grey,” he murmurs into the darkness. “Someone that I have longed for a while.”
I feel my skin heat as my eyes flutter, biting down harshly on my lip. “I think you are too, thirty-four,” I whisper back.
Noah remains silent, apart from his muffled breathing, until I fall back to sleep.
Chapter Twenty-Four
MIA
“Are you ready, little lady?”
Jade is quietly sitting on my lap, sucking on a strawberry, with the half-eaten bowl beside us. She’s staring at the TV that’s blaring as we snuggle into the couch. I have a blanket ready, knowing that it’s going to get colder once the sun starts to move down, and I don’t want Jade to get sick again. Winter sunlight barely illuminates the room, so I have the lamp on to give us some reprieve from the bright screen burning my pupils.
The race will be starting in fifteen minutes, and I feel giddy. Since watching a race with Noah in person, and seeing him drive in Canberra, I am beginning to understand most of the regulations, and I can see why people love this sport now. Even Jade gets excited, but I think it’s more because she can see her dad.
I could tell Friday night when he called that something wasn’t right, and the look on his face confirmed it. After the couple of months that I’ve come to know him, I know when he’s bothered. He has been for the last week, but that call last night felt like he was at his breaking point. He didn’t want to tell me, and I respect that. If anyone knows how scary it is to open up, it’s me.
At least I know that calling me helped him, even if it just meant he didn’t feel so alone. I never want him to feel that way. He’s so generous and understanding, always kind and friendly, he should never feel that way. And, I’m also becoming used to falling asleep with his breathing beside me. I never knew how smoothing it would be, but I haven’t slept that well in days.
I hope he got the sleep he needed too knowing that I was on the phone beside him.
Yesterday we texted when he was back from the track. Placing fifth in qualifying, I told him that he was the best out there, but he just brushed it off. Maybe he’s tired of being away from Jade? I know that would get to me after a while as well. I told him we’d be watching the race today, and Noah asked for me to send him another photo.
I took a quick shot of Jade and I bundled up together, her in a little Reign Racing top, fingers in her mouth, eyes glued to the screen. Then one from behind her, showing Jade’s fascination in the cars preparing for the race. Sending them to him, I also shot him a good luck text.
A knock at the front door makes my heart drop into my stomach.
Sitting still, hoping that they’ll possibly go away, the knocking sounds again. I swallow before getting up to answer it, hoping that it's just Gran checking in on us.
It’s not.
The man with inked arms, dark hair and eyes stares at me with a lazy smile, and my pulse kick starts in my throat. My palms become clammy as I hold onto Jade tightly, controlling my heart rate that’s quickening and thumping like crashing waves. I know he is Noah’s friend from the other night, but it does nothing to stop my creeping anxiety. Dark features always remind me of my past, but this man’s smile isn’t likeRyan’s devious one, it’s kinder and softer as his eyes flick between Jade and me.
“Hey, you must be Mia.” His smoky voice is a surprise. It doesn’t make my spine shiver like Ryan’s did. Mouth twitching sideways, I keep my body from vibrating at his abrupt visit.
“Na!” Jade squeals. His grin widens at her excitement, reaching out to pinch her cheeks and leave a kiss on her forehead. I can smell his cologne, musky and deep—not like Ryan’s that smelt of alcohol and metal.
“Hi, gorgeous girl.” He moves backwards, giving us some more room and time for my racing pulse to settle a bit. “I’m guessing Noah forgot to tell you I was coming over. I’m his best friend, Nathan, even if he tells you otherwise.” A hint of humour seeps into his deep timbre.
One tattooed hand comes out of his jean pocket, holding it out to me.
Biting my lip harshly, I hesitate to shake it, but he doesn’t seem to notice, or at least he doesn’t give anything away by my cautiousness.
“So, can I come in? My sister is hogging our TV tonight with her friend, plus Jade loves watching sports with me. Don’t you, cutie?”
Jade giggles again, and Nathan’s face scrunches with delight.
“Oh. Sure,” I rasp out and step aside, making sure to give myself enough distance.
