Page 79 of Prove Me Wrong
“She’s great,” I answer, even though it leaves a bittersweet taste on my tongue. Mia is great with Jade, and my daughter loves her, but that’s what scares me. What if she decides that she’s not ready for this, and it not only breaks my heart, but Jade’s as well?
Shaking my head, I clear my thoughts of Grey. I’ve spent all week thinking about her, about what is keeping those walls around her steady and iron clad. I want Mia to tell me that she’s all in, that she’s ready to be with me, but I also don’t want to pressure her. I want her to say the words on her own, but I also don’t know how much longer I can wait since I have Jade to consider.
“Well, that’s nice, isn’t it,” Cori chimes distastefully.
I watch Nathan approach with four drinks balancing in his arms. My eyes slide to hers. “She is nice, Cori.”
Cori smiles flatly before rising onto her heels to murmur into my ear, “When it doesn’t work out, call me.” Her lips graze my cheek before she struts off.
Groaning, Nathan hands me a drink with a lifted brow. “What did she want?”
I let out a loud sigh. “Nothing important. Just being Cori.”
He hums, putting the other drinks down before leaning against the wall beside me, scanning the crowded room. Caleb and Jason walk in, hands in their pockets. Nathan waves them over. Caleb looks like his usual moody self, while Jason smiles at every girl they pass like an excited puppy.
“Hey.” Caleb’s dark brows pump. He stops to take a drink. Jason takes the other and sips on it immediately. “When’s the band meant to start?”
Nathan shrugs. “Not sure. I think the posters said ten.”
Groaning, I pull my phone out of my pocket to check the time. It’s only quarter past nine. Opening my messages, I send June a quick text to check in on Jade. It’s not that I don’t trust her, I just don’t want Jade to be too much for her to handle on her own.
JUNE: Stop worrying and go enjoy yourself. She is asleep on my couch. Just text when you are home, and watch out for Mia for me, please.
My heart drops into my stomach.
Mia is here?
Gaze darting around the busy space, I search for her. She’s become so familiar to me that I’m hoping I can spot her easily, if she’s here yet. Eyes skimming various hair colours and heights, they fall onto her recognisable dark hair, pulled back with a brown bow, standing over by the pool table.
When I see who she’s with, my hands curl at my sides into tight fists.
Scott Benson, a year older than us in school, has always been the scum of this town. With Chris and Liam, I know the three of them are here to cause trouble. That’s all they seem to do, even in high school. Known for going through girls faster than changing their socks, I hate that they’re surrounding her right now. Stormy eyes widened with fear, arms wrapped tightly around herself, I can tell how uncomfortable Mia is with them, and she should be. She’s keeping distance between all of them, not wanting anyone to breach her personal space.
“Noah?” I hear Caleb’s questioning voice, but I ignore it. I don’t dare take my eyes off of them.
I watch carefully as Scott Benson looks at Mia with a devious smirk that I want to punch off his smug face. My jaw grits tightly together when Scott steps towards Mia. His inked-up hand touches her back, gliding down further to stop on her curve, and I see red. My heart is racing as I step away from the boys, towards them. Leaning down, Scott whispers something in her ear, and I know it's not something she’d want to hear.
Charging over, vibrating with anger, I yank his arm off so violently that Scott is thrown off balance, stepping away from her. Turning, I stand between him and Mia, pinning her between my body and the exposed brick wall. Scott shoots dark daggers into my eyes, his jaw gritted.
But he doesn’t realise how furious I am myself.
“Don’t you dare touch her,” I snarl murderously, my eyes burning with rage.
Scott’s buddies flank his side, arms crossed and faces sharp, but I don’t care. I’ll take them all on if it’ll keep Mia safe. She’s my main priority right now, and I won’t let any of them near her.
I feel her body shaking behind me like a leaf as Scott’s gaze narrows, his head tilting to one side. A menacing glower takes over his brutish features, trying to intimidate me, but it’ll never work. It might have been daunting in high school, but now it has no effect on me. He touched her and has to be taught a lesson for once.
“Step aside, Sterling. Go find someone else to hit on,” Scott spits at me. His shoulders lift as he tries to get me to back off, but I know I’m stronger than he is. He might be taller, but I’m not letting up.
I don’t move. I don’t even blink at his dark eyes.
His jaw clamps tighter, gaze sliding to lock onto Mia over my shoulder. My hands fist, knuckles turning white. I feel the thumping in my throat, blood boiling in my veins as I stare him down. “Look at her again and I’ll knock your teeth out, Benson.”
Scott dares a step closer, his nose almost touching mine, eyes remaining fierce. “Or what? You’ll fight me on it?”
I stand my ground as Caleb, Nathan and Jason move into my peripheral. “Leave her alone.”
“Fine,widower,” he grits out, but I don’t let it affect me.
