Page 88 of Prove Me Wrong
I’m seeing so much crimson right now that I might spill some in a moment. My chest is heaving so much that I might just have a heart attack right here, in my upside-down kitchen. “Go.” My timbre is so murderously low that I see her flinch this time.
Her lips tighten, body stiffening as she mumbles out, “Be reasonable, Noah. This is the perfect opportunity for the both of you. We will pay for her schooling and help you out. And you will go back to racing. Think about it.”
My mouth goes to clap back when I watch her pull a glass out from the top cabinet. The same one that I helped Mia get hers from, gaining me another one of her heart-melting kisses. I feel my throat burning as I swipe a mug off the island bench and smash it against the wall, not caring if it chips the plaster. I can’t control it anymore.
Mum’s eyes flare. Jade’s fingernails dig into my flesh as she cries against my shoulder. My blood is whooshing inside of me like it’s electrified with rage. I need them out of here.
“Get out of my house!”
“Noah.”
“I said, get out!” I growl.
Mum’s chest is moving quickly now as she looks at Jade who is bawling in my arms. “I was right. You should never have kept her. She doesn’t even trust you.”
“Get out!”
“That’s no way to talk to your mum.” I hear Dad’s voice carry from the doorway. Rolling into the room, I see animosity rippling in his older features.
“And I told you to leave me to live my life,” I clap back at him.
“We are trying to help you,” he adds defensively.
My teeth grind. “All you’re doing is reminding me of why I cut you out. You can’t control me like this. I hate it. I’ve always hated it. Just leave before I do something worse than break a cup!”
His face tightens before he lets out a pent-up breath and turns to Mum, who is glaring in my direction. “Judith. Let’s go.” His tone is curt and short.
Snarling, Mum drops the glass, shattering against the floor. Stalking through the mess towards me, eyes glacial, mouth pursed, she stops a foot away from me. She’s short but mighty for her size, but I stand my ground.
“You will regret this, Noah,” she seethes like the snake she’s become.
My jaw ticks violently as I shake my head. “No, I won’t. I don’t want you in my life anymore. Not since I had Jade, the granddaughter you haven’t even thought about until it meant I could make you happier by having me race. I don’t want that life, Mum. Can you not see that this is what I want? To be a dad. To live in this house. To look after my daughter.”
“But we can help you with that, and it’ll improve your career. You could move into a better house. Find a respectable girl. Not have to rely on a daycare?—”
“No, Mum.” My head shakes again as I stare daggers at her. “That’s what you want, but not me. I want you gone and never to contact me again. Now go before I call the police for having you intrude on my property, that I bought on my own with money from the mechanics I work for.”
Her wrinkled face scrunches before taking her bag from the disorganised bench. Grabbing the back of Dad’s wheelchair, she turns him around, silently heading towards the front door. My head turns, handholding the back of Jade’s head. I kiss her forehead, trying to soothe her as she bawls into my neck. I hate frightening her, but I hated seeing my parents here even more.
I hear the squeak of Dad’s wheelchair moving before the door bangs open and shut. Letting out a breath, I get Jade to stop crying, hugging her tightly and telling her that she’ll be all right, before moving to the window in the living room.
Peering out, I watch Mum help Dad into the passenger seat of their car, before closing the door. Her eyes lift to mine. There’s a silent plea in them for me to change my mind. To let them back into my life to puppet it like they’ve always wanted, but I shake my head.
I watch them drive away, out of sight. I kiss Jade’s temple before taking my keys, locking my house, and rushing over to June’s. Mia’s car is still in the driveway, but the boot is up. The hairs raise on the back of my neck when I see her coming down the stairs. Silver eyes brimmed with tears glimpse mine before she looks away, rushing to her car.
“Grey—”
“Don’t,” she grits out, an iciness covering her that I haven’t heard since I first met her. The walls have been replaced and are thicker this time. Reinforced to keep herself protected. “I don’t want to talk to you.”
My pulse skitters as I move in front of her, blocking her path to the car. She tries side-stepping before giving up, avoiding my gaze. “Mia, just listen to me for a minute.” My voice sounds as desperate as I feel inside. I can’t lose her.
“There’s nothing else you need to say, Noah.” Her tone is sharp. I hate it, the feeling like knives slashing at my skin. “I know what you hadplanned.”
“Mia.”
I reach out, touching her arm. She flinches, cutting me right to my core. Mum must have said something to her. Hurting her so deeply that now she can’t even stand to look at me. Chest heaving, I try to control my breathing as Jade reaches out for her.
Mia’s chin rises, flicking my daughter a sad smile that trembles before shaking her head. “I need to go.”
