Page 95 of Prove Me Wrong
“Are you all right?”
He blinks at me for a few silent beats before nodding, running a hand through his inky hair, pushing it away from his face. “Fine. Just dealing with things.”
My heart feels heavy again, knowing that something’s happened between my brother and Dad. Dad’s always taken it upon himself to control Sinnett’s career, and I know how much my brother despises it.
“I’m sorry, Sin. I know you're trying your best.”
“Of course I am, but it’s never enough for him.” His tone is deep and hollow.
Never enough.
I let those words sink in, realising that my brother and I are both struggling with this idea, in our own ways, causing my chest to ache. I never want him to feel like he’s not enough.
He is, and I am, too.
I have to keep reminding myself that Ryan was wrong.
I will be enough for someone, and deep down, I hope that the someone wears a thirty-four on his helmet, but I’m not giving myself that hope just yet.
Chapter Thirty-Six
NOAH
My thumb hovers over the ten digits, beads of sweat forming against my temples. Talking to people has never been a fear of mine. I was always social, never scared of being myself, of putting myself out there, making friends, chatting people’s ears off. But right now, I can’t bring myself to call him.
Despite how cold it is outside, I'm sweating bullets as I think about every possible way Sinnett Baxter might answer me. If he does in fact answer me. He could ignore me. I feel as though I'm cheating here, going behind Mia’s back to talk to her brother, but I'm becoming desperate at this point. I haven’t slept for three days. My body clock is all over the place. Jade is grumpier than normal, and I’m starting to think that she’s missing Mia just as much as I am.
Every time I close my eyes, I see her monochromatic eyes. The bows in her hair. The pale pink of her lips made me dizzy every time I touched them. I want to feel her again, have my fingertips on her skin once more. All I do is ache for her.
Bringing me out of my consuming thoughts, I press the call button and hold the phone to my ear. Jade sleeps quietly on the couch beside me.At least she’s getting some rest. I’m still running off pure adrenaline and pain.
Mum has tried calling me multiple times since Sunday, until I blocked her number. Her voicemails were enough to remind me that my parents only care about fame and the money I make. Not my health, or happiness, and certainly not my daughter. I was so furious that I started throwing things until June ended up at my door and calmed me down. Even though she misses Mia, she told me to give her time.
Time is not what I want. I greedily want her back, to hold her and never let her go, because I have never felt this way about any girl before.
The ringing sounds in my ear, repeating over and over, and when I’m about to give up, it ends and is replaced with puffing. “Hello?” Sinnett’s voice sends a spark of realisation through me.
As much as I want to throw away my phone right now, I don’t. “Sinnett. It’s Noah?—”
“How’d you get my number?” His voice is curt and short, and I completely understand why. I'm going behind his sister’s back right now.
My fingers rub my forehead. “My friend Tatum gave it to me.”
His heavy breathing ceases, and I can't help but frown at the sudden silence. Sinnett mutters a breathy, "Of course she did," before a heavy sigh sounds. "What do you want?"
I let out a small exhale, careful not to wake my sleeping daughter beside me. “I need to talk to Mia,” I all but plead.
“No,” he growls, and I feel like he might hang up on me in the next second if I don’t explain the situation.
“Wait.” My tone rises, desperation deep inside of me. I never beg for anything, apart from Jade when she refuses to listen to me, but that’s different. “Please, just let me explain.”
“I don’t need your explanation, Noah. You hurt my sister. Enough said.”
“No,I didn’t. I wouldn’t do anything to hurt her.” The words rush out quickly as fear prickles through me.
Sinnett snorts a humourless laugh but doesn’t end the call. He must be a little interested in what I have to say, at least.
I waste no time diving in and explaining what happened. I can’t tell if Sinnett’s convinced that it was all my parents’ doing, but he doesn’t interrupt me. I’m sure some of it he already knows from Mia, so I kept it brief and to the point. I need Mia back, and I’ll do whatever I can to hold her again.
