Page 96 of Prove Me Wrong
He’s silent for a bit, no longer puffing loudly. I squeeze my eyes shut, hoping that Sinnett will know where I'm coming from.
“I can’t speak for my sister,” he starts, but pauses like he’s collecting his thoughts. I’m scrambling to keep mine in order, too. “But I understand what that’s like, having your parents breathing down your neck. Like your career is the only important thing you have to offer, and nothing else seems important enough.”
Air escapes my lungs as I nod, grateful that he knows where I am coming from. “Then you know how it feels when they want to destroy something else that’s good in your life.”
Sinnett sniffs a laugh, and I hear something bang in the background. “Yeah, I do, actually.” He shuffles something around before the banging sound echoes again. “I’m going through a similar thing.”
“Tatum?” I question.
He’s silent before letting out a small, "Yes."
“She’s one of my best friends,” I murmur.
“Yeah, I know. She told me about you and your daughter. And some Nathan guy.”
That makes me chuckle. My heart warms knowing that Tatum misses us as much as we miss her.
“She’s one of the best.”
“So is my sister,” Sinnett grunts, the airiness of his tone diminishing.
My muscles stiffen again in response, a smile dropping from my mouth. “I never meant to hurt her. I don’t even know how my mum found out about all of this. I haven’t spoken with her since Jade was born.”
“Why not?”
My forehead creases lightly. “They haven’t been good parents since I decided to keep her.”
“Do they not get along with your daughter?” Sinnett asks, genuinely sounding intrigued.
I shake my head. “They don’t even know her. They met her for the first time on Sunday, and neither of them gave so much as a glance in her direction. In their eyes, my daughter ruined my life, and supposedly, Mia has as well.”
Sinnett curses, his tone gruff. I stroke Jade’s soft cheek, and she rolls onto her side, cuddling her little lion toy. I wouldn’t give her up in a heartbeat. She’s everything to me, and Mia knows that, which is why I have grown so attached to her. Mia did everything for my daughter, unlike the other girls who just want me for my name and money. I like that she’s quiet and reserved, giving me genuine smiles and laughter. That she never expected anything from me, just saw me for the dad that I am, and not a national athlete. It’s one of the many reasons why I fell for her.
“I called my mum for the first time in over a year a few weeks ago. She texted me out of the blue asking me to call her, and it was hanging on my consciousness. So, I did. When she told me her plans for me to move to their town, to focus solely on racing, and for her to watch Jade, I didn’t want to see her again. And when I came home to them in my house uninvited, you don’t understand how furious I was. To know thatshe drove Mia away was like a knife in my back. I told Mia that I had nothing to do with it, but I think she was too hurt to really believe me, but I swear that I didn’t.”
“Yeah, that’s rough,” Sinnett lets out gruffly, but I can hear the sympathy in this low timbre. “Look, I know Mia has feelings for you, it’s obvious because she never talks about men like she does about you.” Heat flushes up my neck to the tips of my ears. “But she’s also hurting right now. The best thing for you to do is to give her time to think about all of this and what she wants.”
I sniff and nod, even though it’s the opposite of what I want to hear right now. “Do you think she’ll trust me again?”
“Man, I don’t know. All I know is that she wants to finally open up to our mum after three years of staying silent. My parents have been in the dark this whole time, not knowing what’s going on with her, so I think she needs to do that before she thinks about coming back to you. And as much as I want my sister to have a successful career, I fear that the only reason she’s gone for this interview is to make our parents happy, and not because she wants the job.”
My fingers fist as my jaw tightens, the coldness settling around me uncomfortably. Silence buzzes through my ear. “She’s still going through with it?”
Sinnett is quiet for a beat before answering, “She went in this morning. The company said she’ll know by next week if she has it.”
My head falls into my shaking hand, heart thrumming, toes scrunching tightly. “Did she seem excited about it?”
“Honestly, not as much as I thought for someone getting their chance at their dream job. She was miserable last night when I saw her, and I doubt that’s changed.”
That sparks a bit of hope in the pit of my chest, but it’s not enough for me to relax. “I’m not sure why you called me. Do you not have Mia’s number?”
“I do, but my calls and texts aren’t getting through. I think she blocked me.”
“Ahh…” I hear him walking into a tunnel before he continues, “You should wait for her to call you when she’s ready.”
My heart cracks at that because I’d drive to her right now and bring her home if I could. “What if she’s never ready?”
I know I sound pathetic, but this girl is something else. She’s sweet, gentle, gorgeous, and perfect with my daughter and me. There’s nobody else I want in my life.
