Page 35 of Prove You Wrong

‘I’ll call a taxi.’

‘Or me if you need.’ Day or night, I’ll always have Josie’s back.

‘Okay, thank you.’ She dips her head as she asks,‘Who’s blowing up your phone?’

I look down and Nate has buzzed a few more texts through.

Nate: Give me one date.

Nate: One chance to show you I'm not a *bad boy*.

Nate: That I can be trusted.

‘Better pop this away,’ I say, slotting my phone into my bag and leaving the request unanswered. ‘Sounds like the final round is going to start.’

‘Where’s Nate?’ She glances about the bar. ‘Don’t we need him?’

‘He had to go. Andno, we only need ourselves.’ I smile, clapping Josie on the arm.

Saying it out loud helps reaffirm my beliefs. I don’t need anyone else. Despite the protestations from between my thighs telling me Nate would be welcome back any time, I am resolute. I don’t need Nate.

Chapter 12

Nate

At first, I’d thought my move to get Ella’s number was genius, but now I’m wondering if I was too underhand. She didn’t seem outright cross with me, but, equally, she hadn’t found my mischievous ways charming.

Spending the ride out to the city hospital and back guessing what Ella had replied to my messages, I was more than a little disappointed to find she hadn’t replied at all.

I’d been called in for a category one mission: to collect and deliver something within two hours. We never get told what it is we’re carrying, we just know it’s urgent –– someone’s life depends on it.

It occurs to me, now, that getting her number in such a devious way did kind of prove her point and I’m annoyed with myself for not playing it cooler. Nearly everything I’ve done around Ella has been the opposite of cool and I’m frustrated she’s not seeing the best of me. When I’m under pressure, it’s like my brain short circuits; making me do crazy things, or worse, freezing up entirely.

When I get home, Chunk’s hanging off the pull up bar in the kitchen. If this guy isn’t working, he’s working out.

‘Can you do me a favour?’ he asks.

I rest my helmet on the counter and nod.

‘Take a look at something at The Wreck for me? The illuminations. Let me know if there are any gaps or issues with the aesthetics.’ He punctuates each sentence with a lift. ‘Also, practicalities of access. I could climb that course with my eyes shut so it’s tough to know how tricky it might be in the dark for a novice.’

More than happy to help, I say, ‘When?’

‘If you’ve got a free evening this week, it would be great.’

‘Sure.’ I lean back against the counter, folding my arms across my chest.

He grunts and drops to the floor. ‘I’ll be sure to put a bit extra in your pay, as it’s night work.’

I shake my head with a smile. ‘Don’t be ridiculous. I’m doing this as a friend. Get the next take away or something.’

‘Something. You name it.’ Chunk reaches for some boxing gloves, holding one out to me. ‘You want to work out? Spar?’

The kitchen in our apartment often doubles as a gym.

‘Okay.’ I take off my jacket and hang it on the back of a chair.

Chunk hands me the gloves and sets up the pads. I get lost in pummelling on the red and black to his cues.

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