Page 14 of Prove Me Wrong (The Sunburnt Hearts #5)

Chapter Ten

NOAH

M um always told me I was a confident kid growing up. That I’d be able to make friends with anyone. I was overly talkative, loved to joke about, and was always the cool, suave teen that people flocked to. I’ve always been easy to talk with and approachable.

But right now, I don’t know where that nonchalant, self-assured guy has gone. He’s been replaced with a man who is worried about having a meal with his new attractive neighbour, who also happens to be his daughter’s new babysitter.

Is this a good idea? No clue .

All I know is that I haven’t been this nervous to come home in a very long time.

Nerves jolt through me like static electricity, crackling beneath my skin as I hold the cold metal house key in my hand. I really shouldn’t be this nervous, but I am. Unlocking my front door, I toe off my boots as the warm, salty smell of dinner greets me. Along with Jade’s heartwarming giggles.

I find Jade sitting in her highchair in the kitchen, banging the plastic tray with her hands.

Mia stands at the bench with her back to me.

My gaze sweeps over her black leggings and oversized tee that flows down past her waist, dark brunette hair pulled up into a ponytail with a black bow.

I smile at how Grey makes an effortless outfit look put together and pretty.

Eyes trailing down her lean arms, I spot the tattoo on the back of her bicep.

‘Don’t stop fighting’ is written in tiny black ink; I can make it out from the other side of the room.

I push down the small lump in my throat, shaking off the multitude of questions flooding my mind, before walking over to Jade, giving her a little tickle.

She giggles, and cloudy eyes look over her shoulder, watching us with a faint smile.

“Hi, princess,” I murmur, and kiss Jade’s smooth forehead. “How was your day?”

Jade’s bright eyes peer up into mine, and her little hands reach up to grab me. “Daddy, up.” Her soft timbre warms my insides.

“Daddy needs to change first. I am not damaging your nice skin with this gross grease,” I murmur into her ear.

I glance up, eyes connecting with Mia for a second before she blinks away, going back to cutting up vegetables. “Hello, Grey.” I greet her in my usual deep baritone which I try my hardest to keep from shaking.

Her head tilts to glance at me, cheeks blushing a light shade of pink, lips rosy and shiny. “Hi, Noah. It’s almost ready.”

“Great. I’ll be back down in a minute. I just need to wash up.”

Kissing Jade once more, I dash up the stairs to change out of my greasy, sweaty clothes.

The overalls luckily stay at the garage, but my T-shirt is soaked through with perspiration, and I need to get out of my jeans that are sticking to my thighs uncomfortably.

They’re too hot to wear in the garage, but it’s a must for when I’m working around cars and tools.

Stepping into the shower, I quickly wash my body, even my hair, before dressing in some trackpants and a tee .

Mia is setting down a small plate in front of Jade when I step into the kitchen. Two more sit on the table with metal cutlery and glass set up. All of Jade’s tableware is light pink plastic for safety.

Mia flicks me a quick smile before turning to her chair.

Before she moves, I lunge forward and pull the chair out for her. Mia's eyes widen with surprise, but she just murmurs out a polite thank you and sits down, lowering her face to cover her blushing cheeks, no doubt. I adore looking at them.

Lowering myself down opposite her, I take note of the plate filled with steak drizzled in gravy, salad and brown rice. “Wow. This looks great.”

“It’s easy. My grandpa used to cook this all the time, and he showed me how to make a perfect gravy.”

My eyebrows jump as I cut off a piece of steak, eager to try out her homemade sauce. It oozes with the right amount of salt and sugar, runny but thick at the same time, with no clumps, because clumps make it so much worse. It’s honestly the best gravy I’ve ever had.

“It’s heavenly,” I groan, cutting off another piece.

Mia giggles and bites into her own slice. “Most people use beef stock, but the trick is to use bone broth. It gives it a better consistency and doesn’t make it overly salty.”

“Impressive.” I devour half of my steak in about five seconds.

Mia watches me with amusement, dancing on her lips. “I’m glad you’re enjoying it.”

“Your grandpa used to always cook me lasagna, which is my favourite. It’s my guilty pleasure food for when I'm not having to be in top shape for racing.”

Her stormy eyes lift to meet mine from across the wooden table, and I choke on a chunk of meat at their intensity. Coughing, I pound on my chest. Jade giggles at me, taking pleasure in my almost dying. Thanks, princess .

“Are you all right?” Mia asks, standing with a frown.

I nod while tapping my chest. “I’m fine,” I croak out before clearing my sticky throat.

Grey gives me a twisted smile before slowly lowering back down into her chair, like she doesn’t entirely believe me. My pulse thrums as she watches me, and I swallow, finally breathing normally again.

How does she have this effect on me?

I keep eating, slower now.

Mia looks up from her plate. “When do you have to race next?”

“When the team needs me. I was a full-time driver before Jade was born. That’s how I met her mum, Em. Now I work full time at the mechanics and then travel when they need me to race if their main driver is sick or injured.”

Her dark eyebrows pinch together, and I see the sea of queries colouring her rounded eyes that I don’t think I’m ready to talk about yet. Bracing myself to talk about her, Mia simply asks, “Isn’t that hard with Jade?”

Blinking at her, it shocks me a little that she didn’t ask anything about Em. Everyone else would have.

Shrugging, I answer her honestly, “A bit. I don’t get a lot of notice.

My friend, Tatum, used to watch Jade for me before she left town.

And your gran has taken Jade a couple of times, but I don’t like bothering her since her diagnosis.

She needs to look after herself, and the last thing I’d want to be responsible for is making her arthritis worse.

” I swallow my mouthful before looking at Grey.

“Would you be okay with looking after her if I’m called away? ”

After a beat, she nods. I can’t help but feel a rush of relief flooding my veins like ice-cold water.

Mia rubs at the back of her neck, looking down at her plate of picked-at food. “I’m sure Gran and I could do it together. She adores Jade.”

My heart melts a little at her shy face. “I mean, how could you not adore that face?” I look over my shoulder at Jade, who has mushy carrots and peas stuck to her mouth, chewing her dinner.

Mia snorts a laugh, and I smile at the sound, wanting to hear it a thousand more times. “If they don’t, then they’re lying,” she admits softly.

I nod in agreement and swallow a mouthful of steak.

“How did you get into racing?”

Eyes meeting her round, grey ones, I set down my fork. “I got into it because of my dad.” I feel the heaviness sinking into the air around us as my gaze falls to my half-eaten plate.

“Was he a driver as well?”

“Yeah. He was one of the best.” I try to say the words proudly, but really, talking about my parents hurts me just as much as Em does.

Mia’s silent for a moment as she chews on some rice. She murmurs, “Was?”

My eyelids close quickly, and I clear my throat, knowing this topic was bound to arise at some point.

“Dad was injured right after I started racing for a different team. He was ecstatic at first. It’s everything he wanted me to be, just like him, but then he was in a racing accident.

” I sigh, pushing away the shadows trying to consume my thoughts.

“His car skidded into a barrier too quickly, and now he can’t use either of his legs. ” My voice drops with the last words .

Stormy eyes stare into mine, and I feel the weight of her gaze. So many unanswered questions sit in them, stirring like a wild thunderstorm. I wish I could read her thoughts right now, but I also know I’m not ready for them.

Swallowing, I sniff and continue, “Mum looks after him now. They live in Rafters Falls, which is about an hour away from here.”

“Yeah, I know where that is. I’ve been there a few times with Sinnett.”

I swallow the last mouthful of my dinner and lean back in the uncomfortable wooden chair.

Jade is happily playing with her food while wearing half of it on her face, but if she’s quiet, then it’s fine. I’ll let her be amused by her peas and carrots. It’s better than picking them up off the floor.

“How often do your parents come and visit you?”

My eyes snap back to Mia, not entirely hearing her question. “What?”

Mia readjusts in her chair, a frown creasing her forehead. “How often do they come to see you and Jade? I figured it would be a lot since you and your dad have your careers in common. Or did, I suppose,” Mia corrects herself, waving her fork in the air.

The lump in my throat hardens, and I push it down before answering her. “They don’t.” My tone is void of emotion, not letting their opinion get to me again.

I hate what they did, and I don’t think I’ll ever be able to forgive them.

Mia stares from across the table, chewing on her lip. “They don’t visit you?”

I shake my head, the singular word unable to come out of my mouth.

Her face loosens slightly. “Oh. So, you go there? That would make sense with your dad’s injury and all. ”

I shake my head again, resting my elbows on the tabletop, and let out a loud exhale. “No. They haven’t seen Jade since she was in the hospital right after being born.” My tone is raw and blunt.

I see the shattering of her heart from where I am sitting in the way her grey-blue irises shimmer with sadness. Mouth ajar, hands stilled, chest barely moving, she pushes out, “I’m so sorry.” I hear every emotion weighing down those words, meaning them.

My mouth twitches, and my chest stings. I lower my gaze from hers. “Yeah. I am, too.”

Her eyes drift over to Jade, who is squealing happily at her food.

“They’re missing out on a great granddaughter.

” Her voice picks up like she’s trying to cheer me up.

It does a little, but I still feel the hollowness in my heart from when they decided to cut me out of their life after Em’s accident.

One corner of my mouth curls upwards, but it’s only brief. “Yeah, I know they are.” Scratching my hair, I look back over to my baby girl, who is licking gravy from her finger. “But Jade seems to be loving having you around.” I desperately want to move the conversation away from my parents.

“It’s only been two days,” Mia counters.

“She didn’t cry much this morning, so you’re already doing way better than Jump Start.” A grin splits across my face.

“She was still a little upset, but that’s understandable since you’re her dad after all,” Mia admits. She stands, taking her plate to the sink that has dishes stacked up already. “But I’m happy that I’m doing as well as you thought.”

Mia turns on the tap to fill the sink, and I jump up out of my seat. “You don’t have to do those. You have done so much for me already.”

“I don’t mind.” Her voice carries as she keeps her back to me .

I shake my head and turn around, leaning against the bench stiffly. “Thank you for staying for dinner, Grey.” My voice cracks a little on the words, my body sparking all over with nerves. I clear my throat. “I really enjoyed spending more time with you.”

Chin lifting to peer up at me, heat builds in my chest, like it’s lit with flames. “Yeah, me too, thirty-four.”

I chuckle lightly, adoring the new name she has selected for me.

Mia smiles pleasantly before grabbing her things off the bench. “I’ll see you both next Tuesday, then.”

Mia turns to leave when I blurt out, “Or before. If I see you before. Outside.” The words tumble out incoherently, and I mentally smack my forehead. That smooth, suave guy is definitely gone. I can’t even form a proper sentence.

Looking over her shoulder, a smile peeks out on her lips. It makes me grin, showing off my dimples.

“Yeah, you’ll probably see me before then,” she murmurs, bending to kiss Jade’s forehead. “I’ll see you soon, little lady.” My chest warms at her name for my baby girl.

Grey eyes collide with mine again, and I know I’m going to feel the void when she walks through the door.

“Bye, thirty-four,” she utters before disappearing, leaving me breathing heavily and feeling the cold creep up my skin once more at her absence.