Page 18 of Prove Me Wrong (The Sunburnt Hearts #5)

Chapter Thirteen

MIA

I need coffee.

My throat feels like it’s on fire as I walk towards the café on the main street. After that headache of a therapy session, all I need right now is caffeine. And not crappy, stale caffeine. I need the good stuff .

Gosh, I really do sound like an addict…

Walking down the path, the sun beams down on me, heating my skin in a refreshing way. The mornings and evenings are bitterly cold now, but the days are still warm enough that I can get away with wearing short sleeves but wrap a jumper around my waist, just in case.

I’m in my oversized tee and black bike shorts, wanting to cover up as much of me as I can. My phone rings in my hand. Sinnett’s name flashes, and I grin before answering. “Hi, Sin."

“Hi, twinkle fingers. How was therapy?”

I shrug and fold my arms as I slow my pace, giving my brother my undivided attention. “Nothing unusual,” I lie.

It was a painful session, opening up to Charlotte about the panic attack yesterday, and my thinking that Noah could hurt me when he’s been nothing but nice to me.

She told me that I need to work on letting people in and not closing myself off to people.

But that’s exactly what I want to do. By letting someone in, I am giving them a part of me, and if they abuse that, it’ll shatter what little trust I have.

It gives them a way to hurt me, and I don’t want to give them that chance.

“Great,” Sin lets out. “And you want to tell me why you’re lying to me?”

I wince and rub my forehead. “Gran called you, didn’t she?”

“She called last night and told me what happened. Why didn’t you text me? I thought we had a deal?” His tone sharpens with each word.

I pause on the side of the road, toeing some loose gravel as I tightly wrap an arm around my stomach. “You’re busy with your own life, Sin. I didn’t want you worrying about me.”

“I will always worry, Mia. You’re my sister.

I don’t want anything to happen to you, especially if it causes you to have a panic attack.

Did Noah do something to you?” Groaning, I feel Sinnett’s muscles stiffening through his voice alone.

“What did he do?” my brother snaps into the phone.

“If he touched you, I swear I’ll cut his hand right off! ”

“Stop, he didn’t do anything like that.” I wince.

“Noah didn’t do anything wrong. I just wasn’t expecting him to leave a text that reminded me of what Ryan used to say.

Noah’s nice and makes me feel more comfortable than any other man in a long time, and I know he didn’t mean anything bad by that message, but the moment it flashed up on my screen, I freaked out.

All I could think about was how I trusted Ryan, and he told me he was making me happier when he was just using me.

I’m too scared to open up to people, Sin.

I guard myself so much because I’m scared that I’ll be hurt again. ”

My throat burns with rawness as I keep my eyes from watering. I don’t want to cry right now. I hate feeling weak.

Sinnett remains silent, and my anxiety buzzes through my veins like bees waking up.

“Why do you feel like you need to open yourself up to him? He's your boss. ”

I bite my lip so hard that the skin breaks open and begins bleeding. The taste of salt and metal tingles against my taste buds. “Umm,” I hush out nervously, trying to think of something to say.

Sinnett grunts into the phone. “Don’t tell me that you are starting to feel something for him.”

I feel my cheeks flushing crimson as I glance around like someone could be listening in on our conversation, which is impossible, but it still adds to my ever-growing anxiety. “I don’t know,” I whisper.

He grunts again. “That’s the girl way of saying yes.”

“ Sin .”

“Tell me I’m wrong, Mia.” I’m silent, and he gives a low chuckle. “You shouldn’t be this stressed if a man leaves you a text. Women message me all the time and you don’t see me panicking.”

I snicker at his remark. “Firstly, it’s because you’re a famous athlete.

And secondly, it’s because they want to sleep with you because you’re a famous athlete.

And you’re unbothered when it comes to messages because you’ve never heard them used against you when you’re fighting for your life, Sin.

” My jaw grits tightly as I try to contain my volume.

Sin just shh’s me to settle down. I push away the stinging feeling in my eyes, my pulse jackhammering in my neck.

“While that may be true,” my eyes roll involuntarily, “you shouldn’t be having panic attacks over something this small, twinkle fingers. What did Charlotte say about this?”

I sniff before answering, “She understands how hard it is to differentiate between pure generosity and men trying to butter me up to take advantage of me.” I pinch the bridge of my straight nose.

“Ryan pretended to like me and then turned as soon as he had my trust. I don’t want my trust to be abused again, Sin. ”

“And you think Noah would do that to you? ”

My throat works as I think about his question.

Since meeting Noah, he has been nothing but patient and understanding with me, without even knowing what I’ve been through.

He has definitely sensed my hesitation a few times, but never said anything to embarrass me.

I’ve noticed the way he respects my space, and he never forces himself closer.

The way he speaks with me so tenderly, as if he knows that I scare easily.

Sniffing again, I shake my head before answering with a soft, “No.”

My brother exhales steadily as my pulse hammers in my ears like tidal waves of blood. “Then I think you have your answer right there, twinkle fingers.”

My cheeks flush harder with heat. I nod silently, knowing he can’t see my face.

“You’re right,” I murmur as my hand reaches to rub at my elbow. I know it’s a terrible habit, but I will not be kicking it any time soon.

“Wow, I love hearing those words.” He chuckles before snapping back into his broody self. “All right, enough mushy talk. I only have a limited amount, and you just used it all for today.”

I just snort a laugh. “Fine. What is going on with you, then? How’s the injury?” Changing the subject, I continue towards the main street.

“Getting better. Our new physical therapist has me doing a lot of exercises on her new program. Seems to be working though, so I think she might know what she’s talking about.”

“How is she liking the team?”

Sinnett sniffs. “Yeah, she’s fine, I suppose.”

The blunt answer spikes my intrigue.

My lips curl upwards again. “I hope she’s fitting in there, especially if she’s surrounded by your teammates every day. What’s her name?”

“Why do you need to know her name, twinkle fingers? ”

I poke my tongue into my cheek, knowing he’s avoiding my question. “Because almost every time we speak, you end up mentioning her, so I’m curious.”

“I’m not telling you her name,” he grits out adamantly. My gaze narrows.

“Why not?”

“I don’t need to.”

“Just tell me,” I whine.

Sinnett sighs heavily, and I know I’ve cracked him. “Fine. It’s Tatum. Happy now?”

I frown, remembering Noah mentioning his friend, Tatum, who used to look after Jade before moving away. Could this be her? Or is it just a coincidence? “Do you know much about her?”

Sinnett just grunts, meaning no, or that he’s hiding something from me. Probably the latter.

“Do you like her?” I ask curiously.

“No,” he grits out, but I can hear the defensive snap in his tone. He definitely feels something for her, whether he believes it or not .

“Fine,” I huff, knowing that it’s safer for me to drop the conversation than to tease him. He hates it when I do that. “I need to go, but I will call you again tomorrow.”

“You better. Enjoy your iced latte, twinkle fingers.”

My frown deepens. “How’d you know I was getting one?”

“Because it’s Sunday morning right after therapy? I know you better than anyone, Mia.”

“True. And thank you for calling me, Sin.”

“Just stay strong, twinkle fingers. ”

I hang up as I round the corner and walk into the café. It’s not very busy this morning, which I’m grateful for. If I had to wait for my caffeine hit, I think I’d get a migraine.

Ordering myself an iced latte, I also get a normal one and a baby one to take away and leave for Noah.

It’s only fair to repay him for yesterday.

My phone vibrates, and I pull it out to see MUM written across the screen. I stare down at it, pulse rattling, breath shaking slightly, until the call ends. My lips tighten as I slide it back into my pocket.

I’m still not ready to talk to her.

Taking the coffees from the barista, I make my way back home quickly. Seeing Noah’s red ute in the driveway makes my throat constrict as my anxiety kicks in once again. It’s becoming a daily occurrence, like my own shadow that I can’t shake off.

Stopping on his porch with the drinks in my hand, I knock and wait. I don’t know what to expect. It’s the weekend. Does he even want to see me if it’s not during my work time? Maybe I should just leave them here like he did for me yesterday?

My pulse races as I try rethinking my plan, but the door swings open and I’m met with his golden-framed apple eyes. They stare into mine before falling to the coffees, and a smile pulls on his stubbled face.

I take in his clean grey shirt with a few wrinkles, and loose shorts that show off his perfectly carved legs, and I have to force myself to swallow.

Leaning against the doorframe, his casual grin makes my heart flutter in an unusual way. I know other girls talk about having butterflies fluttering around in their stomachs, but mine feel like big, uncomfortable moths bashing into my sides.

“I didn’t know that you home delivered, Grey,” his honeyed voice murmurs, and I think my knees weaken a little.