Page 21 of Prove Me Wrong (The Sunburnt Hearts #5)

Chapter Fifteen

NOAH

M y therapist used to remind me every session that it takes people different amounts of time to recover from life-changing events. That every mind is unique, and our ways of dealing with events are diverse. That not one person is the same as another.

Mia has reminded me of that lesson this week.

With the few times I’ve seen her, she has been quieter and more reserved than the last week or two.

I felt like on Sunday she was finally feeling relaxed enough to be herself around me.

But since the phone call with her mum that she ignored, her walls have been restored, and she’s taken a step backwards from me.

And I can’t lie, I’ve definitely noticed the distance she’s put me at.

The way her anxiety seems to steer her life hurts me, because I was living under its control not too long ago.

The caution set in her stormy, wide irises.

The curves of her lips are barely visible.

There’s something beneath her surface, shadowing her life that I want to know about.

To save her from those demons that linger in the darkness of her mind, but I have to wait.

I never push people.

I hated it when my parents tried pushing me into anything, so I will never force anyone into sharing something they keep guarded within them.

It took me weeks to talk about that night.

To open up to my therapist and my friends.

I can only imagine that Mia is still dealing with the repercussions of a life-changing event, too.

The two days she’s come to the house this week, Mia arrived right on time and left as soon as she heard my key unlocking the front door. It pained me to see her avoiding me, but I just have to be patient with her, even though I spend most of my time thinking about her.

Even at work, Damon has caught me a few times drifting off when I should have been focusing on a car. My sleeve almost caught fire at one point because I was wracking my brain as to why Mia is so nervous around me. Luckily Damon was there to turn off the torch before I burnt my skin off.

“You seem distracted,” he said gruffly.

I just grunted in response and turned to continue working on the older Holden.

His next words stumped me. “It’s a girl, isn’t it?”

Glaring at him, my silence answered his questions. Chuckling throatily, Damon just patted my shoulder encouragingly. “It’ll work out, Noah. And you deserve someone good.”

Those words echoed in my mind all night until I finally fell asleep well after midnight.

I caught sight of Mia in her kitchen, making her nightly drink.

Glancing over her satin red set, which is definitely a colour she should wear more often.

All I wanted was for her to come over. To know what she’d feel like to hold, to kiss, to touch all over.

To feel my fingers running through her silky, dark hair.

Grey eyes meet mine, her pale lips twitched, and warmth spread across my chest like flames licking at my flesh.

Eyes dropping to my chest, and up to my mouth, I felt mine pulling into a grin when June walked into the room. I had to turn my back on them. I don’t know why, but it felt wrong for me to eye her with her grandmother in the room, but I was lying awake in my bed for ages thinking about her.

It’s now Saturday morning, and I groan myself awake as my phone rings loudly on the bedside table. Smacking my hand on the wooden surface, I grab it from the charger and stare at the name, blinding my eyes.

Julian.

Cursing under my breath, I swipe to answer it groggily. “Julian.” My voice is gruff and laced with exhaustion. It’s been a long week, and my lack of sleep last night definitely shows, but it was kind of worth it…

“Wow, good morning to you too, sunshine,” he chimes, and I just grunt thickly.

“It’s too early. Why are you calling me?”

“We need you in Canberra this afternoon.”

I sit up, my sleepiness instantly jolting away as my eyes flare open. “What! It’s a five-hour drive.”

“Yeah, so I suggest leaving in the next half hour. Qualifying starts at three, and we need you here.”

I swear quietly while looking at the time on my phone. “Julian, it’s only five-thirty in the morning. How are you this chirpy on a Saturday!” I whisper-yell into the phone as I get up and start packing my bag immediately. “What happened?”

“Rogerson came down with pneumonia last night. Team doctor didn’t pass him to drive for the rest of the weekend, ergo, I am calling you in as our replacement driver,” Julian explains in a joyful tone that doesn’t fit how I am feeling right now.

My head is swimming, my eyes sting, and I’m stiff all over from the long week of work I just had .

Rubbing my eyes with the heels of my hands, I let out an irritated sigh. “I have Jade, though. I’ll have to make sure that my babysitter can look after her.”

“If not, I’m sure your mum could take her.”

My teeth grit at the mention of my parents. “You know it’s not an option. I’ll ask my babysitter now.”

“You’ll be back tomorrow night, but then we might also need you in Adelaide coming up if Rogerson is still unwell. Depends on whether the doctors clear him by then or not.”

I angrily throw a pair of socks into my duffle bag.

“I know this isn’t ideal, Noah, but it’s your contract. You’re our back-up driver when we need you, and we need you this weekend. Canberra is one of our biggest races, so we can’t afford to forfeit.”

Opening a drawer, I pull out some tees to pack, slapping them on top of the other clothes. “I know. I know. I’ll be there at twelve.”

“Great. I’ll have everything set up for you by the time you come, and I’ll have a room for you to stay in for the night.”

“Thank you,” I grunt. I hang up before he has time to go on and further ruin my morning. Zipping up my bag, I grab some clothes to shower before pulling out my phone and dialling Grey’s number. She answers on the fourth ring.

“Noah, is something wrong? Did something happen with Jade?” Her sleepy, raspy voice rises with each word.

My heart aches that she’s this concerned over my daughter already. “No, Jade is fine, but I need you to look after her until tomorrow night.”

She’s quiet for a moment, and I fear that Mia might have fallen back asleep. I don’t blame her. It’s not even six in the morning.

“Grey?” I whisper-shout again before hearing the phone call end .

Angrily, I toss my bag on the floor and go to get in the shower when I hear knocking on the front door. Exhaling slowly, I walk down the stairs to open it. Mia’s tired face appears.

“Tomorrow?” Her voice is thick with sleep.

My eyes fall to her oversized tee, trackpants and slippers, and I want to take a photo of her to keep forever on my bedside table.

She looks adorable right after waking, even though she will most likely disagree with how wild her dark hair looks, reminding me of a bird’s nest, but I wouldn’t dare tell her that right now.

“I have to race in Canberra today. Rogerson is sick, which means I have to be there this afternoon for the car to be fitted and to qualify for the team, and it’s a five-hour drive to the track from here. I have to leave at six?—”

Her hands rise to cut me off mid-sentence, eyes squinting, shoulders sinking slowly. “Go, Noah. I can take care of Jade. Just go pack, and I’ll be here to watch her.” Mia lets out a breath that’s not irritated, but more exhausted.

“Thank you,” I say breathlessly, pulling her into a hug and tenderly pecking her forehead.

Before I realise what I’m doing, I pull away to see the startlement etched into her feminine features. Eyes as wide as dinner plates, Mia stares with parted lips, unmoving. I curse internally for how stupid I feel.

Pulse drumming harshly in my throat, my hand slips from her neck as I step backwards, putting space between us.

“I’m sorry. It’s a habit with Jade, and I’m so tired—” Her hands rise to rub at her reddened elbows.

Mouth downturning, I whisper, “You don’t need to be anxious around me. I am not going to hurt you, Grey. ”

Silver irises find mine, and I feel the magnetism within her drawing me closer. I want to kiss her. To feel her lips on mine. To hold her and tell her that she’ll be all right when my phone chimes with an incoming text.

Clenching my teeth tightly, I open it to see that Julian has sent me the schedules and team orders. I let out a groan. “I have to shower. You can keep sleeping until Jade wakes up.”

“Okay,” she whispers and flicks me a tight smile that makes my stomach knot.

“Okay,” I echo, and make my way upstairs into the bathroom. Standing in the shower, my heart rate spikes like I’ve just inhaled several shots at once as I hastily scrub at my body.

I kissed her forehead.

I’ve been so careful to keep her comfortable around me, and the moment I’m stressed and exhausted, I overstep. I’m now praying that I didn’t just screw up all the progress we’ve made.

Towelling myself dry, I dress in fresh clothes and walk back into my bedroom to find Mia curled up under my soft covers. Her eyes are shut, and I can tell that she’s asleep from the slow rise of her chest.

There’s something about having her in my bed, wrapped up in my scent and warmth that makes my racing chest pound heavily.

It looks perfect to me with her dark hair sprawled out over the pillows and hands tucked up under her chin.

I want to climb in beside her, to hold her while she sleeps, but I can’t.

I quietly grab my things before stopping by Jade’s room to tell her goodbye and that I’ll see her tomorrow.

She’s sleeping peacefully, and as much as I want to pick her up and cuddle her before I go, I don’t want to wake her.

If I do, then Mia will need to be awake, and she looks as exhausted as I feel .

“I’ll see you tomorrow night, baby girl. Be good for Grey, please.” I kiss Jade’s soft cheek before hauling my things to my ute and driving away right on six.

“Glad you could make it, Noah. We didn’t want to have to pull out of the race.”

“How’s the car looking?”

Julian looks at me. He’s older, with peppered hair and wrinkles framing his dark eyes.

Dressed in his business suit and polished loafers that I’m surprised aren’t caked in dust, I yawn before he answers me.

“It’s looking fine. We just need to adjust it, and then it’ll be ready.

I’ll have your stuff put in the trailer while you’re here.

You have a hotel room in town with the team.

Qualifying is at three, and then shootout is at four.

There’s a team meeting at five, then you can go relax for the night. ”

“Great. Thanks,” I murmur.

Julian gives me a small smile. “How’s Jade?”

“Teething. She’s an angel though, compared to the other kids her age. She hardly makes a sound. The latest thing is her tipping over her food that she doesn’t like.”

My team manager chuckles while shaking his head. “Yep. Rachel was like that too when she was Jade’s age. Although she would scream all night and wouldn’t let us touch her gums. You don’t know how many nights I went without sleep. I thought her lungs would burst at some point; she was so loud.”

I bite my cheek as a grin spreads across my mouth. “Yeah, Jade sounds like a saint now.”

Julian shoves me lightly, and I let out a laugh. “Go suit up for your adjustments.”

“Aye aye, captain.” I give him a small salute before strolling towards the pits. Pulling out my phone, I send Mia a quick text before I have to put my phone away to prepare for qualifying.

ME: Just letting you know I got here.

ME: I hope Jade is behaving for you.

I can’t bring myself to text her about this morning.

I don’t know what I was thinking; although that was the problem.

The phone call and rush to get ready in thirty minutes didn’t set my mind straight.

Mia didn’t say anything, though. I think that’s what’s making me so nervous, the fact that I couldn’t tell what she was thinking.

Swallowing, I put my phone in my bag, leaving it in the pits, and move to the trailer.

Changing into my orange, black and white race suit, the engineers work at adjusting the Ford to fit my height, weight bearing, arm length and posture.

They fiddle with buttons and wires, fixing the bumper and checking the engine before it’s revved up, and I drive it out of the pits.

Qualifying was smooth. Finishing sixth, I had a thirty-minute window before the shootout with the top ten finishers.

The shootout was tough, but I secured fourth position, behind Daniels, Carmichael and Stevens.

It’s going to be a tough race tomorrow, but starting high on the grid is a great advantage .

Pulling my helmet off, my fingers run through my sweat-slick hair. Heading into the pits, I guzzle down water before grabbing my bag for a shower.

I haven’t had the chance to think about Grey or Jade since I jumped in the car, but as soon as I unzip my duffle, the first thing I reach for is my phone.

GREY: Thanks for letting me know.

GREY: She’s teething again. Gave her medicine and cream.

GREY: Good luck for qualifying.

Relief trickles through me as I skim her messages. At least Mia’s not completely upset with me. She didn’t ignore me, but then again, she’s working. I suppose these are work messages, and not personal ones.

ME: Thank you for doing this.

ME: And I hope she settles down for you soon. Don’t forget her lion toy when she sleeps, otherwise she’ll scream until she gets it.

Sighing heavily, I put my phone away, ignoring the dozens of other notifications. They’re not important to me.

With my head swirling, I push every thought aside when I get into the shower and turn on the cold water to cleanse my mind of the girl that’s slowly consuming me.