Page 29 of Prove Me Wrong (The Sunburnt Hearts #5)

Chapter Twenty-One

MIA

“ G osh, he sounds so dreamy…” Lila’s voice drawls through the phone as I lean against the headboard of my bed.

With my legs crossed, mug of chai in my hand and Lila on loudspeaker, I have settled in for the night, but I can’t seem to be able to control my nerves after spending the whole afternoon with Noah before he had to get home to feed Jade.

I still don’t know if it was a date or not, but either way, I feel like I'm catching some feelings for this man. The way he makes me feel, so airy and calm, is like no other man.

I swipe my tongue over my lips, snuggling into the cushioned backing some more, embarrassed slightly with how I’m feeling over my neighbour. “He’s pretty dreamy in person, too,” I say, biting my lip to keep myself from giggling.

“Yeah, well, I’d like to meet him in person,” Lila adds, and my eyes roll. “You are three hours away.”

“So? I’ll come visit you then,” she offers.

My stomach knots at that, the smile on my face faltering. I don’t want her coming to meet him, not that I think Noah will fall for her, but Lila has a way of not keeping her hands to herself. Wait, am I jealous of her ?

I shake my head, not wanting to let that thought overrule me. “Do you think that’s a good idea?”

“Why not? I want to see where you live, and the guys there sound hot.”

That makes my eyes roll so hard they might fall out of their sockets. “Lila…”

“Next weekend?” she suggests, tone hopeful.

My eyes press shut as I try to think of an excuse. I remember Noah’s race schedule I Googled a week ago. “Can’t, Noah might be racing, and I have to stay with Jade if he does.”

She lets out a frustrated groan. “The one after?”

Swallowing, I know I might regret these words, but I let out, “Yeah, all right. You can stay here.”

“Perfect,” Lila chimes, and I know she’s gone over to the calendar hanging on the kitchen wall to write the dates in.

I mentally kick myself for agreeing to this.

I already know something is going to happen, but I have no idea what it’ll be.

All through university, Lila was one of those girls always flirting with guys.

Every week, she was seeing someone new, I could hardly keep track.

We are definitely different when it comes to approaching guys, and I don’t think she’d try and flirt her way into Noah’s life, but I also don’t entirely trust her.

I also never know what her plans are, and that is making me even more anxious.

She’s back on the couch, settling in front of the blaring TV, when she says, “So, what else is new besides the smoking hot baby daddy?”

“Why do they all call him that?” I whisper to myself.

“What?” Lila half shouts, and my throat works, focusing on her again.

“I might be coming back to Sydney in a few weeks' time.”

“Perfect, you can stay with me. Polly won’t mind.”

“Is your sister there? ”

Lila snorts. “Hardly. You think I'm easy to get with, try her. I barely even see her.”

My smile twists. “Delightful.” Even though it’s anything but.

“So you can stay with us. Why are you coming, anyway? Birthday? Family event? Sinnett’s game?”

“Well, not quite, but I will go to Sinnett’s game if I can,” I admit, voice quiet.

She sniffs. “Why then?”

Letting out a loaded breath, my hand starts rubbing at my arm as I muster up my courage to tell her. “I have an interview. For a job in the city.”

“What! That’s awesome. So you’re coming back?” Lila squeals into the phone.

My face scrunches at the sound. “I don’t know yet.”

“Why?” she whines, and then the silence between us grows heavier as she gasps. “Oh, baby daddy …”

“Stop calling him that,” I grit out, but my annoyance makes her laugh.

“You don’t want to leave him behind?” her tone teasingly high.

My shoulders shrug, even though she can’t see me. “I-I don’t know what I want yet.”

“Well, he does sound like someone I’d like to climb?—”

I groan. “I seriously can’t talk with you anymore.”

“—like a big, old tree,” she finishes, ignoring my comment.

“Stop, Lila, otherwise I’m hanging up.”

Laughter spills from her throat. “You’re hung up on this guy, aren’t you?”

“Maybe.” I slip off my bed to grab my book from my desk. Looking through the bedroom window, my gaze halts on Noah standing with Jade to his chest, mouth dribbling, eyes shut, hands fisted in his top, fast asleep.

The sight makes my heart full as I block out the sound of Lila’s voice. I don’t know what she’s saying, and honestly, I don’t care. I just let her go on in the background as my eyes lock on my neighbour and his baby daughter.

“Mia!”

Eyes snapping back to my phone, I groan and swipe it up, growling into it, “What?”

“I was saying that I think you should come back. Sydney is your home, and I hate that you’re so far away.”

My mouth twitches sideways as I spin to gaze at Noah again. Back to me, I watch him out on the porch, legs up on the railing, Jade slumped on his chest like she’s passed out cold, and a tattooed arm waving in the air.

Frowning, I peer closer, trying to see who it belongs to when I hear Lila groan and hang up.

Tossing my phone aside, I hover in the glass, eyes searching when a guy grunts, inky hair falling down his forehead, a bit longer than Noah’s, a straight nose, fair skin and lips that I think would smile widely.

With a cider bottle in his hand, he adjusts himself in his seat, dark eyes sweeping across the backyard, shimmering deep underneath the weak glow of the lights when he gulps down his drink.

Noah takes a sip as well, before peering down at a dribbling, sleeping Jade and smiling.

Saying something to his friend, they both get up, taking themselves inside and out of view from my bedroom window.

I feel strange watching them, but I’m also just curious who Noah is friends with.

They looked like they were in a deep conversation, and my chest flares, wanting to know what they were discussing.

Grabbing my phone, I shoot him a text.

ME: Thank you for today. I loved spending time with you and Jade.

Slipping into my bed, I open my book, preparing to read when my phone dings.

#34: Me too, Grey. Get a good sleep.

The giddiness fizzes inside of me as I stare at his message for longer than I should have.

“Okay, how about we add some blue for the sky?” I ask as Jade swirls the paint brush over the thick paper.

“Ia,” she squeals before dunking the brush in the paint and swiping it around, giggling as it glides across her piece.

Smiling, I kiss her soft curls, loving that she’s enjoying this as much as I am. “It looks gorgeous, little lady. Maybe you’ll be a painter one day.”

“Bue,” Jade squeaks, and I chuckle as she wipes hair off her face, streaking blue and purple paint across her rosy cheek.

“You’re getting it everywhere, Jade,” I say, laughing as her eyes light up, not caring that she’s getting paint all over her clothes, hair and the tablecloth, which I put down in preparation. “I’ll have to clean it before your dad is back from work, but he’s going to love these.”

I keep painting with her, working on my own piece as Jade has fun playing with her fingers and the brushes .

An hour later, the door opens, and Noah comes in. Slipping off his shoes, he dumps his bag on the floor before shuffling into the kitchen to find Jade and I at the table. His troubled face is wiped away when he sees us painting, and a smile replaces his frown that I didn’t miss. “What’s this?”

“Daddy!” Jade holds up her colourful hands and wriggles them out to him. Noah just laughs, coming over to kiss her head before looking at me.

“Sorry for the mess. I haven’t had time to clean yet.”

“Don’t be.” His silky voice brushes over me, settling my nerves instantly. He seems to be having this effect on me more recently. “I don’t mind. As long as she had fun.”

“Pat,” Jade squeals out, and I snort a laugh.

“Little lady, it’s paint,” I enunciate slowly for her to hear the word. Jade just giggles, slapping her hand on my face, paint smearing over my skin. “Oh, you are so cheeky.” I laugh, picking her up and lifting my chin to a grinning Noah. “I’ll bath her while you shower if you want?”

Noah’s throat works, eyes dimming a little, and my eyebrows pull together. “Grey, I need to ask you for another favour. Our team leader called me this afternoon... I need to race in Adelaide this weekend. Would you be all right to look after Jade again until Monday?”

Gaze fixed on his, I nod quickly, knowing that this is what I’m needed for. “Of course I can. We had fun last time. When will you be leaving?”

“Tonight. I have to fly out tomorrow morning from Sydney airport.”

Chewing on my bottom lip, I nod in agreement. “I can do it.”

“Thank you, Grey.” Noah groans, shoulders loosening and hands running down his face. My frown deepens even more. “Is everything all right? ”

Nodding, his rough, stained hands come to rest on his hips, top covered in oil marks, chin dipping so that his head hangs a little. “Yeah, I just wasn’t ready for this, I guess.”

“I’m sure we’ll be okay here. But I know it’s hard for you to be away from her.”

My hand comes to settle on his shoulder, squeezing it gently, letting him know I’m here for him.

Something settles in his features, the shadow passing over them as his mouth forces out a smile that fails to reach his eyes.

“Noah, what is it? I can tell something is bothering you.”

He huffs out a laugh, scratching at his forehead before shaking it. “No, it’s nothing you need to worry about.”

“That doesn’t matter. If it’s affecting you, and you need to talk about it, then I’m here to listen.”

That loosens his smile, making my stomach flutter at the genuine sweep of his curved lips.

“Thank you, Mia, but I’ll be all right. I’m just tired.” He rubs at his eyes.

Nodding, I notice the dull blue colour beneath his lashes, and the exhaustion settling into the soft lines around his eyes. “Go shower. I’ll take care of Jade and then make you something before you need to leave.”

“Okay.”

Putting his phone down on the bench, his gaze moves over the paintings, dimples deepening as he looks through Jade’s colourful ones. When his hand moves to mine, it stops, holding the paper stiffly.

“Do you like it?”

Creases deepen between his brows when Noah’s face lifts to mine.

He holds up the painting I made of him in his race suit, standing beside his car at the track.

Orange, white and black strokes fill the paper, and he’s casually leaning against the bonnet, helmet in his hand. “I love it, Grey. It’s perfect.”

That pulls at my heart. “It’s for you to keep. Only if you want it.”

“Of course I want to keep it. This means so much to me.”

“You’re welcome. I didn’t really know what to paint, but I remember seeing you on TV in your race suit and thought you’d like to keep it as a memory.”

“I appreciate it a lot.”

Smiling, I readjust Jade on my hip, turning my face away so that Noah can’t see my blushing cheeks. “I should get her clean now before she gets hungry and snappy.”

“Ah yes, you really don’t want to see her gremlin side.” Noah chuckles, lightening the air between us. “I should get ready to go, too.”

Nodding, Noah is the first to leave, and the air thins once he’s disappeared upstairs. My lungs can finally breathe again. I inhale deeply before grinning at Jade, who is watching me with paint smeared cheeks. “I am starting to like your daddy a lot,” I whisper to her.

Jade giggles, unsure of what I’ve said, but to me, it makes my chest squeeze, and I can’t determine if it’s from fear or elation, but it’s a step closer to giving him more of me.