Page 3 of Prove Me Wrong (The Sunburnt Hearts #5)

Chapter One

MIA

Present

“ T urn down the music, twinkle fingers,” my twin brother, Sinnett, grumbles from the Audi beside me. The engine roars, but it's no match for the song blasting from my speakers.

Windows down, enjoying the light autumn breeze flowing past, he pulled up next to my Jeep at the red light to growl at the level of my rock music playing. Meeting his blue-green ones, mine shimmer with amusement as my smirk grows wider in my balmed lips. “Nope.”

“Mia.” I turn and tightly clench the steering wheel, ignoring his rising tone. “You’re going to have an accident with it that loud.”

“Music doesn’t cause accidents, Sin. Only incompetent drivers do,” I retort, not glancing his way again, knowing he’s probably giving me his signature glare right now. I’m used to it.

I feel the irritation pouring off him like steam evaporating from here as the light flicks to green, and I press the pedal to the floor, zooming past him. Smiling, I feel the wind through my dark hair as I follow the road into Barrenridge .

The small town three hours away from Sydney—from home— is going to be my oasis for the foreseeable future.

I’ll be able to breathe without Mum's constant scrutiny, reminding me that I failed to follow in her successful footsteps. I never wanted to be like her, and with my traumatic past, I don’t think I'll ever live up to her standards now. I’m hoping my anxiety won’t rule me like the dark monster it’s become in my life.

My past is behind me in the city, and a fresh start waits for me in Barrenridge.

I’ll be able to live freely, something I have been craving for weeks ever since I agreed to move to the small town to live with Gran.

She was diagnosed recently with severe arthritis, making it difficult for her to handle menial tasks around the house.

Our grandad passed away two years ago, so she's all alone in the house.

Someone needed to be with her, and with Sin tied to his NRL career, and my parents not wanting to step away from their hard-earned jobs, I was the last person of interest left.

Luckily, I was itching to leave, and here I was being handed the perfect opportunity to do so.

The only thing keeping me in Sydney was my part-time job at the bookstore, but I didn’t really have friends—apart from my old roommate, Lila. Otherwise, there was nothing else keeping me there.

In fact, I wanted to get out of there the moment I felt threatened by Ryan’s possessiveness and abuse.

I should've left three years ago when the cracks in my heart began to show.

But it was as if I were tied to the city by an invisible string.

No matter how many times I was tormented in my sleep by that night, or the daydreams I would have about seeing the tall buildings of Sydney in my rear-view mirror, I couldn't find the strength to leave. Until now.

"New Sensation" by INXS plays through the speakers, but my annoying ringtone suddenly cuts it off mid-lyric. I groan at Sin’s name on my screen. Pushing the phone button, I mutter, “What now?”

“I can still hear it from here, twinkle fingers.”

My stormy eyes roll magnificently as I slow down for the speed sign. “You like rock music. How many concerts have we been to over the years together?”

“Too many to count, but I don’t like you listening to it that loudly. You need to concentrate.”

“You sound like Dad,” I murmur.

His frustrated groan comes through the speaker, and I sniff a laugh.

“Shut it.” My lips roll to stop a laugh from coming out of my mouth. “Don’t you dare say that again.”

“Then stop telling me what to do,” I counter. Sin sighs again. “We’re almost there anyway.”

The Barrenridge sign stands beside the road, lined with evergreens shading the single lane leading into the quiet country town.

Golden and copper leaves dance along the asphalt, pine cones dot the surface, and the sweet smell of earth, wood and moss is thick in the air, invigorating my nerve endings. I've missed the scent of this place.

As children, we travelled here regularly, and I still get giddy every time I see the timber sign welcoming us.

It reminds me of the summers our family used to drive up.

Sinnett and I would swim in the river all day and then sit by the fire at night, roasting marshmallows that we would throw at each other for fun until they got stuck in our hair. It was a nightmare to clean out .

Since Sinnett and I graduated from high school, the four of us haven’t driven out together, and the last time I was here was when Grandad died. I’m hoping it doesn’t taint the fond memories I still carry with me about this town .

“I'm just looking out for you, Mia. It’s what I’ve always done and what I’ll always do,” Sinnett mutters through my car speakers.

A smooth lump sits in my throat because I know my brother will do anything to help me.

He’s always looked out for me, especially when I needed to escape my abusive ex-boyfriend, who forced himself onto me.

He’s tainted the way I see men, unable to trust them.

I never want to fall for anyone again. I never want to give my heart to another man because I know it’ll just end with me hurt—emotionally and physically—and I am not prepared to go through all of that again.

The memories of him still make my skin crawl like bugs nipping at my flesh, staining a part of my life I want so badly to forget, but I fear I never will. I’ll always be this damaged girl, ridden with anxiety and too afraid of letting people close to me.

Sinnett was there when I needed him, and he’s still here now.

“I know,” I utter softly, gripping the wheel tight enough for my knuckles to turn white, willing the memories to fade away like clouds dissipating. “Thank you for helping me out this weekend.”

“You got it, twinkle fingers.”

I groan heavily and rest my head on my arm, held up by the window ledge. “Piano is a legitimate hobby. Besides, I tried ballet...”

“No, Mum forced you out when you injured that girl by kicking her off the stage,” he reminds me in an amused tone.

“She was irritating me. And it’s not my fault she called me dainty because I could spin better than her,” I spit.

Sinnett’s chuckle flows through the speaker. “And ironically, now you’re twinkle fingers. Talk about dainty...”

My teeth grit as I straighten my spine. “Maybe I should have stuck with ballet then. ”

“You would have been called twinkle toes then.” He laughs even harder this time, and I bite down a grin.

“Whatever. Piano is an important skill to have.”

“So is tackling men and scoring,” Sin counters proudly.

I can imagine the big, goofy smile he has right now.

He’s always loved playing rugby, and it shows in his multi-million-dollar contract with the North Sydney Wolves.

Dad was a player as well in his younger days, and although he might have pushed my brother into the sport as a career, Sinnett loves it and is a top player in the league.

I snort. “Yeah, but at least you’re paid to do that. I was forced out of the dancing school for it.”

“You wouldn’t have lasted there anyway. You’re not mean enough.”

“Dance girls are mean?” My voice rises with curiosity. “Have you not watched those shows with the crazy mums?”

My eyebrows furrow. “No. Have you?”

Sinnett goes quiet, and I snicker loudly.

“Look, sometimes there’s not much on during the week when I can’t sleep,” argues my brother.

“Sure…” I drawl out as a grin takes over my face.

“If you mention it to anyone?—”

“You’ll cork me in the leg, I know, I know.”

Sin sniffs a laugh. “Damn right. You know the deal. Every secret told, corks are rolled.”

My head shakes as I hold in a laugh. “I can’t believe we made that pact when we were seven and it still holds.”

“Yeah, but it’s a good one. We knew back then that Mum and Dad would be just as suffocating as they’ve grown to be.”

I lean back into my seat in silence. I don’t want to think about either of them right now .

Turning down Gran’s street, I pull up in the driveway as Sin parks out on the road in front of the older-looking country home.

Cream paint is beginning to peel from timber and moss grows on the roof tiles, turning them a greyish-green shade.

The sunlight makes it look as pretty as it did when I was a kid, but I see the strain in the weatherboard walls, the dip in the eaves and dust lightly coating the windows.

It’s looking worn and aged but well loved.

Pushing the Jeep door open, I climb out and see Sinnett slowly getting out of his car.

Slamming the door shut, he groans while stretching his limbs as I approach him.

Sun beams down on me, heating my skin and hair, glaring off his shiny dark car.

Leaves crunch under my runners as I ask, “How’s the leg? ”

Sinnett’s face levels with me, and I see the pain running through his bright blue irises. I know him far too well for him to hide anything from me. Besides, I'm convinced that twins can feel each other’s pain or at least read it better than anyone else.

“Sore,” he grunts out, massaging his quad muscles. “Sitting in a car for three hours also didn’t help.”

“I’m sorry,” I squeeze out, glancing down at his bandaged leg. “You didn’t have to come with me, though. I can move all of this on my own.”

Sinnett's jaw clenches and he turns away, my eyes landing on his broad back. “I’d be a terrible older brother then, wouldn’t I?”

Snorting a laugh, I walk to his open boot filled with boxes of my things. “You’re only older by fourteen minutes,” I point out.

Sinnett’s eyes land on mine and he grins. “Fourteen minutes count, twinkle fingers. Now grab your things to take inside. I’m starving .”

“We ate before we left, Sin.”

“That was three hours ago. I’m an athlete, Mia, and as an athlete, we have to eat?—”

“Yeah, yeah…” I cut him off as I grab two boxes and start carrying them towards the front door.