Page 38 of Prove Me Wrong (The Sunburnt Hearts #5)

Chapter Twenty-Nine

NOAH

“ H i, Noah. Where’s Jade tonight?” a familiar voice asks as I wait for Nathan to return with more drinks.

Turning, Cori sidles up beside me, her silver bob dancing around her neck as dark eyes peer up into mine.

She's wearing a tight red dress, sandals and a denim jacket. Cori is pretty, and she’s had a crush on me since high school, even though I’ve never shown her much interest. I peer down at her, giving a tight smile.

“June is watching her,” I answer shortly before swallowing the last of my drink and placing my glass down on a packed table.

“Oh, well that’s nice of her.”

“Yeah, she’s a great neighbour,” I say, not giving her much. It’s not that she isn’t sweet, I just don’t have an attraction to her and have turned her down multiple times. She just never seems to get the hint that I'm not interested in her.

Cori brings her bright pink cocktail to her red painted lips, and I advert my attention, glancing around the room. What’s taking Nathan so long?

He probably found a girl to talk with.

“You should have brought her here.” Cori continues, making me jump. I forgot she was standing next to me for a second .

Glancing down, I frown. “Jade would hate being here with a loud band. You know how she is with extreme noises.”

Her lips purse as she goes back to drinking her sickly-sweet concoction. “How’s your babysitter going?” Cori asks bitterly, not at all trying to conceal the fact that she’s still upset that I didn’t ask for her help.

“She’s great,” I answer, even though it leaves a bittersweet taste on my tongue. Mia is great with Jade, and my daughter loves her, but that’s what scares me. What if she decides that she’s not ready for this, and it not only breaks my heart, but Jade’s as well?

Shaking my head, I clear my thoughts of Grey.

I’ve spent all week thinking about her, about what is keeping those walls around her steady and iron clad.

I want Mia to tell me that she’s all in, that she’s ready to be with me, but I also don’t want to pressure her.

I want her to say the words on her own, but I also don’t know how much longer I can wait since I have Jade to consider.

“Well, that’s nice, isn’t it,” Cori chimes distastefully.

I watch Nathan approach with four drinks balancing in his arms. My eyes slide to hers. “She is nice, Cori.”

Cori smiles flatly before rising onto her heels to murmur into my ear, “When it doesn’t work out, call me.” Her lips graze my cheek before she struts off.

Groaning, Nathan hands me a drink with a lifted brow. “What did she want?”

I let out a loud sigh. “Nothing important. Just being Cori.”

He hums, putting the other drinks down before leaning against the wall beside me, scanning the crowded room. Caleb and Jason walk in, hands in their pockets. Nathan waves them over. Caleb looks like his usual moody self, while Jason smiles at every girl they pass like an excited puppy .

“Hey.” Caleb’s dark brows pump. He stops to take a drink. Jason takes the other and sips on it immediately. “When’s the band meant to start?”

Nathan shrugs. “Not sure. I think the posters said ten.”

Groaning, I pull my phone out of my pocket to check the time. It’s only quarter past nine. Opening my messages, I send June a quick text to check in on Jade. It’s not that I don’t trust her, I just don’t want Jade to be too much for her to handle on her own.

JUNE: Stop worrying and go enjoy yourself. She is asleep on my couch. Just text when you are home, and watch out for Mia for me, please.

My heart drops into my stomach.

Mia is here?

Gaze darting around the busy space, I search for her. She’s become so familiar to me that I’m hoping I can spot her easily, if she’s here yet. Eyes skimming various hair colours and heights, they fall onto her recognisable dark hair, pulled back with a brown bow, standing over by the pool table.

When I see who she’s with, my hands curl at my sides into tight fists.

Scott Benson, a year older than us in school, has always been the scum of this town.

With Chris and Liam, I know the three of them are here to cause trouble.

That’s all they seem to do, even in high school.

Known for going through girls faster than changing their socks, I hate that they’re surrounding her right now.

Stormy eyes widened with fear, arms wrapped tightly around herself, I can tell how uncomfortable Mia is with them, and she should be.

She’s keeping distance between all of them, not wanting anyone to breach her personal space.

“Noah?” I hear Caleb’s questioning voice, but I ignore it. I don’t dare take my eyes off of them .

I watch carefully as Scott Benson looks at Mia with a devious smirk that I want to punch off his smug face.

My jaw grits tightly together when Scott steps towards Mia.

His inked-up hand touches her back, gliding down further to stop on her curve, and I see red.

My heart is racing as I step away from the boys, towards them.

Leaning down, Scott whispers something in her ear, and I know it's not something she’d want to hear.

Charging over, vibrating with anger, I yank his arm off so violently that Scott is thrown off balance, stepping away from her. Turning, I stand between him and Mia, pinning her between my body and the exposed brick wall. Scott shoots dark daggers into my eyes, his jaw gritted.

But he doesn’t realise how furious I am myself.

“Don’t you dare touch her,” I snarl murderously, my eyes burning with rage.

Scott’s buddies flank his side, arms crossed and faces sharp, but I don’t care. I’ll take them all on if it’ll keep Mia safe. She’s my main priority right now, and I won’t let any of them near her.

I feel her body shaking behind me like a leaf as Scott’s gaze narrows, his head tilting to one side.

A menacing glower takes over his brutish features, trying to intimidate me, but it’ll never work.

It might have been daunting in high school, but now it has no effect on me.

He touched her and has to be taught a lesson for once.

“Step aside, Sterling. Go find someone else to hit on,” Scott spits at me. His shoulders lift as he tries to get me to back off, but I know I’m stronger than he is. He might be taller, but I’m not letting up.

I don’t move. I don’t even blink at his dark eyes.

His jaw clamps tighter, gaze sliding to lock onto Mia over my shoulder. My hands fist, knuckles turning white. I feel the thumping in my throat, blood boiling in my veins as I stare him down. “Look at her again and I’ll knock your teeth out, Benson. ”

Scott dares a step closer, his nose almost touching mine, eyes remaining fierce. “Or what? You’ll fight me on it?”

I stand my ground as Caleb, Nathan and Jason move into my peripheral. “Leave her alone.”

“Fine, widower, ” he grits out, but I don’t let it affect me.

At least not right now .

“Take the little hussy then. She’s not worth it, anyway. You know how much I prefer girls with racks.”

My teeth grind to the point where they might snap apart as my veins fill with fire. I lift my arm and hit him square in the cheekbone.

Scott’s head flies backwards, and in a heartbeat, his friends move to get me. Knuckle blaring with pain, I push Mia into her Jason’s arms, narrowly avoiding a blow from Liam. Caleb comes for him, knocking Liam aside. I see Nathan handling Chris beside me. Unfocused, Scott hits me right in the gut.

Grunting, I bend over for a second. Scott smirks down at me, red blood trickling from his nose, preparing to make another move.

Closing in on me, I kick my foot into his knee, and it makes a sickening crack.

Scott falls to the timber floor, writhing in agony, and I can’t wipe the smirk from my face.

I have waited years to teach him a lesson.

Liam comes for me again, but Caleb tackles him to the floor. Nathan has Chris in a tight headlock and Jason protectively stands in front of Mia as Scott grovels in pain.

Leering over him, my smirk falls, eyes glaring daggers into his. “Go before I bruise up your pretty-boy skin more,” I grunt out furiously. “Get out.”

Liam spits at me before slinging an arm under Scott’s and hauling his friend out of the pub. I then realise how much quieter it’s gotten in here. Music plays, but there’s barely any chatter or movement as all eyes watch us.

Chest heaving heavily, I spin to face Mia who’s vibrating all over, silver eyes flared and brimmed with tears when they lift to meet mine. Pale pink lips tremble as Mia stands like a shaking statue, unable to control her fear.

“Grey,” I whisper, heart cracking seeing her looking so frightened. Ivy and her friend’s approach us. I don’t want to scare Mia any more than she already is, so I hold out my arm, keeping everyone else away from her as she starts sucking in air.

Eyes focused on mine, fat tears slip down her rosy cheeks, and from the rate at which her chest is breathing, I can tell she’s about to panic.

Glancing at Nathan, who is watching her cautiously with Caleb and Jason, I grit, “I have to get her out of here.”

“Take the car,” he says, grabbing my keys off the floor and shoving them in my hand. “I’ll catch a ride with them. Go.”

Gripping them tightly, I turn back to Mia. Reaching for her, her blonde friend pushes her backwards, snapping at me, “You’re not taking her anywhere.”

Frowning, my jaw clenches when the blonde girl tries throwing her arms around Mia, who nudges her off.

“How do you know Mia?” I ground out. Grey comes towards me, and I pull her into my protective arms, heart pounding knowing that she feels more comfortable with me than her friend.

She’s trembling, and her breaths are too short, like gulps.

It’s only a matter of time before she starts hyperventilating and we need to be outside for that.

I doubt she’d want to lose control here with all these people watching.

“She’s my friend,” the blondie supplies.

I scoff loudly, barely containing my rage. “Not anymore,” I grunt. “Stay away from her. ”

Leading Mia towards the back entrance of the pub to give us some privacy, the door swings open into the alleyway behind the building. The air thick and cold, steam lifting off the damp pavement, I close it behind us.

Mia instantly gasps when the fresh night air hits her, inhaling deeper than she has in minutes, giving me some sort of relief.

I don’t let go of her, not wanting her to feel alone right now, waiting for her to calm down.

I’ve had my fair share of panic attacks, remembering how they take over your whole body, fighting every instinct shooting through your mind.

You can’t make sense of anything, and the thought of breathing normally again seems too far-fetched, that all you can do is wait for your pulse to stop drumming, body to cease shaking.

Head tipped against my chest; Mia’s shoulders shake as she gives into the tears.

Crying into my chest, all I can do is wrap my muscular arms tighter around her, reminding her that I’m here.

“You’re safe, Mia.” I murmur against her temple as she starts crumbling apart, trembling against me like she’s been doused in ice.

I know the feeling too well, and I know that all she needs right now is to know that she’s protected and to feel in control. And all I need to do is wait.

“Please don’t leave me.” Mia silently cries against the soft fabric of my top. I keep her against me, the heat of her body mixing with mine as we stand in the cool air, waiting for her to calm down.

“I’m not going anywhere.”