Page 8 of Prove Me Wrong (The Sunburnt Hearts #5)

Chapter Five

NOAH

“ D amon!”

My voice echoes through the garage that reeks of grease, metal and petrol. I’m changing the oil on an older Ford, and the damn cap won’t screw back on. I’ve fiddled with it for a minute, but it just won’t go back on.

“Damon!” I yell louder, hoping to get my boss’s attention.

My mouth opens to yell when a calm voice breathes down my neck. “Right here, buddy.”

I jump from his nearness, banging my head on the bonnet. Damon chuckles with amusement. Metal digging into my skull, I rub at the area while tossing him a cold glare.

That’s going to hurt tomorrow.

“Sorry, but it was just too easy.” Damon’s shoulders jiggle as he laughs, a hand on his non-existent stomach.

My jaw grits as I force the cap into his hand. “You need to get a wife. Someone else to torture besides me.”

“Pfft, I hardly torture you.”

My tongue pokes the side of my cheek as he pushes me out the way, easily screwing the cap on, like he’s rubbing it in my face.

“Yesterday you poked your head in through the window when I was fitting in new brakes. You don’t ever scare a man when he’s working with tools. That’s mechanics 101,” I grumble.

“So, I did scare you, didn’t I?” Damon wriggles dark brows. I groan, rolling my eyes.

He pushes back, slamming the bonnet shut, the motion vibrating the wooden walls of the garage. He wipes his greasy hands on stained blue overalls. “Speaking of a wife, have you found anyone special yet?”

I scoff, thinking of Mia. I’ve been thinking about her proposition all morning, knowing that Jade is most likely at the daycare, crying.

She’s always hated going there, but there’s nothing else I can do.

“No. I have to be looking in order to find someone, and I haven’t done that since Jade was born.

I don’t exactly have the time or energy. ”

He gives me a twisted smile before stalking over to the Toyota he was working on before he thought that scaring me out of my skin was a better idea. “I think it’s time for you to go out there and get down with a lady.”

“Firstly,” I raise my dirty index finger at him, “nobody younger than thirty says 'get down' anymore. And secondly, if you somehow forgot, I have someone I am busy raising. I don’t have time to date.”

Damon knocks my finger away from his older face, giving me a condescending smile. “Jade isn’t even two yet. She doesn’t know any better. And you’re allowed to be happy.”

“I am happy," I retort, putting on a false smile to prove my point. Damon deadpans. “I mean with a woman, Noah.”

I sigh, leaning against the Toyota’s spoiler. “Damon, we have been over this before. I can’t date. Jade is my first priority, then this, and racing comes second. I don’t have time for anyone else right now. ”

Damon’s raven eyebrow arches. “I feel like I should fire you for not putting your work first,” he grumbles out. “But I won’t...”

“You wouldn’t, anyway. You know there’s nobody else in Barrenridge that can do what I do. And nobody would put up with your annoying ass for eight hours a day.”

He snorts a gruff laugh. “Yet you want me to find a wife?”

“I want you to stop trying to scare me into having a brain injury,” I grunt.

“It’s not my fault you hit your head,” he counters.

I deadpan. “It kind of was since you were the one sneaking up on me like a snake.”

Damon laughs huskily before grabbing a floor roller. “I’m not going to apologise for bringing some fun into the workplace.”

“Even when it’s in a garage full of fumes, petrol and sharp tools?”

He shrugs, and I just shake my golden hair at him. “I’ve survived here for twenty-something years. I think you will as well.”

I sigh right as the phone rings in the office. “I’ll get it.”

Drying my dirty hands on my overalls, I reach for the landline.

My eyes glance around the small office with a messy desk full of paper, a torn desk chair haphazardly shoved away, business cards and spare bolts.

Rims sit in a corner for the Holden we need to repair tomorrow, a pinboard takes up one wall with a bunch of out-of-date appointment cards and old companies Damon used to deal with, a torn desk chair, and the mini fridge Damon and I use to store our lunches.

“This is Noah,” I say into the receiver, taking a seat in Damon’s chair.

It’s soft and way too flexible so I’m not game enough to lean fully against the back.

The two of us have a bet that the person who breaks it has to buy a new one, and I don’t want to break that bet.

Not that I can’t afford the chair, but it’s been four years and something Damon and I have bonded over. But, also, we do need a new chair …

“Hi, this is Darline. I am just wondering if my Focus is ready to pick up?”

I look out into the garage at the aforementioned Focus that has rudely left a bump on my head.

“Yes, ma’am, it’s ready.”

“Great. I will be there soon.”

The corner of my mouth ticks upwards. “No problem.”

Grabbing the keys from the hook, I move the car into one of the car spots outside with the rest waiting to be collected.

The sun streams down, blinding my eyes as I slam the door closed and lock the car. It’s bright out, and I usually forget how sunny it gets since I’m stuck inside most of the day. Sweet summer air fills my nostrils. It’s warm and fresh, the complete opposite to inside the garage.

“Noah!”

Groaning, I stroll back in to see Damon rolling out from under the car with a torch in his mouth and a spanner in his hand.

I rush over, pulling the torch out. Damon grins widely. “Not as bad as I suspected. Just need some new pads.”

“Cheaper than you quoted.”

Damon uses my hand to help himself up. He’s forty-four and in a mindset that has him believing he’s in his early twenties. Acting like we’re the same age, the only telltale signs are the wrinkles in the corners of his deep blue eyes and the flecks of silver in his hair.

“Focus is getting picked up soon.”

Damon nods, swapping out his spanner. “Same with the Hyundai.”

“I’ll get the invoices ready then,” I say, turning towards the office.

“You can leave after that, Noah.”

My face peers over my shoulder. Damon rubs at the back of his neck. “It’s only three. ”

“Yeah, but I know Jade is sick and you’ve been worrying about her all day. Go pick her up and I’ll handle the pick-ups on my own.”

My eyes narrow on his as a smile creeps onto my face. “Is this your way of apologising for scaring me?”

He huffs a gruff laugh. “No. I’ll never apologise for being entertaining. You should try it sometime.”

“I'm fun,” I grit out.

“Says the man who has been grumpy since he walked in here this morning.”

“That’s because of Jade,” I mumble and dig my palms into my eyes. Damon tilts his head at me, and I nod, giving him a small smile. “Thanks.”

Patting my back, he walks me over to the office. “I was a young dad too once, so I know the feeling. I can handle everything. Jade needs you today.”

***

“What do you mean you’re cutting days?” I grunt, crossing my arms over my broad chest.

Cori, one of the daycare workers, tightens her lips. “Jump Start has to drop its opening days from five to three because our funds are too low. We aren’t exactly booming here, and we aren’t receiving any more help for the rest of the year.”

I blink at her. “It’s only April. ”

“Exactly,” she whispers, tucking loose strands of dyed silver hair behind her ear. “Look, I wish we didn’t have to do this, but it’s either they cut down the days, or close the daycare altogether. There’s nothing else we can do.” Her tone sounds as deflated as I feel.

I run my tongue across my teeth. Rubbing at my stubbled chin, I take a moment to think about the situation. Maybe this is the perfect timing. Maybe this is what I need to jump on Mia’s offer to look after Jade . I know she might have only meant it as a once-off, but it’s worth?—

My thoughts are abruptly cut off when Cori reaches out, her light fingers stroking down my shoulder, feeling the roundness of my muscles. I flinch at her touch but don’t push her away.

“I can take her if you need someone to help you?” Cori’s dark brown eyes stare up into mine, voice smooth.

They’re coated in a whisper of desire that makes my stomach twist. I know she has liked me for a long time, but I’ve never given her anything to suggest that I want her.

She’s just never gotten the hint. Her touch feels like acid, burning along my skin uncomfortably.

My pulse races restlessly. “I am happy to help you out, Noah. I hate that you live there on your own now.”

My throat burns as I bite the inside of my cheek, tasting the metallic tang of blood, and shake my head again. “Cori, don’t.” My voice is low and rough, not wanting her to go there.

She purses her glossy lips, moving closer. The scent of her overpowering musky perfume almost makes me sneeze as she leans in and touches my arm again. “Come on, Noah. I want to help you out.” She purrs under her breath, “And if something else happens, then…”

I pull my arm away and grit my teeth. Jade latches tighter to my leg. Pulling my daughter up to my hip, I glare down at Cori, whose eyes are slitted. “ No, Cori. Just stop.”

Cori’s face scrunches as she crosses her arms. I couldn’t care less if I’ve offended her.

If someone needs to watch over my daughter, it will certainly not be the girl who has chased me since she realised how wealthy my parents are.

Joke's on her because I haven’t spoken with them since Jade was born.

“Fine,” she spits. Turning on her heel, she storms over to a mum who has come to collect her three-year-old son.

I exhale, feeling beat after the long day.

Jade pokes the side of my cheek. Looking at her, she smiles her tooth-gapped grin, and my heart settles once more.

“I’m glad you’re feeling a bit better now.

Come on. Let’s get you home,” I murmur and kiss her temple before walking her out of the stuffy building.

Driving home, I feel the angst bubbling inside of me. I try the breathing exercise I was taught months ago to collect myself. In for five, hold for five, and out for five.

It’ll be fine. It’ll all work out.

I repeat this process the entire drive home until I pull up, grab Jade and her backpack, and stalk over to June’s house.

Knocking on the front door, my nerves jitter as beads of sweat form on my forehead.

I don’t know why this is so nerve-racking, but the moment the door opens, and hazy eyes meet mine, my breath becomes heavy, heart pounding wildly.

“Hi, Grey.”