Page 26 of Unwritten Rules (The Sunburnt Hearts #1)

When I’m alone in the room, I sink against the table behind me and sigh.

The conversation with Khai has left me more confused than I was ten minutes ago.

I’m nowhere closer to finding out what is going on between Sinnett and Zoe, and now I’m starting to wonder if it’s any of my business at all.

Even if I find out the truth, it won’t change the fact that Sinnett will always be just out of reach, unattainable.

My phone vibrates in my pocket, pulling me from my thoughts. Needing the distraction, I reach into my pocket and retrieve the device. Noah’s name appears on the screen, and my heart leaps with excitement.

“Noah!”

“T, it’s so good to hear your voice.” A giggle-squeal sounds in the background, and my heart squeezes knowing who it belongs to. “How are you?”

“Better, now that I’m hearing from you.” I smile, dragging my bottom lip between my teeth. “How are you doing? And my sweet niece, of course.”

“We’re both good. Missing you, of course.”

“I miss you both, too.” I pace across the room to my desk nestled in the corner.

It’s not much, only the essential office supplies and a desktop computer, but it’s more than I need.

Dropping into the black leather chair, I lean back, relishing in the pressure dissipating from my feet.

“What’s new with you? It feels like forever since we last spoke. ”

“It’s been a week, T.”

“Yeah, a week too long. Now spill, Noah. How is everything going with the new neighbour you don’t shut up about?”

Noah chuckles. “She’s fine.” A cupboard closes in the background, and I picture Noah moving through the kitchen, cleaning up after Jade, no doubt. “And the neighbour has a name, you know.”

“Yes, I know. Now talk to me about her.”

“Well, I hired Mia to babysit Jade two days a week.”

My eyes nearly bulge out of my head. “What!”

“I know, I know. But hear me out. The daycare was dropping its trading days, and I was desperate to find an alternative. Mia offered to look after Jade, and, well… I took her up on the offer.”

“I get that,” I drawl, blinking slowly. “And is it going well? How does she get on with Jade?”

“Jade took a liking to her almost immediately. It’s like my daughter forgets about my existence whenever Mia is around.”

I snort a laugh. “She’s replaced me already, I see. Well, that will change whenever I visit next.”

Noah laughs with me. “I have no doubt. You’re still her number one, T.”

I smile. “And how are you with having her in the house? I know it’s been hard for you since Em, but don’t think I didn’t see how smitten you were with this Mia girl when you mentioned her the day I left town.”

Noah exhales a sharp breath. “Mia is… great, T. Not only is she beautiful, and a mystery I want to unravel, but she brings out a side to me I haven’t known since Em.”

“And that’s a problem because…?”

“It’s not,” my friend clarifies. “It’s both terrifying and exciting.”

“So what I’m hearing is you have a crush on her.”

“Tate,” Noah groans, and I fight the urge to laugh. “Mia is a reserved person. I can’t just go in guns blazing when we barely know each other. She’s timid, like she’s fighting a silent battle.”

“It still doesn’t change the fact that you like her, Noah,” I point out. “Just accept it.”

He sighs. “It doesn’t matter what I think or feel.”

“You just have to break her walls down,” I offer with a shrug. “It’s an easy solution.”

“What if she doesn’t want that?” His words are filled with uncertainty. “I don’t want to push her.”

“Just let destiny take its course, okay? If it’s meant to happen, it’ll happen. You deserve to be happy, Noah. After all you and Jade have been through, I want this for you.”

“Me, too,” Noah murmurs, voice low.

“Anyway,” I utter, needing to change the topic before Noah starts to spiral in that head of his. “How is Nathan? He texts me every morning and night asking if I can get signatures from everyone on the team.”

Noah chuckles, and I’m reminded of the years of memories we share. “That sounds about right.”

For ten minutes, I’m transported back to Barrenridge with my two best friends.

Noah tells me about Nathan and how he’s doing at work, running an organisation that coaches basketball to kids outside of school.

He shares stories about Jade and how business at the mechanics is steady, keeping him busy.

Even though Noah is sharing menial stories that most wouldn’t care about, I’m beaming with appreciation for my friends and how supportive they are of me following my dreams in Sydney.

It’s hard to come by friends like them, and I couldn’t be more grateful.

When Noah asks about my new job, I have to keep from mentioning Sinnett.

They don’t know about my night with him and I’m not sure I’m ready to share the details with them yet.

I trust Noah and Nathan with my life, but with how confusing everything has been since that night, I need more time to figure my shit out.

A knock at the door pulls me from the conversation, forcing my eyes to meet ocean ones.

I swallow hard at the sight of Sinnett standing in the doorway, shoulder resting against the frame with his legs crossed at the ankles.

This man is all hard muscle, lean frame and an intensity that melts my insides.

The tattoos covering his right arm are visible due to the training jersey—a far cry from the hoodies I see him wearing a majority of the time.

My eyes linger on the wolf head inked into his toned forearm.

The detail on the design draws me in, tracing each line with precision.

The haunting treetops of a forest below the wolf has me wondering if there is a deeper meaning to the design or if he simply likes it and wanted it to be permanently on his body.

“Tate?”

My heart leaps into my throat at the sound of Noah’s voice. I exhale a sharp breath, pulse racing. “Y-yeah, sorry. Look, I’ve got to get back to work, but I appreciate you calling.”

“Anytime, T,” Noah responds, followed by words of warning to Jade not to put the building block in her mouth. “Talk to you soon, okay?”

“Of course.”

Noah and I say our goodbyes, my eyes never leaving Sinnett’s. He strolls into the room as I stand, hands trembling at my sides.

“Who was that on the phone?” Sinnett’s voice is deep, but the question holds no accusation.

I clear my throat and roll my shoulders back. “Just a friend from back home.”

“A friend?” He flicks his eyes to mine, curiosity seeping into his features.

“We’ve known each other since we were three. His name is Noah.”

A frown creases his brow. “Noah… Please tell me you’re not talking about Noah Sterling.”

Now I’m frowning. “Yeah, I am. How do you know him?”

Noah has been racing Supercars since he was just out of high school, so it would make sense if that’s where Sinnett had seen him before. I know it’s a popular sport these days. But it doesn’t explain the frown deepening in his forehead.

“Your friend is neighbours with my sister. Your friend hired my twin sister to be his babysitter.”

My eyes widen as the colour drains from my face. “What? Is your sister Mia?”

“Yeah,” he murmurs, folding his arms over his broad chest. “Your friend better not fuck around with my sister.”

“He would never.” I’m quick to come to Noah’s defence. “He’s a great guy, I promise. Probably the kindest person I’ve ever known, so Mia is in good hands with him.”

“He better be,” Sinnett grunts. He walks further into the room and leans his hip against the bed, eyes locked on mine. “Mia has been through a lot, so the last thing I need is for him to make things worse.”

It’s on the tip of my tongue to ask him about his sister, and why he’s so protective over her, it goes beyond just normal sibling care, but I don’t. The tension in his shoulders and the hardness of his features tells me it’s not my place to ask such personal questions.

Tension crackles between us now, weighing heavily on my chest at an almost suffocating pace. How is it possible that this man can render me speechless with so much as his presence?

“What can I help you with?” I choke out, folding my arms over my chest.

A frown creases his forehead. “We have a session booked, remember?”

My eyes round at the edges and I scramble for the desk calendar on the right of the desk, my schedule for the day as clear as day. I inwardly curse myself for being distracted the past two days and forgetting about this appointment.

“Shit,” I murmur, and straighten my spine. “Well, I guess we better get started then.”

Sinnett rolls his tongue in his cheek. He hoists himself onto the edge of the table. “Yes, we should.”

My movements are rigid as I round the desk and move toward Sinnett. His eyes track my path, and I fight the urge to shudder under his intensity. My hands tremble as I gesture to his quad, wrapped up with sports tape.

“How are you feeling?” I ask, keeping my eyes downcast on his thick thigh that could easily burst open a watermelon if he tried hard enough. “I hope the plan I created for you has been beneficial in your recovery.”

“I feel great.” Sinnett rubs his hand over the thigh in question. “The swelling seems to have gone down a lot.”

I inspect the area that was angry and swollen not even ten days ago, but is now calmer and less inflamed. My heart swells with pride knowing my knowledge and hard work have led Sinnett on a road to recovery that could see him back on the field in three weeks, if he keeps going at this pace.

“Impressive progress,” I murmur.

“It’s all because of you, strawberry.”

I lift my eyes to his, my insides melting at the warmth swirling in the sea of blue. “I can’t take all of the credit when you’re the one putting in the hard work.”

Sinnett runs a hand through the messy strands of hair over his forehead and nods. “Either way, thank you. I might actually be able to get back on the field soon.”