Page 38 of Unwritten Rules
Khai waves me off with his hand. “Not a chance. You’re not getting rid of me that easily, Sin. Nice try.”
I chuckle and shake my head, watching as he throws the gym bag onto the front seat of his black Range Rover and tears out of the car park, leaving me alone with my thoughts.
My phone vibrates in my pocket. A burst of light blinds me in the darkness when the device flicks to life, revealing a text from my sister.
MIA: I saw the results of the game tonight. I miss seeing you out there.
SIN: Trust me, I miss being out there.
MIA: I hope so… How’s the recovery going? Surely you’re on the mend.
SIN: It’s going as well as I can hope. My new physio’s schedule has done more in the past ten days than my previous schedule. If all goes well, the six-week check-in appointment should yield good news.
MIA: I’m so glad to hear that. Gran has been asking me how you’re doing. You should call her more.
SIN: I know, I know. I’ve been super busy with training, and don’t even get me started on Mum and Dad.
MIA: That bad, huh?
SIN: Ever since you moved to live with Gran, they’ve been insufferable. More than their usual amount.
MIA: I’m sorry you have to deal with them alone. You know how hard it is for me to talk to them, especially Mum, with all things considered. I just need some time to figure everything out.
SIN: I can handle them, so you don’t have to worry about it, okay? I’ve got this.
MIA: Thank you, Sin. I appreciate it.
SIN: All you need to do is focus on being there for Gran, doing things for yourself that make you happy, and not crushing on your neighbour.
MIA: Sin! I don’t have a crush on Noah.
SIN: Mia, we’re twins. Did you think I wouldn’t notice the eyes you gave him in the cafe before I left or pick up on the way you speak about him?
MIA: I don’t have a crush on him.
SIN: If it helps you sleep better at night, you keep telling yourself that, twinkle fingers.
MIA: UGH! You’re so annoying.
SIN: Only to you.
I chuckle to myself as I slip my phone into the pocket of my jeans. When I helped Mia move to Barrenridge, the last thing I expected was for her to be neighbours with Noah Sterling—a Supercars driver for Reign—much less be hired as his babysitter all within three weeks. I warned her not to go there with him, not because I don’t trust him, but because I’m not sure if she’s ready to let a man close to her heart again after her dickhead ex-boyfriend fucked her over.
It’s hard having her so far away, but I know she’s safe from the pressure of our parents and the ghost of her past. And as long as she’s in Barrenridge, she has the freedom to finally figure out who she is and what she wants to do. I might not physically be there, but I’ll be by her side every step of the way.
With a sigh, I walk to my car, my path lit by the streetlamps lining the outside of the car park. Few cars are left, likely belonging to the stragglers inside, but one car does catch my attention. I can’t make out the colour from here, but it appears to be a Jeep. Someone has the bonnet flipped up and is digging around, balancing on their toes.
I detour from the direction of my car and approach the Jeep, hands shoved deep in the pocket of my hoodie. “Do you need some help?”
The person gasps and spins on their heels, oil splattered across their face and neck. My stomach does somersaults when my eyes clash with jade, flooding my veins with a fire I only feel with her.
Tatum wipes her hands down the front of her shirt, chest heaving. “What are you doing here?”
I raise my brows at her. “The question should be what areyoudoing here? I thought you left ages ago.”
Tatum pops a hip, her hands finding them easily as she holds my gaze. “Keeping tabs on me, are you?”
Yes. “No,” I answer too quickly, hating how eager I am to talk to this woman. “Is everything all right with your car?”
