Page 72 of Unwritten Rules
“But…” Gran drawls, setting my nerves on edge. “Mia did have a panic attack this morning.”
Ice floods my veins as my spine straightens. “She what? Is she okay? What happened?”
“It’s all right, Sin, she’s fine,” Gran says, her gentle voice trying to calm the turmoil in my chest. “I spoke with her earlier, and she’s doing much better.”
“What caused it?” I squeeze out, throat tight. “She’s been going to therapy, so I thought she was past this.”
“Well, you know my neighbour, Noah Sterling?”
“The guy who Mia is now babysitting for? Yeah, I know the one.”
“He left a coffee for her at the house this morning. You know how much she loves those iced lattes to get through the day.”
I frown, struggling to understand how Noah bringing Mia a coffee ended with her having a panic attack. “Gran, I’m not following.”
Gran exhales a long breath before saying, “She was freaking out because she wasn’t expecting Noah to do something like that for her. To know a simple detail about her and respond in kindness. In her eyes, the small gift was crossing into a territory she hasn’t navigated since Ryan, hence why she panicked. It was a lot for her to handle.”
I blink, processing everything Gran said. It kills me that I can’t be there to support my sister through this. I’m the best at getting her to calm down, pulling her from the depths of her mind and that dark place I don’t want to ever see her in again.
“I told her to keep her distance from him,” I rasp. “But she didn’t listen to me.”
“Mia deserves to be happy, Sin,” Gran says, voice wavering. “And I’ve known Noah for years. He’s a good man who will do right by her. If anyone can give that girl what she deserves, it’s him.”
Tatum said the same thing last week.
“I don’t know…” I run a hand through my hair, tugging at the roots. “I’m worried about her.”
“Me too, dear.” Gran exhales a slow breath, and I take this as a chance to focus on my breathing, trying to combat the storm brewing in my chest and weighing heavily on my heart. “Mia is a strong woman. I have no doubt that with time, she will get through this. And if I know anything about Noah, he’s the anchor she needs to keep afloat.”
“I hope you’re right,” I murmur. “I’ll talk to her, okay? Please keep me updated if anything else happens.”
“Of course, dear. And you look after yourself, too, okay? I know you shoulder a lot of pressure from your parents, but just remember that you don’t have to carry it by yourself.”
Throat thick, I nod. “Thanks, Gran.”
“Take care of yourself, darling. Talk soon.”
Bidding farewell to Gran with the promise of calling her next week, I shove my phone into my pocket, along with my ear buds, and push my hand through my hair. Tension pulses through the muscles in my back as I tip my head to look up at the stars. I need something to ground me before I lose my fucking mind.
Tomorrow, I’m getting Mia on the phone to find out what’s going on with her and Mr Thirty-Four Supercars driver. Becauseif he thinks he can weasel his way into her life before she’s ready, he has another thing coming. Mia is my best friend, so I will do whatever I can to protect her and her heart—no matter what.
Footsteps sound through the empty car park, falling in time with the erratic rhythm of my heart. Lowering my head, I catch sight of the one person I don’t want to see right now, much less talk to. She stalks toward me, gym bag slung over her shoulder.
“Sin,” Zoe drawls. She stops two metres from me, honey eyes roaming my face. “Fancy seeing you here.”
“What do you want?” I bite out, folding my arms over my chest. “I’m not in the mood, Zoe.”
Zoe whistles lowly. “It seems someone is in a foul mood despite the big win tonight. I thought you’d be happy.”
“And I thought you’d gotten the hint that I don’t want to talk to you anymore.”
Her jaw clenches at the jab, but I can’t find it in me to care if it upset her or not.
“Jesus, Sin, what has gotten into you?” Zoe demands, tilting her head to the side. “Something must be wrong if you’re trying to pretend you don’t want me, and then go on to ignore my texts and calls.”
“I’m not pretending,” I say through gritted teeth. “And I’m not having this conversation with you again. We keep going around in fucking circles, and quite frankly, I’m over it. So, if you can’t understand the simple phraseI don’t want you, then that’s not my problem. You need to find some other fucker to take my place because I’m done. Are we clear?”
Zoe steps forward, her hand closing the space between us to rest on my chest. Her sweet perfume invades my space, and I find myself remembering the vanilla and floral scent I have grown accustomed to.
