Page 69 of So Steady

“Oh.”

The thought of her dad and Noah eating together gave her food extra sweetness. She thought about it as they drove back out onto the road, happy she could eat quietly without worrying Noah would get offended. When she was done, she swept the crumbs into the empty bag. The van felt cozier, sweet smelling and comfortable. High on freedom, caffeine, and sugar, she stretched her arms and legs.

“Happy?” Noah asked.

“Yes, thanks to you.”

He ducked his head. “No problem.”

Nicole yawned and then the words came unbidden,dog cunt. Brunswick wasn’t known for its crime. She was positive the trashing of his house had something to do with The Rangers. There was still so much she didn’t know about Noah’s past. Full and alert, she decided to go for it. “What was it like? Growing up a biker?”

A muscle flickered in Noah’s jaw “Shitty.”

“In what way?”

Nothing.

Nicole felt like a dick. “I’m sorry. I’ll stop asking.”

He shook his head. “You don’t have to do that.”

“But you look angry.”

“That’s just my face.”

“Not all the time. Not when you’re talking to me.”

As though to prove her point, he smiled. Then he scrubbed a hand across his forehead. “Look, what do you want to know?”

Nicole had a million questions, but she decided to go with the practical. “Are you still involved with The Rangers?”

“No.”

“Not even on a casual, snapchat-every-now-and-again basis?”

His gaze was fixed on the road. “No.”

“Then what’s the deal with your house? The spray paint and the windows?” Silence swelled between them, making her tetchy. “You said I could ask!”

More silence. She could feel his anger. It was making his face harder, clenching his knuckles on the wheel. A thrill of fear ran down her spine. How had she forgotten that she didn’t know anything about Noah except that he did tattoos and had a criminal background? That they were practically strangers?

“Noah...” She sounded weak, afraid. She tried again. “I didn’t mean to make you angry, but if you’re going to be like this, I want to go back to Melbourne.”

Noah’s gaze cut across at her and for a moment she was sure he was going to yell, then he grimaced. “I’m sorry.”

“Pardon?”

“I’m sorry for going cold on you. Wasn’t fair. I told you, you could ask.”

Nicole blinked at him. No frills. No attempt to justify his behaviour. No demand for her to forgive him. Getting an apology like that was weird. “Thank you.”

“Do you still want to head to Adelaide?”

She looked out at the fields rushing past. It would feel so deflating to go home without getting her things. “Yes, please.”

But she didn’t ask him anything else. She got out her phone and worked on the group email she planned to send to her boss and all her friends explaining her failed engagement and plans to return to Melbourne. Kim Petras sang about Hillside Boys as she added and deleted sentences, wondering whether to say Aaron had cheated, or if that would make her seem bitter.

“Nikki?”

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