Page 5 of Diverge

“Nice to know you’ve been checking me out.” I smirk, and her cheeks flush. “Best not tell Riley about that,” I joke, and her lips curve as she struggles to hide her smile.

“I’d rather stick a fork in my eye,” she responds, as she begins packing her rubbish away in the takeaway bag.

We spend another hour talking about Noah’s love for basketball and how one day he wants to join the NBA and move to America. Every time Noah asks her about herself, she doesn’t really say much. Always avoiding the questions, talking about anything but herself. She’s good at that, directing the focus to someone or something else to avoid talking about herself or her life.

Truth is, I know Riley from the gym. We met there a few months ago, and he never really talks about his sister either. So, I don’t really know much about Billie.

Her laugh fills the restaurant as Noah continues his story about some prank he pulled on a teacher at his high school once. I notice for the first time the way she watches Noah intently as he tells his story.

Her eyes shimmer and the dimple on her left cheek appears when she smiles.

“What do you like to do, Billie?” I interject in the middle of their conversation. Not caring that it was rude. She looks at me, bemused as to why I would cut off her conversation with Noah.

“Uh, I work a lot, Nate. I don’t exactly have the time to have hobbies,” she says matter-of-factly. Noah, clearly uncomfortable with the shift in energy, excuses himself.

“Everyone works to make a living, but that doesn’t mean we stop having things we like to do.” I cross my arms, eager to push her.

“Why the sudden interest in the things I like to do?” she counters.

I shrug. “Maybe I’m interested to know.” Her eyes move to Noah, who is now standing outside talking to a couple of his friends who showed up, then back down to the table as she slouches in the booth.

Billie sighs. “Honestly, I don’t even know anymore. I studied art when I was in university, but then when our dad passed away, I needed to get a job. So, I ended up working in corporate design.” She sighs and takes a sip of her drink. “Five years later, here I am still working a job I despise.”

I can pretend like I understand, but I don’t. My job is nothing like hers. I guess you can say I amself-employed.If I’m being honest, I didn’t grow up in the best neighbourhood. Had a shitty upbringing anddefinitelydidn’t get a degree from university. I hung out with the wrong people and grew accustomed to theirways.

I’ve become better at hiding it over the years, so people just think I am a professional athlete.

“Soul-sucking corporate, huh?” Uncrossing my arms, I reach into my pocket for my phone.

“Why don’t you leave me your number, and maybe we can figure out some hobbies you enjoy together?” Reaching across, I slide my phone over to her.

“Or maybe I can teach you to defend yourself so you can come to the ‘dodgy’ side of the city and not fear being mugged.” I smirk.

She looks up at me then back down to my phone. “You know I can just ask my brother to teach me if I wanted to, right?” She smiles, the dimple on her left cheek appearing.

“Sure, if you want to learn about the history of Muay Thai, karate, tae kwon do, boxing... the list goes on.” I smirk when she lifts the phone and starts typing in her number.

Riley has a fascination with all the different fighting styles. He once went home and did a deep-dive research on all kinds of fighting styles and talked my ear off during a whole forty-minute training session about how tae kwon do is probably the best style of fighting. I, on the other hand, fight because I need to.

She hands me back my phone, and I grab it, but she doesn’t let go. “Riley cannot know.”

“Your secret is safe with me.” I wink at her and slide out of the booth. Holding my hand out to her, she takes it as she slides out of the booth, and we head outside to where Noah is standing.

“Let’s get going. Miss Quinn here needs to get her beauty sleep,” I say to Noah. Billie smacks my shoulder with the back of her hand.Feisty.I’m keen to find out just how feisty. Noah says bye to his friends as we walk to my Jeep parked on the side of the road.

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