Page 87 of Prove You Wrong

Ella visibly blanches. ‘Mum!’ She laughs nervously. ‘I wasn’t, but now I am.’ Grinning awkwardly, she says, ‘I’m supposed to be fixing Helena … but now I’m wondering if I should hang out in here?’

‘To make sure I behave?’ Her mum cocks her head, pretending to be stern.

Chuckling, I lean back on the counter with my arms folded to watch their banter.

‘No grilling poor Nate.’ Ella’s eyes dance as she wags her finger. ‘Orembarrassing stories from my childhood.’

‘The sooner you get Helena sorted,’ she thumbs towards the garage, ‘the sooner you can get back to policing me. In the meantime, I promise I won’t terrorise your … ’ Gabby gives me some serious side-eye before choosing the word, ‘friend.’

Ella scans between me and her mum a couple of times before settling her gaze meaningfully on me. ‘You okay cooking out here or do you want a hand?’

Holding my palms up with a smile, I try to reassure her. I can tell she’s overthinking every little thing. ‘It’s all under control. No need to worry about me.’ I want to do this for her, so I can brave a few questions from her mum.

Ella’s attention goes back to Gabby. ‘Promiseyou’ll keep out of his way?’

‘Guide’s honour.’ She gives a funny little salute.

Ella’s eyes narrow. ‘You told me you were chucked out of the Guides.’

‘Now who’s telling embarrassing childhood stories?’ Gabby puts her hands on her hips in mock consternation.

Ella gives me one last look to check I’m okay and I waggle my eyebrows to communicate everything’s cool. She seems to accept this and says, ‘I’ll be in the garage if you need me,’ before disappearing from the room.

I carry on chopping the last few ingredients while Gabby bustles around clearing the draining rack. I’m relieved no awkward questions are posed.

A minute later, Chloe walks in. ‘Oh, hey Nate, what’s for dinner?’

We bump fists like we always do when I pick her up in the mornings.

‘You’ll see.’ I squat down to slide the full dish into the oven and check the temperature is right.

Turning around, Gabby is regarding me curiously and Chloe, who’s now perched on the kitchen surface, has a knowing look on her face. I get the feeling they’ve been mouthing something behind my back, and that now I’m outnumbered. Gabby looks like she’s about to start asking those awkward questions.

Shit.

I’m not mentally prepared for this.

Bail out.

‘I’m just gonna go and see … ’ I tail off, gesturing in the direction of the garage.

‘Go and see if you can help her with thecaragain?’ Chloe’s mouth contorts with a smug grin.

Exiting the kitchen as quickly as possible, I say, ‘Nice to meet you Gabby.’

There’s no doubt Chloe has fully figured out what Ella and I were getting up to the other day, and Gabby seemed like she was reaching the same conclusion. Fuck. Now I’m going to have to sit through dinner pretending I don’t have the most inappropriate thoughts about Ella.

‘How’s it going?’ I ask Ella as I step into the garage, shutting the door behind me.

She pops her head up from under the bonnet, an adorable smear of oil on her cheek.

‘Something’s not right.’ She looks flummoxed. ‘It’s still not working.’

‘Can I help?’

‘No, but thanks.’ A small smile teases her lips. ‘I thought it was the radiator hose; it was kinked and wearing. I’ve replaced it but it’s still not sorted. I should probably call it a night.’ She stretches and I catch her round the waist, my hands bunching in her cute overalls. ‘Don’t really want to head inside with a full house though.’ Her eyes glint with mischief.

I run my thumbs from her ribs to her waist, loving the feeling of her even through her clothes. ‘It felt like it might get a bit intense in there with your mumandyour sister in the kitchen.’

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