She glances up at me, then taps out her reply.
I know who you are. He let YOU drive his car?
The laugh bursts from my lips before I can stop it.
Not by choice. But she drives like a dream.
The petite blonde who shares Zac’s eyes scowls at me, which only makes me laugh more. I like her. She types furiously before handing my phone back to me.
Hand over the keys. I’ll drive you home.
I shake my head, not ready to die on that hill. Even I know how protective Zac is of his precious car.
No can do, kiddo. I’ll get my housemate to pick me up.
Her scowl deepens. I hold out my hand for my phone,but a sly smile crosses her lips, and she tucks it behind her back. She holds out her other hand for Zac’s keys.
Not a chance.
Our friendship is shaky at best. If I let his sister drive his pride and joy, and something happens, it will be my arse on the line. Not to mention, it isn’t the easiest car to drive, and she doesn’t look old enough to have had her licence long.
Faking her out with a step to the left, I pivot to my right and pluck the phone from her grasp. She tries to get it back from me, but I hold it out of reach.
Opening my messages, I shoot off a text to Jasper before turning back to Zac’s sister. I tap out another message and show it to her.
Here’s the deal, mini Kincaid. When your brother’s feeling better, I’ll convince him to let you take it for a spin, but not tonight, and not by yourself.
She folds her arms across her chest with a huff, but when I shoot her a pointed look, she nods. With a grin, I guide her out of Zac’s bedroom and downstairs to wait for my housemate.
While we wait, I’m surprised to learn she can talk. She didn’t lose her hearing until her teens, but even though she can communicate, she was testing me out upstairs. Since I seem to have passed, I get her to teach me some basic signs, and I actually have fun hanging out with her. So much fun, that when I escape to my room after dinner, I find myself going down a rabbit hole of Auslan videos, trying to learn all I can.
Chapter 18
Zac
Ispend the weekend in bed sweating out the flu and cursing my stupidity for trying to push myself and going back to classes too early. Of course Noah had to play the hero and drag my sorry arse home. Amelia’s been singing his praises ever since.
Which is why I find myself standing on his doorstep Monday night after training. Coach had me in the gym with the team doctor doing a fitness test while the guys were on the pitch, so I haven’t had the chance to thank my captain yet. Or ream him out for driving my car.
“Yo, he’s alive,” Dane jokes as he opens the door, holding his hand up for a high five as he steps back to let me into the townhouse.
I shoot a wry grin at my replacement. “Sorry to disappoint.”
He chuckles. “I won’t lie, man, it’s been nice to get some pitch time. But we miss you out there.”
“Thanks,” I say as I follow him into the living room. “I miss being out there, but I’m not gonna lie, I’ll need to ease myself back in. That flu hit me like a fucking freight train.”
His grin widens as he drops onto the couch. “I’ve got your back. So, what brings you here?”
I rub the back of my neck. “Is Noah home?”
Dane doesn’t even blink an eye. “Yeah, he’s in his room. Upstairs, second door on the left.” His attention drifts back to the movie playing on the television, and I glance over my shoulder towards the staircase.
I’m tempted to just holler for him to come downstairs, but my feet drag me to the second-floor landing. His bedroom door is closed, and I don’t hear any noise coming from inside as I hover in front of it, but I don’t want to walk in on him and Hannah if she’s here.
I also don’t want to unpack why that thought makes me feel sick to my stomach. She’s his girlfriend. She has every right to be here.
Before I can turn tail and leave, I knock on the door and wait.
