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Chapter Forty-Six

Noah looked tired. He clearly hadn't shaved all weekend and his light stubble was more noticeable than usual. As I stepped to one side to let him in, I looked down as he planted a swift kiss on my forehead.

"Alex said you were ill this morning?" he asked, sounding concerned.

"I'm fine. I just didn't sleep well so couldn't be bothered to go in today," I replied, still focusing on the floor.

After pulling off his boots and throwing his jacket down on top of them, Noah headed into the living room and sat down, patting the spot next to him on the sofa. I decided to sit a little further away, leaning against the arm of the sofa and pulling my legs in to my chest.

"Where were you all weekend?" I asked.

"I was working," he replied quickly.

"Alex said you guys didn't have any gigs this weekend..."

"We didn't. We were recording Saturday, then rehearsing yesterday."

"What about Friday night? And Saturday night, come to think of it?" I pushed, getting a little frustrated at his lack of answers.

"I've got my own things going on, Abi," he almost laughed. "I don't do everything with the boys, I do my own stuff on the side still. You know that."

Cocking my head to one side, I studied his face carefully as he spoke. He did look as though he'd been burning the candle at both ends, but I still wasn't satisfied.

"You didn't mention any gigs coming up this weekend," I continued.

"It was a last minute thing," he replied. "When I knew you'd be away all weekend I made myself free for any jobs that came in."

"I don't understand why that meant radio silence, though?"

"I can hardly text while I'm performing, can I?" Noah sighed, looking a little frustrated.

"No, but you could have contacted me after. I was worried something might have happened to you," I shot back.

"Well it didn't, and you don't need to worry about me. I've looked after myself for long enough."

"So that's what it is, then?" I said, narrowing my eyes slightly. "You just want to prove a point that you're still a lone wolf, even though we're supposed to be a couple now?"

Letting out an exasperated laugh, Noah shook his head. "Did I say that?"

"Not exactly, but it seems as though that's what you're thinking..."

"So you know what I'm thinking now, do you?" he snapped. "We've been together a couple of weeks and you think you can read my mind?"

"That's not what I meant," I responded.

"Then what the fuck, Abi?" he replied, his voice filled with frustration. "I just wanted to earn some extra cash this weekend so I could make sure our date Friday is nice, and instead I'm being told off for not sending enough messages. You know I'm shit with phones as it is. We were doing alright without them up until now."

"I just missed you, that's all," I whispered. "It would have been nice to know you were thinking about me, too."

Noah tapped his finger against the side of his head. "I never stop thinking about you, Abi," he snapped. "You're in my head every second of every day."

"Well it doesn't feel that way," I replied, a little too whiny for my own liking.

Letting out a deep breath, Noah ran his hand through his hair and closed his eyes.