Without hesitation, I turn off the display. "Everything's fine." I try to smile casually, then stand up from the chair. "We still need to tidy up."
Noah's laughter has a mischievous quality to it. "Oh yes, after a night like this..."
There it is again. That look I can't resist. I step closer to his chair and straddle his thighs. "Maybe we should make a little more chaos," I whisper, looking into hiseyes. With my hands buried in his hair, I touch my nose to his.
A throaty rumble escapes his mouth, and seconds later, our kisses turn into a blissful sigh.
"I'm afraid..." he starts between two kisses, "we don't have..." He tries to push me away. So gently that he doesn't come close to succeeding. "Enough time."
Reluctantly, I vacate my spot on his thighs. "Then let's do it," I say, grinning.
Amused by my double entendre, he shakes his head. Then he reaches for my hand and pulls me into the interior of the observatory. "I'll take care of the kitchen; you handle the sleeping area."
"If I absolutely have to," I grumble, stealing one last kiss before I get to work.
Tonight, we've made a mess of the room. Pillows are scattered in various places, and books have been swept off the desk. One by one, I collect Julian's thick tomes. To prevent them from gathering even more dust, I'll store them in one of the desk's cabinets. Noah probably won't mind.
I reach for the stack of books and open the cabinet door. But before I can slide them in, I spot medication packages.
My gaze flickers to Noah for a moment. He's thoroughly rinsing our coffee cups, completely focused. He won't notice what I'm doing here, so I quickly grab the packages and study the active ingredients.
The first medication is a gastric protective agent. Next to it is a potent painkiller typically prescribed for herniated discs.
Didn't Noah mention something about this by thecampfire? I rummage through my memory and indeed come across the information.
Because Julian spent nights hunched over the telescope, he had back pain. I look over at the two devices thoughtfully. Both have adjustable stands; Julian could have adjusted them to his height.
He must have known that; he was a professional. Why did he take medication instead of setting up an ergonomic workspace?
I would love to ask Noah about it directly, but I'm sure he will immediately shut me down if I even mention his best friend's name.
Excitedly, I take the next package into my hands. They are tablets for stomach cramps. Only one out of five hundred remains, with the expiration date far in the future. Although I can't know for sure, I have a pressing feeling that he might have been taking these pills like candy.
So he had frequent stomach pain. Maybe due to a food intolerance? But wouldn't he have been more careful with his diet instead of relying on pills to get by?
I turn the package around. It bears the sticker from Helene's home pharmacy. She must have prescribed the medication as well. So there must be a medical record. Documents that can help me learn more about Noah's friend. Information that can finally provide answers instead of more questions.
"How far along are you?" Noah's voice is suddenly very close.
Swiftly, I push the books onto the shelf of the cabinet and close the door.
"If you help me with the sofa, we can leave in tenminutes," I say, trying to suppress the excitement in my voice as much as possible. I must not let anything show. Only when I have organized my thoughts will I bring up the matter with Noah again.
For his sake. And also a bit for both of us.
