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“What happened?” I reach out in the dark, able to see his outline now that my eyes have adjusted.

He jerks away from me. “Don’t t-touch me.”

I’m half asleep and so fucking confused. “I can’t ignore you shivering in my bed.”

His breathing turns to full gasps, and my chest grows tight. I reach for him again.

“I said don’t touch me!”

“Christ, okay.” I throw the duvet off and get out of bed. The lump that is Noah stays put. “You can have my bed, I’ll go sleep in the spare room.” I glance down, suddenly realising I’m naked. I quickly put some boxers on.

“No,” he chokes out as I get to the door. “Stay.”

I rub the back of my neck and edge towards his side of the bed, crouching down. “I don’t know what you want from me, sweetheart.”

“I want you in the bed!” he shouts, voice cracking.

“Not touching you …” I say cautiously.

“N-no.”

“Okay, but we’re talking about this in the morning.” I get back under the duvet, shivering a little myself from the night chill and adrenaline.

I lie on my back and cross my arms under my head, listening to Noah’s breathing. It takes a few minutes for him to stop shaking, and a good ten before his breathing evens out. I’m pretty sure he’s asleep, but now I’m wired.

I check my phone. It’s only three in the morning. I want to text Rich, but it’s far too early, and I don’t want to worry him for no reason. Noah probably just had a nightmare.

I lie still and try to fall back asleep.

My phone alarm goes off at six. The room’s bathed in morning sunlight, casting a soft glow over the maroon silk sheets. I rub my eyes and glance over to my right, expecting there to be a Noah-shaped lump under the duvet—except the space beside me is empty.

I get out of bed and go to the spare room. “Noah?” The door is ajar, so I push it and peek inside, but he’s not there either. “Noah!” I call louder as I jog down the stairs.

The house is completely empty. He’s gone.

My hands grow clammy, and I can’t stop hearing his voice in my head, asking me to stay with him. I should have done more, got him to open up, or said something comforting. But what? I’m used to deflecting from emotions, not confronting them head-on.

I’m sure everything’s fine. He must have gone back to the farm. I’m overreacting, and now I’m late. I’ll have to message Richard once I’m on the boat.

I pull on my running tights and a compression shirt and make myself a chocolate protein shake with banana and peanut butter. Then I’m out the door, jogging to the harbour.

“What’s wrong with wearing tracksuit bottoms?” Luke asks as I step onto the boat.

I look down at the tight spandex that doesn’t leave much to the imagination. “These are more comfy.”

He raises an eyebrow. “They don’t look comfy, they look like everything’s trapped.”

I smirk at him as he quickly looks away from my crotch. “Maybe I like everything trapped.”

“Okay, no more talking. You’re banned for the whole day. Get your waterproofs on and hide all that.” He gestures to my body. “Let’s go.”

I only make it ten minutes before I text Richard.

Me

Have you seen Noah today?

Rich