Chapter 50 Late Night Phone Call
Returning to my apartment, I'm surprised to realise that I have a missed call and a text message from Noah. I must have really worried him if his text is anything to go by.
'Hey Eden. Let me know if you need anything at all. If you aren't feeling up to coming in tomorrow, that's okay too."
It's almost sweet. It's so out of character. He's usually so strict in his expectations. I can't imagine him giving me the day off without good cause and yet here we are. There's absolutely nothing wrong with me but the way he's acting you'd think I was in hospital or something.
I start typing out a response but have to stop when his name lights up my screen.
"Hello?" I answer.
"Hey. Are you okay?" He sounds worried and I can't decide whether I should find it cute or not. I'm not used to people being worried about me, except perhaps my grandma.
"I'm alright. I'm sorry for worrying you," I tell him as I let myself into apartment.
Once inside, with the phone to my ear, I quickly pick up the pile of letters that have gathered on the floor at the door, rifling through them. There's nothing important. Just a lot of marketing stuff so I fling them onto the side as I make my way into the kitchen.
"I was concerned when you didn't call me back."
"Sorry. I went to my grandma's for dinner," I tell him as I pull a carton of milk from the fridge.
I pour myself a glass of milk. I want coffee but I won't be able to sleep if I drink caffeine now.
"Oh, that's nice," he says, his tone returning to normal.
It's strange hearing him so worried. And about me, of all things.
"I'm sorry about today," I say, not completely sure how much I should say. I can hardly tell him why I was so out of it. He won't understand.
"It's all good," he replies, "as long as you're okay."
"Thank you."
He doesn't respond immediately and I'm not sure if I should say something. The silence isn't uncomfortable and so I'm reluctant to break it but equally, there's a part of me that wants to keep him talking, so I can keep him on the phone longer. I'm not ready to say goodbye. It's irrational but I'm enjoying this little conversation more than I should.
"What did I miss?" I ask eventually, walking out of the kitchen.
I turn on the television, muting it and turning it to the news. It's a routine I've always kept. It's just what I do when I get home. I take twenty minutes to watch the news before eating dinner or if it's this late, heading to bed.
"At work?" he asks, sighing as if it's the last thing he wants to talk about. "Not much. More of the same to be honest."
I need another question...
"You were missed," he says. It's frustrating. He doesn't say by whom and I'm nervous to ask. He's probably talking about Stacey or someone else. He couldn't possibly be talking about himself.
"Everyone missed you," he continues. "I missed you."
My heart literally flutters. It's more than I could possibly expect him to say. In fact, it's something I shouldn't even be hoping for him to say.
"Missed having someone at your beck and call to get you coffee?" I joke, trying not to overthink. He probably means absolutely nothing by it.
"Sure. That's what it is. I was dying for a caffeine boost."
I giggle slightly as I pull my feet up on the sofa and make myself comfortable. Resting my head on the arm of the chair, I close my eyes and listen to his voice. It's so soothing and I find myself growing tired.
When I accidentally yawn, I silently curse myself. Especially when he tells me he should let me rest. I want to refuse. I want to keep him on the phone but what possible excuse could I make?
"Get some rest, Eden," he says. "I'll see you in the morning."
"Thank you, Noah."
"For what?"
I'm not sure what my answer should be. For caring. For calling.
"Everything," I tell him. "Everything you did today."
"It was nothing. All I did was send you home early."
I could tell him that he's wrong but he wouldn't understand. It's not like it makes sense that his little act of kindness, this one short phone call, means so much to me.
"Don't come in too early tomorrow," he says, his tone forceful. There's no point arguing with him. It's not like I can make him budge. He's made up his mind and one thing I know about Noah is that he's a stubborn jerk.
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