Chapter 2

Evelyn

"Noah?" I call his name once again, pushing the door that connects the garage to the house open and flinch, squeezing my eyes shut when the strong smell of formaldehyde hits my nose and the chemical scent burns my lungs. Stepping onto the landing of the garage, I see the reason why he didn't react the three times I called him before. He stands in front of his desk, headphones on, humming to the music as he meticulously arranges the feathers on the dove he is taxiderming. After coming back home and taking a shower, he excused himself to clean the truck as well as continue working on the bird.

I push the button at the stairs and the door lifts itself, letting a rush of fresh air into the room. His head jerks toward the garage door before turning in my direction as I climb down the steps and walk toward him. A small smile spreads across my face as I notice the pose in which he arranges the dove. It's the one missing in the living room, and then the set on the shelf will be complete .

I place my hand on the small of his back, a few inches above the pistol tucked into the waistband of his suit pants, and caress his skin through the thin fabric of his shirt.

He takes his headphones off. "Yes?" he asks, pushing up his glasses with the back of his hand.

"Dinner is ready. I already called for you three times." I smile and step closer, reaching up to push the damp tangled strands of hair out of his face, revealing his forehead. My smile widens at the sight of his full face. He looks adorable with glasses. It's been two months since he got the pair after months of him refusing to even look at options, throwing tantrums and sticking to his decision of only using contact lenses. He insisted that glasses would restrict him but when I asked him from what exactly, he didn't have an answer. I eventually tricked him into going to an optician with me and when he noticed how whipped I was for how he looked with glasses, he couldn't get them fast enough.

"Okay, I'm going to wash up and will be there in a minute." He leans down to my level to place a kiss against my lips.

I smile against his lips and raise my hand to his chest, nudging him. "And don't get distracted again."

"I won't. The other day was just an unlucky mistake," he says and already turns towards the sink in the garage. I watch his back as he walks away from me, and I can't help but sigh. It wasn't just the other day; it has been happening a lot as of lately. It's like he is completely absent at times, but he swears nothing is wrong. Maybe he is just bored. Ever since we moved away from the city, he has been trying out countless new hobbies, and to no one's surprise, the only one that seems to stick is hunting. Which I suggested but, in my opinion, also highlights his struggle to adjust to our new life. Although, he would never admit that. But our freezer plus the additional one he had to buy speak a different tale.

Lost in my thoughts, I jump as a large hand lands on the small of my back and a tall frame appears at my side. "Thanks for waiting," he says, gently encouraging me to get back up the stairs.

"Sure." I smile at him and follow his lead, returning to our open living space where the dinner table is set. While I sit down, he heads to the wine cabinet and grabs a bottle and two glasses from the top shelf. I watch him closely as he pulls the cork out of the bottle and pours a glass for each of us, thanking him as he sets it down in front of me before he settles into the chair across from me.

"Thanks for the meal." He nods and picks up his fork and knife and begins to eat as we fall into silence. The clinking of utensils and the occasional creak of the chair are the only sounds that fill the room. It only takes a handful of bites for him to drift off again. His eyes appear unfocused as he loses himself in his thoughts. This has been our routine for weeks now—sitting together in silence, and I'm tired of putting up with these quiet, awkward dinners.

"Noah?" I call to him, but he ignores me. "Noah!" I raise my voice and his head jerks up, looking at me in utter confusion.

"What's wrong?" he asks, blinking while his eyes focus on me.

"You're drifting off again." I raise my eyebrows, and he sighs in response, leaning back in his chair before bringing his glass to his lips to take a sip.

"Yeah, it's that headache again."

"Maybe you shouldn't use those chemicals in a closed room?" I ask, forcing a smile. "But honestly, you should see a doctor about this; it doesn't seem normal anymore."

"No, I'm fine. I'm just a little restless."

"Huh." I purse my lips into a pout. "In that case, have you thought about my idea for a puppy?"

"You know, I'm not a big fan of dogs or cats or anything like that." He raises an eyebrow and rests one hand on the table, drumming his fingers against the surface in a steady rhythm. I steal a glance at his hand, recognizing the familiar gesture he makes whenever he feels uneasy.

"I know you prefer birds." I chuckle and look back at him. "But if you're simply feeling restless, a dog would give you something else to do, and to be honest, I'd like it if you weren't all alone in the woods when you go hunting early in the morning."

"If the issue is safety, I literally carry a rifle and a handgun with me, and on your request, a GPS tracker."

"It's not just that. The dog could keep you company, make it less lonely."

"I like being alone out there." I roll my eyes and let out another sigh. "Why don't you come with me if you think I'm lonely?" His lips curl into a smirk.

"Because last time we did everything but hunt." My shoulders jerk as I chuckle at the memory. What was supposed to be a moment for me to learn more about hunting turned into an early morning session during which we discovered that outdoor sex can be a lot of fun.

"True." The smirk on his face widens as he nods before taking another sip of his wine. "Don't worry about me. I've been feeling a little off lately. Maybe I'm getting sick." He shrugs.

"Maybe." I lean my elbow on the table and prop my chin in the palm of my hand, looking him up and down, searching for some sign, any sign. "If something was bothering you, would you tell me?"

"Of course." He furrows his eyebrows. "Why do you ask?"

"Out of curiosity," I say with a weak smile.

"I promise." He offers me a smile and reaches for my free hand, his fingers intertwining with mine, the roughness of his skin a familiar comfort as his thumb moves in slow, lazy circles on the back of my hand. The warmth of his palm against mine travels up my arm, loosening the tight knots of tension in my shoulders. "Now let's eat before it gets cold. You spent so much time preparing this meal, I don't want it to go to waste."