Through the Screen novel Chapter 22

"adrian! open the door my hands are full!"

noah called, leaning against the opposite wall, too lazy to keep the bags down and search for the keys. he shook his head a little to get out the damp hair plastered to his forehead due to sweat, groaning in annoyance when they stay put.

noah was surprised to say the least when the door was opened, and he was greeted by a tall man, almost as tall as abel, instead of adrian. his eyebrows furrowed in confusion as he stared at the stranger, letting his back off the wall and taking a hesitant step forward.

"am i in the right house?" noah tilted his head slightly and the man just let out a soft laugh, biting his lip and getting out of the way to let noah enter.

"um, hey, abel was setting up the dinner table and adrian was in the—i'm chris by the way, sorry that you were—" noah tuned out the unfamiliar man's northern accent, his expression slackening slightly.

why would abel call him for dinner? without letting noah know?

"oh that's okay," noah regained his composure, swallowing the uncomfortable lump in his throat, giving chris a hesitant smile. noah noticed the way chris was slightly nervous around him, his hands fidgeting with the hem of his shirt and his olive eyes wandering away from noah's.

he was attractive.

and noah hated that.

"i'm noah," noah settled the bags on the dining table, offering a hand for chris to shake and chris just smiled, taking his hand. "abel 's husband," noah sounded a little harsh, emphasising a bit more on the words but chris seemed oblivious, his smile just growing a little bit more.

"i'm aware," he nodded, ending the awkward handshake. "i'm chris, abel 's best and probably only friend," chris laughed a bit when abel snorted from the kitchen, obviously having heard the conversation between the two men.

best friend?

"of course, i've heard a lot about you," noah forced another smile, loosening the tie around his neck and gulping again, walking further into the hall and towards the kitchen, where abel was stacking plates and spoons and forks, his back turned to noah.