Two weeks had passed since I'd made the decision to take a sabbatical from University, and I'd never felt so in control of where my life was heading.

With the extra time it had freed up, I was able to pitch for every PCJ job that came my way. From a couple of short jingles for TV commercials to briefs for some of the world's biggest pop stars, my newfound availability enabled me to go for them all.

It also helped to stop me from counting down the days, hours and seconds until Noah got home.

On the Monday he was due to arrive back from tour, I was up earlier than if I'd had classes that day. The flat was immaculate, I had a cake baking in the oven, and I'd put on a new, navy and white polka dot dress with sheer, black tights. With a slick of red lipstick, I was ready to welcome him back. Shame there was still three hours until his flight was even due to land at Heathrow.

By the time I heard his key in the door I was close to bursting point. Being the first of the month, I had almost convinced myself the whole thing was an April Fool's prank and he wouldn't be back at all. He'd barely even stepped into the flat before I launched myself at him, wrapping my legs and arms tightly around him as he dropped his bag to catch me.

"You're back!" I squealed, planting my lips on his with force.

When I finally pulled away for air, his mouth smeared in red lipstick, Noah laughed.

"Missed me, then?" he said, before meeting my lips with his again as he kicked the door closed behind him and carried me over to the sofa.

Placing me down onto it, he wriggled off his brown bomber and threw it onto the floor before sitting down and pulling me onto his lap.

"I missed you," he said, tucking my hair behind my ear as I sat straddled across him. "Three whole months together now though, I can't fucking wait."

As his dimple appeared on his left cheek, I kissed it softly then rested my forehead against his.

"Me neither," I whispered, drinking in his scent, his warmth, the feel of his hands on my thighs once again. "Welcome home."

Life with Noah back soon settled into a serene pattern of perfection. He would make breakfast in the mornings while I showered, then I would wash up while he got ready. Most days we would hang out on the sofa watching Netflix, go for a walk along the river, or spend the day in bed. After the initial fuss of us being pictured together, the press attention had seemed to die down. Other than a few fans stopping us to ask for selfies, we were pretty much left alone to enjoy doing our own thing.

I had never been happier.

On the first Saturday he was back, we were due at Alex and Charlotte's for a barbecue to celebrate their first wedding anniversary. As they'd done the whole thing so quietly, this was their chance to invite a big group of their friends and family to celebrate their marriage. Charlotte's parents were even going to be there.

It had been slow progress for her, getting them to accept her life choices, but she didn't want Erin to grow up not knowing her grandparents. For a twenty-year-old new mum, she was doing an incredible job. But, there were times when she'd mentioned how nice it would be to have her own mum around. To ask advice from, to help with childcare, to just be there for support.

I was secretly over the moon when she'd told me they were talking again. Things were far from smooth between them, but it had taken the trial to make them realise the error of their ways. Whatever she had chosen to do in terms of her relationship, she was their only daughter and they had failed to be there when she needed them most.

The thought of her rebuilding bridges with her mum made me think of my own, and how I'd treated her over the past year. I really hadn't been around enough. Considering it had been just the two of us for so long, I'd more or less left her to get on with life without me around, allowing my own dramas to get in the way. As Noah and I pulled up in his Camaro outside Charlotte and Alex's, he switched off the engine then turned to face me.

"You okay? You've been quiet today."

"I'm fine," I smiled, reaching out to run my fingers through the side of his hair. "Just thinking about my mum. We should go visit her next weekend. Give you two a chance to get to know each other a bit better."

"Sounds good," he grinned, taking my hand in his and kissing my palm.

When Alex opened the door and welcomed us in by placing flower garlands around our necks, I couldn't help but laugh. Their cosy two-bed townhouse had been transformed into a brightly coloured explosion of tropical decorations. Any doubts I'd had about my palm-tree print shorts and crop-top were soon wiped out by the sight of Kris and his boyfriend, serving drinks from a makeshift bar in the garden dressed in full fluorescent beachwear and luminous face paints.

Leading the way outside, holding my hand in his, Noah's Hawaiian, short-sleeve shirt made him look like a Fifties film heartthrob. He didn't go unnoticed, drawing admiring glances from all corners as he hugged Charlotte then took Erin from her arms and raised her high above his head.

Her excited burbling at his animated expressions was adorable. As I took one of Kris' undecipherable cocktails from the table being used as a bar, he winked at me while continuing an animated conversation he was having with an elderly lady with purple hair.

Rolling my eyes at him, I joined Noah in fussing over Erin. Before long, the party was in full swing and guests were lining up to take on the makeshift limbo taking over the patio. Charlotte and Alex were in their element, laughing as they held the broomstick between them and lowered it every time one of the boys from the band stepped up to have a go.

As I bounced Erin on my knee and cheered on Noah's rubbish attempt, I almost didn't notice Mikey pulling up the chair next to me.

"Alright?" he asked, his voice already slurring.

"I'm good," I smiled, "How are you doing? Glad to be done touring for a while?"

"Not really," he laughed. "Back to my parents' house after living the high life for months? Bit of a come-down, don't you think?"

I shrugged and smiled again. "I'm sure they're glad to have you back."

"I need to get out of there," he continued, taking a large swig from the cup in his hand. "Get myself a flat down here. Not like I can't afford it."

The words fell from my mouth before I could stop them. "I can help you, if you like?"

Mikey looked at me with a puzzled frown. "Why would I need your help?"

"Sorry," I said, shaking my head. "I like looking at properties, that's all. I'd be happy to find some options for you. I know you guys are going to be busy with the album."

He let out a loud laugh. "Do you get a kick out of being a saint or something?"

His words took me by surprise. "I'm not sure what you mean by that," I replied, my voice faltering a little under his sudden attack.

"Saint Abi," he continued, turning his body to face me as I focused on bouncing Erin up and down. "You just swan in, take over Noah's life and turn him into some wet boy who only jumps when you say he can."

I had no idea what to say. But Mikey wasn't finished yet.

"Do you think we don't know about his past?" he sneered. "You act like he's some perfect guy, but we know what Karen and her mates were doing with him all that time. You reckon a leopard can ever change his spots? You reckon with the help of Saint Abi Noah's going to become faithful? You think he's not going to constantly crave the life he used to have?"

My eyes were growing hot with tears. I fought hard to keep them back amid the revelry going on around us. To anyone else, we were just having a chat at a party. But, hidden by the noise of the music and the cheering of the guests, Mikey was shooting daggers into my stomach like a silent assassin.

"Why are you saying all this?" I croaked.

"I'm just sick of it," he spat. "It's like the sun shines out of your ass as far as Noah's concerned. You're ruining this experience for him. He should be having fun out on tour, making the most of people queuing up to be with him without having to pay for it."

I opened my mouth to speak, but my throat was dry and my mouth couldn't form any words. Luckily, a different voice spoke for me.

"What the fuck did you just say?"

Holding two drinks in his hands, Noah stepped in front of Mikey.

Looking up towards him, Mikey narrowed his eyes. "You, mate. You're blind to the good things on offer because this bitch has got you tied down, hook line and sinker."

The last syllable had barely left his lips before Noah dropped the plastic cups onto the patio and grabbed Mikey's shirt in his fists, pulling him to his feet.

"Did you just call my girlfriend a bitch?" he snarled, his face centimetres from Mikey's drunken sneer.

"Yeah," he laughed, "A bitch and a gigolo, quite the match made in heaven."

Noah pulled him even closer, their noses almost touching. "If I were you, I'd stop talking. Now."

"Why? Worried I might give away your big secret in front of all these people?"

I glanced around to see that almost everyone had stopped what they were doing and turned to see what the fuss was about. Madonna's Holiday was still blaring from the speakers on the kitchen windowsill, but the buzz of voices had died down to near silence.

"I'm warning you," Noah whispered, still holding Mikey tightly by the shirt. "Shut your mouth, or I'll knock you the fuck out."

Mikey threw his head back and laughed. "Oh my god," he groaned loudly, "Why are you so ashamed, Noah? Why are you so ashamed of people knowing you used to sell your body for sex?"

Almost in slow motion, I watched Noah's right hand pull back into a fist. As it made contact with Mikey's jaw, he stumbled backwards into a cardboard palm tree and knocked it flat as he landed on it.

Noah was on him as quick as lightning. Straddling him, he drew his fist again and managed to land one more earth-shaking blow on Mikey's face before James and Alex came running over to break it up.

Pulling Mikey to his feet, James shouted at Noah to leave it, as Alex wrapped his arms around Noah's chest and pulled him away.

A trail of blood dripped down Mikey's chin as he shouted at Noah. "You're so fucking perfect, aren't you? Untouchable Noah, the golden playboy of pop."

Noah's voice was raised in a way I'd only heard a few times before. Clutching Erin to my chest, the shock of it all finally lifted and I jumped out of my chair to run over to give her back to Charlotte.

With fury in his eyes, Noah tried to pull away from Alex. He may have had the height advantage by a couple of inches, but Alex was strong and stocky. There was no way he was letting him go.

"You're messed up," Noah yelled. "You've got too much coke up your nose to even realise you need help."

"I might be messed up," Mikey retorted, an unnerving smile plastered across his face, "But at least I'm not a man whore. Trying to act all virtuous in the press with your innocent little virgin by your side, it's so fucking transparent."

Suddenly breaking one arm out of Alex's grip, Noah swung for Mikey again but James was quick to pull him away. As he was bundled into the house by James and a couple of other guests, Mikey was shouting all sorts of insults over his shoulder. Insults that, thankfully, I couldn't quite make out in the haze of thoughts rushing around my head.

Insults that, hopefully, weren't picked up on the cameras of random guests stood around watching the action unfold with their phones in their hands.