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Melissa was also a big part of his plans. It surprised him when he thought about it, because with past girlfriends, his focus had never been diverted from his musical goals. More than once, this was the reason that his relationships ended. It wasn’t selfishness on his part, or at least he didn’t think it was. It was just that he’d never been with someone who he had pictured in his long-term plans. But she was in all of them now. He’d always found the thought of spending your life with one person a bit scary – never being close to another person or having that exciting feeling of a new relationship. But she’d changed all that. It may have been only a month, but he knew she was the one he wanted to be with. The fact that his friends seemed to like her too was a bonus; there had been one or two girls in the past who hadn’t fitted in – usually too wrapped up in themselves to bother getting to know his mates. They were the people he spent most of his time with, and he was nothing without them – they were like family. Melissa had just slotted into the role of being his girlfriend so effortlessly, and vice versa. It just seemed natural. His plans for his future and the band’s therefore naturally included her – it was as though she was their fifth member, even though she didn’t sing or play an instrument. He trusted her and valued her opinion, so it meant a lot to him that she approved of what they did.

He was still awake, his thoughts flying around in his head. He decided that he needed to hear her voice, to settle him down and put that tiny bit of doubt out of his mind. So he dialled her number.

‘Are you worrying?’ She sounded sleepy when she answered.

‘A little – everyone’s asleep, but I can’t shut off.’

‘Can you get to me?’

‘Of course, babe. I’ll be there in half an hour.’ He knew he should be sleeping, but there was only one place he wanted to be right now. He called a taxi, leaving a note for his sleeping band mates to pick him up from her house in the morning. He just hoped they could be trusted to get up on time.