I feel like I should find this sentiment reassuring, but for some reason I just feel a strange humiliation. All I know is I’m definitely not leaving and giving him any opportunity to claim the drumstick.
‘It’s fine,’ I say, starting to untie my shoelaces so I don’t have to look at him. He rakes his fingers through his hair as he watches me. A habit rooted in discomfort, I can only assume.
‘I’ve got some mouthwash, if you want some?’ he asks.
I glower. ‘Very hospitable of you.’
‘Well, this isn’t a hotel. It’s a tent,’ he says, gesturing vaguely around us.
‘Yes. I can see that.’
‘You want the mouthwash or not?’ he says, holding it out to me.
I snatch it out of his palm.
The zip to the tent is ripped open and Hennie’s head pokes through the entrance. Her eyes flick around the space with incredulity.
‘What the fuck? Look at the size of this thing,’ she croons, throwing the tent door open with a swish. ‘What are you doing in here? Building a land vehicle?’ She fails to control the volume of her voice and I definitely hear severalshushespress in from around us.
He just raises his brows at her silently and turns back to his bag to grab something. Probably a hair product.
I step out of the tent to talk to her.
‘I love drunk Hennie,’ I laugh. ‘I fear I don’t see her enough.’
‘I’ve only had three drinks,’ she says mildly. ‘I just can’t believe this man has led you astray into a different campsite and now I’ve lost my wake up call.’
She hands over a tote bag full of my belongings.
‘Thank you,’ I say. ‘I’m fine, Hen. I promise. I really think he’s okay. Strangely, he seems quite decent at times.’
She narrows her eyes and inspects my face.
‘How was your night?’ I ask to avoid her scrutiny.
Her face clears and she smiles serenely. ‘It was actually really fun. They’re great guys, I like them. Even if Ham is a bit of a loose cannon and nearly started a fight by accident.’
‘What? By accident?’
‘Yeah, he elbowed some guy in the face by mistake while he was dancing and nearly got in a tussle because of it. Luckily Owen sweet talked them off him,’ she adds with a grin, before she speaks again more quietly.
‘I actually kind of love these guys. Even if Elliot is a nightmare. Albeit agood-lookingnightmare,’ she adds in a dramatic whisper.
I snort and take a swig of Elliot’s mouthwash, ignoring the strange urge to defend him. I refuse to agree with her on his appearance though.
‘Hang on,’ she says, looking down at my hands with horror. ‘What’s going on? You’re not holding it? Did you lose?’
Mouth still full, I shake my head and try to mime ‘we made a deal’ by interchangeably shaking her hand and pointing at his tent. Amazingly, she seems to understand the gist.
‘Right,’ she says, nodding slowly. ‘Sure. Totally normal part of this very normal agreement.’
I huff a laugh awkwardly, trying not to spit mouthwash at her.
‘What a weekend,’ she says with wonder. ‘This might be our only alone time for the whole festival.’
‘Mm-mmm,’ I reply with a woeful intonation of ‘I know,’before relieving myself of the mouthwash.
‘Where are the boys now?’ I ask.
