‘Yeah, join the club. It was made for one person.’
I hear a light thump. ‘Ah,shit,’ he mumbles.
‘Sorry!’
‘Could you try to restrain yourself?’
I sigh with frustration. ‘I was turning over to make space foryou.’
‘You legitimately just pushed me off the mat,’ he drawls.
‘I don’t think this is going to work.’
‘I’ll just sleep here on the floor Nora, it’s fine.’
‘Nope, come on–’
I feel around in the darkness for his arm, grab it and firmly pull it toward me.
‘You don’t need to – oh. Okay–’
‘There we go.’
‘Thanks. You’re uh, much stronger than you look.’
‘Oi,’ I object. ‘Do I look like a weakling to you?’
‘No, no.’ He sounds scared.
‘If you’re looking for a fight, Walker, I’ll give you one.’
‘That won’t be necessary. And since when do you call me “Walker”?’
‘Since when do you care what I call you?’
Despite intending for my comeback to sound light and playful, I realise that my voice undeniably comes across sullen and bitter. I feel him sit upright beside me.
‘What’s going on?’
One of my eyes peek open. I’m very aware of the sudden change in tone.
‘What?’
‘You’re being particularly… snipey,’ he murmurs. ‘Are you sure you don’t want to talk about… you know. What happened earlier?’
I almost jump at the mention of the incident. The image of Elliot’s lips on mine flashes in my mind, hot and insistent.
I huff. ‘No. I’m just sleepy and your enormous…ness is taking up half my sleeping mat.’
‘It’s not too late to go to my tent,’ he offers. His voice is soft and rumbles so deliciously close to my ear. I could simply scream.
‘Yes, it is,’ I whisper. ‘It’s far too late. I’m in my comfies and I’m halfway to snooze town.’
‘Okay,’ he replies, his voice just as quiet. He lies back down next to me. ‘I am sorry about earlier though.’
Oh no. I resist the urge to cover my ears. ‘It’s okay,’ I tell him. ‘They must pump something into the air in there.’
He huffs a laugh. ‘Yeah, maybe.’
