He concedes, switching it off at the wall.
Once we’ve plonked our bags down and gotten used to the cramped space, we take turns in the bathroom. It’s just as tight in here – I have to sidestep into the shower. Once I turn the water on, I can’t seem to make it cold enough. It’s tepid at best. I dry off then dress into some clean knickers and pull the J4S black t-shirt back on, as it’s practically a nightie anyway, before running a brush through my wet hair and pulling it over one shoulder.
Back in the room Gus is frowning at his phone in deep thought.
“Everything alright?” I ask. My brain skips straight to the part where he’s been found out, his team are on the way to get him, and I’ll be stranded alone again. I should be fine with that, but something squeezes somewhere. Somethingcrazy, like I’d miss him. Or miss the company, at least.
He glances up quickly like he forgot I was there. His eyes snag on my bare legs for half a second before he finds my eyes and smiles. “Fine,” he says. But it feels so forced, I can’t be sure. He takes his turn to shower and when he comes back out any trace of upset is gone. It’s slightly cooler now that the sun has set and the windows are open, but not by much. I settle on the lumpy bed, eyelids heavy, mumble good night and kill the lights.
It’s then that I hear Gus’s broken breathing as he fidgets on his carefully laid-out blanket and pillows.
“Are you ok?” I whisper in the darkness.
“Mmm. Fine,” he says, utterly unconvincingly.
“Are you hurt?”
“Nope.”
“Gus,” I warn. “I’m a big sister. I have a sixth sense for this stuff. I can tell something is wrong with you.”
“I’m ok, Sara,” he says but his voice is so schooled I can tell he’s lying.
I sit up and glare down at his long silhouette on the ground. I close my eyes for a second as I feel my brain trip over itself with compassion. I could be so powerful if I just stopped caring.Think of the things I could do.“Gus. Would you like to swap?”
He laughs, a strained sound. “Sara, I could be dying and I would still insist you had the bed.”
“Why?”
“Because…”
“I’m a woman?”
“I didn’t say that.”
“Were you going to? Is it because you’re infected with thepatriarchy?” I tease, attempting to get a rise out of him. I know he isn’t. All the same, it’s fun watching him squirm. “I forgot to throw a shot of vodka at you earlier. Is it because you think women are the weaker sex? Is it chivalry?”
“Holy shit.Sara.I didn’t mean…” He breathes out heavily, barely disguising the hiss of pain as he rolls onto his back. “Look, I’m fine. I’d say the same thing to anyone, man or woman. Please go to sleep. It’s not a big deal.”
“Nope. I won’t be able to now, knowing you’re suffering on the floor.”
I swing my legs out of the bed and pull the top sheet off, scanning the floor for a good place to throw my pillow.
“What are you doing?” Gus grunts as he sits up. “I’m not suffering. It’s a light backache from all the walking.”
That does it. “Swap. Now.”
“No. I’m not swapping.”
“Then I’m going to match your stubbornness and sleep down here too.”
Gus groans before resorting to more exasperated laughter. “Sleep on the bed.Please.”
“No.”
“Ugh. What if we both sleep on the bed then? But top and tails?”
“I donotwant your blistered, clumpy feet anywhere near my face.”
