"I'm fine." Wow. Can he be anymore insincere? What an ass.
I can't feel any of my exposed skin, and my fingers are too numb to work right. Even so, I'd rather sit here and shake all night and risk freezing to death than trespass in his sleeping bag after such a forced offer.
"It's not a request," he says in the tone he uses with the kids.
I laugh. "Whatever. Like that shit works on me!"
He says nothing. Jesus, I'm cold!
"Come on, I'm serious," he says.
"Yeah, you sound really eager to share. I'm fine."
"Katya, you would make a terrible, terrible Marine. That said, you gave up your sleeping bag so Rory had one, which was a very sweet thing to do. The least I can do is share," he says in a softer tone. "I don't mind too much."
There are times when he eggs me on and those when he says something I don't expect. I touch my cheek. It's hot, the only part of me that is, after my little tiff with Harris. No one's ever slapped me before. It hurts more than I expected.
Then again, my hand does as well. Captain Mathis was right about the dangers of punching someone. My wrist feels swollen. It's not the first time things got weird with Harris, but it's the first that he actually hit me.
I'm not sure what to think about that.
"I'm okay here," I respond, drawing myself out of my thoughts. "I appreciate it."
"One."
I raise my head.
"Two."
"You are not counting down like I'm -" I snap, anger warming me from the inside out.
"Three."
"Son of a bitch. Fine!" I sit.
"Shoes, socks, rain gear off," he repeats.
I didn't wear raingear, remember? I keep quiet. I'm too soaked to get in fully clothed. After fumbling with my shoes and socks, I pause, considering. He really doesn't want me in there if I'm drenched and muddy. As reluctant as he is to share, I decide I'd rather be warm than anything else, like remain in these cold clothes. Besides, this might be a good chance to mess with him a little for his snide remarks about the menu I picked out this week.
Peeling off my clothes down to my bra and underwear, I sit, shivering. "Okay."
He rustles around, making room I assume, and I scoot towards him. One foot finds the sleeping bag, and I slide it in. My god, it's warm from his body heat and the insulation. I can't wait to melt into it.
Captain Mathis' hand finds my thigh, and I stop moving, struck by the heat and weight of his hand.