Page 30 of The Edge of Never

“Just get in,” I all but barked, wanting to get it over with.

“Well, you’re kind of big, so I’m going to have to lie on top of you again.”

“Aye. I know.”

And I didn’t like it.

Kit swallowed and crawled onto me before reaching up and turning out the head torch. I couldn’t breathe as they settled over me and zipped up the sleeping bag to keep the warmth in. It was a tight fit. I could feel them everywhere, but since they weren’t as tall as me, their feet didn’t knock into my ankle, thankfully.

Kit put their head on my shoulder. We stayed like that for a moment until I realised that they were lying on my arm, and it would be numb by morning if I didn’t move it. Carefully, I extracted it from below them and wrapped it around their back instead.

Kit let out a breath at the contact but said nothing.

“It was uncomfortable with ye lying on it,” I said by way of explanation.

“It’s fine.”

It wasn’t. We both knew that, but what else could either of us do? Nothing.

“So… this is a really weird time to bring this up, but uh…”

“What?”

“You’re married.”

I stiffened at their words.

“What?”

“I didn’t know, as you don’t wear a wedding ring. I just assumed… I don’t know what I assumed, but I know this is awkward, but we’re only doing it to stay warm.”

When the fuck did I tell them about Jenna? I don’t remember saying anything.

Our situation was awkward for a multitude of reasons, but none of them had anything to do with me being married. And I certainly didn’t want Kit jumping to the wrong conclusions either. However, I wasn’t going to rehash my entire tragic fucking story to them, either. I didn’t want to think about Jenna right then. Not when Kit was pressed against me. It would only exacerbate my guilt.

“It’s fine, Kit. Dinnae worry yer head over it.”

“But won’t your—”

“She’s dead.”

The finality of my words rang through the tent.

Kit went stiff as a board, making me feel even worse for saying it like that, but I wanted to end this conversation.

“Ye can rest easy. No jealous wives for ye tae worry aboot.”

“That… that wasn’t what I meant,” they whispered. “I’m sorry, Thane. I shouldn’t have said anything.”

“Aye, well, there’s nothing else tae say, so ye should sleep.”

It was clear Kit didn’t like me dismissing it that way by their wee hum of disapproval, but they didn’t make another sound after that.

I took it as my cue to get some sleep myself. And hate everything about what I’d said to them.

Ten

Kit

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