Page 32 of Caught in the Middle

Lucy was taken aback by his openness. Clearly, it showed on her face because Oliver asked her what the matter was.

'Nothing, I'm just surprised you told me, that's all.'

'Well, you've got nobody to rat me out to,' he teased, 'apart from maybe the wild bears.'

Even though he was joking, she grinned. It felt like he was definitely growing to like her as a person, she mused. Maybe he'd even stopped thinking of her as a child.

After they ate, Oliver set his plate down on the dashboard and checked his watch.

'Right, we should probably hit the hay,' he said, 'we've got to get up super early tomorrow, and I don't know about you, but I'm absolutely shattered.'

Lucy nodded. Now that he had said it, she was feeling incredibly sluggish and wanted nothing more than to crawl in to her own bed, with a fresh pair of warm pyjamas on and a big cup of tea.

But this stupid tent would have to do.

Oliver hopped out of the car and unzipped the 'door' of the tent, holding it open for Lucy as if she was the Queen.

'After you, your majesty, your sleeping quarters await.'

Lucy sighed and dropped to her knees to crawl inside. Oliver had laid out a large, orange sleeping bag on the blow up, and one small pillow.

'Sorry,' he said as he watched her search for the second pillow, 'I only brought one. It's not often that I have to camp, it's for emergencies really.'

She screamed internally. She wasn't sure that she could handle another night of shit sleep, drifting in and out of consciousness, startling herself awake every time she remembered what situation she was in.

She crawled back out to brush her teeth using bottled water, and ran a baby wipe over her face. She hoped that where ever they were going tomorrow had a shower, otherwise she would have to make like Oliver and wash in a bloody river.

Since when had she turned so feral?

When she crawled back into the tent, Oliver was already in the sleeping bag, and had left one side unzipped to let Lucy in.

'Couldn't you have stretched to two sleeping bags at least?' She groaned, although deep down she was secretly pleased to have another night of Oliver's body pressed up against her.

'Sorry love, again, didn't think we'd have to camp!' He pulled back the top of the sleeping bag and patted the bed. 'In you hop, you'll letting all the cold air in.'

Her teeth chattered as she rolled onto the camp bed, and snuggled down into the pillow.

'Nu-uh, you're going to have to strip.'

'Huh?' His comment took Lucy off guard.

'Yep, you're going to have to take that godawful fleece off, it'll make you colder.'

'What?! Don't be ridiculous, it's freezing in here.'

'Exactly. You'll be warmer if you strip down to your underwear - your clothes are blocking the function of what the sleeping bag was made for, to insulate the heat.'

She blinked at him through the darkness for a second.

'Seriously,' Oliver laughed, 'just trust me, you'll be so much warmer.'

She felt his cold hands slip under her fleece, as he began t slide it over her head.

'Hey! I think you just want to get me naked,' she croaked.

He laughed as he folded her fleece up and put it down the side of the tent. 'I've seen naked women before, you know.' Although obvious, this thought made Lucy feel jealous. 'Besides, I wouldn't have to use science to get you naked, Lucy, we both know that.'

She blushed in the dark as she reluctantly pulled off her jeans.

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