182 Chapter 182

"I'll be with the kids," he said.

I stood up without planning. "Gus - "

"No."

"I didn't even ask anything!"

"I'm not sleeping in that tent or anywhere around you, even if you are lonely."

I felt my face heat up. "Stop treating me like a whore, I was just going to ask if you were okay."

He froze at that, already half way back into the forest.

"Lilly, I didn't mean - "

"Just get your sleep. I don't want to deal with your grouchy ass - well, grouchier than normal."

"You know I would never think of you like that. Just because you have needs does not make you a whore."

"I'm not having this conversation."

"You brought it up!"

"Damascus!" I cried. "Go to sleep!"

"Fine!" he yelled back and stomped away into the forest.

A laugh tickled the back of my throat, even as I felt like I would cry.

Why did this feel so messed up?

Thankfully, I did pass out as soon as I fell into my new bed in my musky smelling tent, and morning came far too early.