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Her hand tucked under his so that his weight was on it, pressing it into the softness of the ht around his throat and ribs, that ragged,

‘I was too young to see any of that e caypt,’ Sam said ‘All I saas a very serious, very smart boy who I wished would like me, as I knew he liked Lucas and Chase I wish I’d understood you better’

‘You were a child You weren’t meant to understand I didn’t understand And none of this excuses how I’ve treated you’

She sighed, slipping her fingers through his

‘I’e I may not understand you, but I know you I know you aren’t cruel I only need you to try to trust me a little’

‘I do trust you,’ he said the words before he even thought theh and if he could have snatched the in the darkness like a sword hovering above his exposed neck and he waited for her to expose them for the lie they were

But she merely squeezed his hand

‘You look tired’

He almost dismissed her words, but decided to try out his new resolution of honesty

‘I’m exhausted’

‘Lie down We can talk tomorrow’

His disappointment was so severe he pushed to his feet so swiftly he almost stumbled

‘Edge? Where are you going?’

‘You saidwe should sleep’

She twitched back the blanket

‘I said you should lie down And soon—it is cold in here I had forgotten how un-spring-like English spring can be’

He lay down carefully and her ed at his sleeve

‘You needn’t live up to your nae This isn’t the cot on the Lark There is plenty of room’

He sods Sae, no matter how justified Hepeculiarly tentative despite the banked fire in his body He laid a hand on her shoulder and realised with dis

‘Sam?’

‘Oh, no I just realised!’

‘What is it? Sa?’

‘Bunny!’

She was laughing

‘My sweet, fluffy bunny,’ she cooed, her hand feathering down his chest, his nerves leaping in its wake