Page 36 of Just Between Us

Laughter bubbled up inside me. I was at a total loss as to what the hell had just happened. I stared up at her as I lay flat on my back. “How did you . . . ? What?—”

Veda’s face lit up as she reached behind her and pulled our flag out of her waistband.

“I grew up on a farm.” She twirled the flag like a baton. “Did I not mention that?”

I frowned at her, and she laughed, joy lighting up her whole face. “My parents worked a lot, but I had a grandpa who was nice to me. He took me target shooting in the fields behind the barn. I even joined the competitive skeet shooting team in high school. I was all-state, come to think of it ...” She shrugged. “Huh.”

Veda leaned in, and her hand patted my shoulder twice as I pouted like a petulant child. “Better luck next time, big dog.”

Veda ran off, presumably to plant our flag on her side and officially win the game. I groaned and rolled myself to stand. I pressed a hand into my paint-splattered side.

Damn, those things really sting.

Up ahead, I watched as Veda brought her team to victory. They cheered and encircled her. I hunched over, trying to catch my breath and relieve the pinch from my tender side—that shit was definitely going to bruise.

From the corner of my eye, I caught Veda’s shy, embarrassed smile as Lee and Beckett hoisted her onto their shoulders. Sheseemed unaccustomed to friends rallying behind her, and the happiness on her face intensified the pinch in my chest.

As I joined the group, I endured my fair share of shit-talking, but it was accompanied by a bit of good-natured ribbing. Veda seemed more at ease than I’d ever seen her. She accepted a water bottle, and I watched the delicate muscles work in her neck as she sucked it down.

When she finished, she gasped and shot a hot look my way. “Guess that means I won the bet.”

My heart sank.

TEN

VEDA

I’d be lyingif I said being included in the paintball outing wasn’t a major highlight for me. It was the most fun I’d had in years ... maybe ever. The Kings and Sullivans were officially ridiculous—slinging insults and jabs all day, but I couldn’t help but observe how good-natured it all seemed. For a generations-long rivalry, it appeared as though it might finally be healing.

I had even been added to the King-Sullivan group text thread the next day. It was like some strange crossover album where half of the members didn’t even want to be a part of it. I didn’t contribute to the conversation unless I was directly asked a question, but I was more than happy to be a silent observer.

Lee

Whoever shot me in the ass during round two is going to get what’s coming to him. It’s still bruised.

Whip

The way you screamed when it hit was totally worth it.

Sloane

I’m sad Abel missed out on all the fun.

Abel

I’m not.

Lark

And Veda coming out as a scary tactical badass? That was not on my bingo card.

Lee

Team Sullivan for the win!

Royal

She’s not Team Sullivan.

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