Page 71 of Justus
“Ifeveryone is done ogling my luscious manly body, can we get to shooting? I wantto make Dare’s hair pink,” Justus speaks up.
Weeach have a different color so we can see who hits who, though no one reallycares about keeping score. It’s a gorgeous day and I’m just happy to be outsidewith the man I love and all our friends.
Wesplit up into our teams and scatter throughout the course. Justus turns andshoots Dare in the ass before the starting buzzer sounds.
Dareshoots him a dirty look and Zoe laughs, “What are you, twelve?”
“Ona scale from one to ten.” He beams at them and we take off. The course ismassive, filled with obstacles and random items to hide behind or climb on.
I’mclimbing up a stack of hay bales when a sharp pain darts through my arm. Aquick glance tells me it was either Zoe or Landon who nailed me since the paintis green. Wow, that hurt a little more than I expected. Good thing we agreed ontwo shots to kill or I’d already be out of the game. Now, I need to get themboth.
Justushas already reached the top of the stack and he extends an arm down to help meup. “Sweets, they got you already?”
“It’skind of hard to dodge when I’m climbing.”
“Outlander!You shot my woman!” Justus yells. “She still lives!”
“Seriously,Children of the Corn? And that’s not even the quote,” I laugh.
Awhoop rings out from one of the guys, probably Dare, but I can’t locate him. Welie on our stomachs, gazing down on the course. It’s a great spot, so high upthey can’t hit us when we’re flat, but low enough to reach them with ourpaintballs when they get too close.
Thefaint sound of approaching footsteps puts a smile on Justus’s face, and he laysa finger to his lips before peeking down over the edge of the bale.
Jeremyand Frannie stand just below us, whispering and making plans, completelyunaware we’re watching them. “You take Frannie. I’ll get Jeremy,” Justuswhispers and I nod.
Theyonly get about two steps away from us before we both fire. Frannie yells as mypink paint splats on her back, and Jeremy is hit on his shoulder blade. Theinstinct to run doesn’t kick in quick enough, and I manage to get Frannie againin the leg while Justus nails Jeremy in the thigh.
Justuslets out a war cry that makes me laugh until tears stand in my eyes. “Oh!That’s right!” he gloats. “Can’t fuck with me or my girl!”
“Youknow, I hate campers when I’m playing Call of Duty, but this just works,” Igiggle.
“Notfor much longer. If they’re smart, they’ll team up and surround us.”
Imotion to a bunker about thirty yards away. “Want to try to run for it?” I ask.
“Runin a zig zag,” Justus cautions, and we drop to the ground. There’s a thinforest surrounding the field. If we can make it to the bunker, we might be ableto make it to the tree cover from there.
Ican’t stop a giggle as we dart across the field in a zig zag pattern. Thisreally is fun. A shot flies past me, barely missing Justus as well. He jumps downinto the bunker and I’m a second away when a purple stain appears on myshoulder, accompanied with a dull pain.
“Damnit! I’m out!” I laugh, jumping into the bunker. “Tucker or Leah got me.”
Justusgrins and pulls me against him. “Quickie in the bunker?”
Theloudspeaker rings out. “Player six has been eliminated. Please leave thefield.”
“Guessnot,” I reply, and he gives me a quick kiss. “I’ll see you at the concessionstand.”
Jumpingout of the bunker, I raise my hand to signal I’m already out so no one willshoot me.
“Iwill avenge you!” Justus yells, and I hear a female giggle to my right.
Frannieand Jeremy laugh when I find them lounging at a table. “See, that’s what youget for taking us out,” Frannie says.
“HasJustus been hit yet?” Jeremy asks.
“Nope,want to bet on who will win?”
“Loserbuys dinner?” Frannie suggests.
