“Heard that, did you?”
Raj laughed, counting down in his head. Three… two… one!
Jack’s vest powered back on and Raj had his gun lifted before the others had even realized what was happening. Eli was in on it, though, and got Beckett, too, who let his arms flop dramatically at his side.
At the last second, Raj winced and aimed his gun at Eli. With a pull of his fake trigger, her own vest jingled, and her lights went out.
Outraged, she turned her head to him.
Raj had to smother a laugh at the betrayal on her face. “I’m sorry, sorry. I had to,” he said.
Oh, god, he was going to regret this, wasn’t he?
“I have never…” she said, stalking closer. “…been more attracted to you,” Eli finished, crossing the small room to him.
Raj arched a brow as she neared. “Really? Never?”
Not even when they were on the roof together?
Her cheeks went as pink as her hair, but unfortunately they didn’t glow the same way.
“Another round?” the beta’s voice spilled from the speakers overhead.
The four of them shouted affirmatives at the ceiling and it was a moment before they heard a response. The base before them shifted to yellow.
“Alright, round three starts in thirty seconds. I relocated the bases. Good luck!”
“I’m gonna find you this time,” Jack promised, and pointed a finger at Raj.
Raj shrugged and spun Eli around, her back to him, backing up with her to the entrance.
He leaned down. “Split up again?”
Eli nodded, and as they finally breached the entrance, she took off to the left while Raj went right.
He was alive with adrenaline over a silly little game, and he holstered the glowing gun to climb up a ladder on the side of a little treehouse-looking building.
“Oh,” he said as he reached the top. “That was easy.”
The purple glow of their base filled the room, and he grinned. Holes were cut out of the front wall, and he stepped closer to peer through, having to bend down so he didn’t hit his head. He’d be able to see anyone who was approaching.
Awesome.
“No no no, I had that final point, I swear,” Jack argued with him as they exited the arena.
He loosened his vest and tsked. “I guess we’ll have to see,” Raj responded.
Eli was still grinning as she took off her own vest, and Raj committed it to memory. He’d have to find more exciting places like this to bring her to.
Maybe an escape room? A really difficult one, to make her sweat.
His gaze trailed to the other alphas as he hung his vest up. Maybe he’d even invite those two again.
Eli certainly adored them; it was clear as day.
“How’s your knee, really?” she asked Beckett as they followed the beta back to the lobby.
“I’ll live,” he drawled.