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Ellie’s eyes widen and she bounces on her toes. “We are so winning this.”
Max looks at me and shakes his head in disappointment. He’s one of few people in here who knows I could take her anywhere in the world in a blink of an eye. And I want to, every day for the rest of her life. And I will, but in due time. I manage to smile at Ellie, despite the guilt Max is throwing my way.
“That’s not a prize when we can’t do that already,” Tori states.
“Honey, if I win, bragging rights alone will be worth millions,” Ben says, still filling all his guns with pellets.
“Everyone have a watch? Twenty minutes is all you have to find a place. Then it’s free for all.” All the guys stand, hollering, ready to get the game started. “Three, two, one!”
I glance at my watch and note the time. The adrenaline is pumping through my body as I grab Ellie’s hand and pull her outside.
“Hey, I don’t think there are teams,” she says, yanking on her hand to stop me. My brow quirks up in amusement. She holds her gun, nose up and pops her hip out. “I’m thinking I’ll go this way.” She points in the opposite direction.
“Okay, babe.” I know she won’t last but five minutes with the guys on the loose. But hey, if she wants to go at it alone, I’m all for it. I wink at her. “I promise I won’t shoot you.”
She runs through the grass and yells over her shoulder, “I can’t promise the same thing.”
Game on.
I’ve taken out four of the guys. Although, I haven’t seen the girls so I’m not sure if they’re out yet. I felt bad for taking out Ben. Max took out Stone so that put a smile on my face. Unfortunately, while I was preoccupied with my excitement, I lost track of Max.
I watch from Max’s roof for any movement. I’m in my element. Hit ‘em high and quick. After fifteen minutes of zero action, I wonder if I’m the last man standing. I’ll give myself five more minutes before I head down.
The sound of a gun going off right behind me makes me duck and roll. But it’s too late. I felt the bastard nail me in the ass. Max roars with delight when our eyes meet. I sigh and chuckle at the same time. It figures he’d find me here. Another gun goes off behind him, splat, splat, splat. Two of the three miss Max, but one hits him right in the back. We both look and see Ellie, blowing the pretend smoke off her gun and then jumping up and down.
“I won! I won! Suckas,” she yells. She runs over, slapping Max on the shoulder as she passes him, and jumps on top of me. “This was so much fun!” Seeing her excitement was worth it. Also, seeing the look on Max’s face when she shot him was priceless too.
“God, I love you.” The words slip from my mouth, her body freezes for a second and I wonder if I messed up by saying it.
Her eyes light up and she replies, “I love you, too.” I pull her head down to mine and kiss her like she’s the only air I have to breathe. She has no idea how happy she made me hearing those words. I could see it in her eyes she did, but hearing it validates everything.
There is nothing stopping us from forever now.
The talk of the game can be heard the rest of the day as we barbecue and swim. Ellie’s already been in the pool looking damn hot in her swimsuit. I almost pulled out my paintball gun and shot Hudson for gaping at her. We need more women at these parties if this is going to be a monthly outing. Her words echo in my head and I’m a grinning fool who feels like he won the lottery. I want to say it whenever I get close to her, but I’m afraid I’ll scare her off.
I pull my shirt over my head and dive in, blowing bubbles up her body as I stand up in front of her.
“Holy shit, that is not from paintball,” Stone says, looking at my bruise on my side and shoulder. “Who fucked you up?”
Ellie ducks her head and raises her hand slowly.
“Someone had batting practice last night,” I say, dryly.
“You need to tell them why.” She straightens and cocks her hip to the side, showing her feisty side. It’s one of my favorite sides. Everyone stares at me, waiting. I open my mouth to explain, but she beats me to it. “He broke into my apartment last night, except he made a shit load of noise, scared the crap out of me.”
“Duly noted,” Max chimes in from a chaise lounge. “Don’t use you when we’re doing a stealth mission.”
“I was drunk. And I was not making that much noise.” Everyone laughs at my defensive tone. I know Max was joking, but fuck if it doesn’t hurt my ego. It already stings he shot me today. I should’ve heard him behind me. Next time, I’m taking Max out first. And never trust Ellie with a paintball gun.
She was coming after me, Max just happened to be the one still alive.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Ellie
Kisses wake me from my dreamless sleep. My smile creeps up when I open my eyes and stare into blue orbs. “You’re supposed to be too excited to sleep.” The day old stubble across his strong jaw is deliciously sexy, yet the sparkle in his eyes makes him look like a child on Christmas morning.
“Then why are you up so early?” I yawn, glancing at the bedside clock. When I glance at the time, I jerk my head back. “Really, Kase? It’s only six o’clock. My graduation doesn’t start until noon.”
