“Fuck!”
“Got it!” Bev screams. Our team cheers from the sidelines and I pull off my mask, wiping my sweaty face and grinning as Lawrence lifts off his and rubs the slimy paint from his ears.
“So much for no face shots, huh, Red?” He lifts an eyebrow, and I can tell he’s pissed. He’s a sore loser.
“Two tough losses in one week is prone to make you bitchy. I get it.” I wink and stand up, walking away, strutting a little.
Bev is dancing on the tower with painted-up dudes all around her. “We win!”
I’m beaming at her and clapping when Matt comes up to me. “You used me as bait.” He sounds offended.
“Thanks, your sacrifice was necessary for the win. Your grandma would be proud.” I slap him on the arm.
He snorts.
“How the hell did you learn to play like that?” Brady asks as he storms over.
“I told you this was a bad idea.” Matt lifts his gun and shoots, hitting Brady in the groin. He drops to his knees, cupping and groaning. He’s wheezing as Matt calmly turns and waits out front of the bunker for Lawrence. But he doesn’t come out.
“Come on, Lori,” Matt says. “You and Brady forced me to play. You’ve likely caused the next big fight in my relationship. Come and take it like a man. BJ did.”
After a second, Lawrence walks out, wincing as if he knows how badly this will hurt. His eyes flicker to Brady who is cupping his groin and moaning.
Matt shoots once but the gun clicks.
Empty.
Lawrence smiles and sighs, but I hand my gun to Matt while maintaining eye contact with Lawrence.
We don’t speak as Matt takes it, bringing fear to Lawrence’s face as Matt fires and drops his other friend.
Bev rushes over, hugging me and waving the flag in Brady’s face while he struggles to stand. He’s having a problem breathing but he manages to wheeze, “Fuck you, Brimstone.”
“I’m going to shower and we will pretend this never happened. And none of us will speak of it in front of Sami.” Matt drops my gun on the ground and walks away.
“We sure as fuck aren’t.” Bev hugs Eddie and Branson as they arrive, both with blue paint splatters on them.
“That was some fucking shooting, girls,” Cap says, wiping paint from his face. “I’ve never seen gameplay like that.”
“My secret weapon.” Bev wraps an arm around my shoulders and grins.
Lawrence stands, holding himself.
“Want me to drive you home in your cart, Eckelston?” I offer meekly. “I got a ride here with Bev so my cart’s at home anyway.”
He glares but when he tries to take a step, he pauses and nods.
“Come on.” I walk to him and sling his arm over my shoulder so he’s fully leaning on me. “Bet you’re rethinking playing against Matt’s family again, huh?” I ask as we limp to the golf cart.
He doesn’t say anything for a minute after he sits and sighs with shaky breath. “No, I was rethinking ever peeking in your windows. You’re an assassin.”
“Don’t forget it.” I gently pat his knee and drive off, smiling again when he whistles through his teeth on the bumps.
12 Team Canada
Lori
“Let’s go, Lawrence,” Brady shouts into my cottage as if it’s a mansion and not the single room and bathroom that doesn’t require anything beyond a whisper. “The fire’s going, bro. Sami and Nat sent me to get you. They want some casual photos of the whole crowd casually drinking before the sun goes down.”
“Coming.” I walk from the bathroom, pausing to carefully adjust my tender balls in my Thursday evening chinos.
“Yeah, my dick’s still sore too,” he commiserates and adjusts himself in the spiffy pair of bespoke navy slacks. “And these pants can’t get tighter. Fucking Sami and her assigned clothes.” He grins and I know what’s coming next. “Bet you’re glad about that small dick.”
“Anyway. Is Sami better after her spa day?” I lift my middle finger and hold it out as I walk to the pantry.
“Yeah, she’s better. You can still see her eyes darting around at the workers getting shit done. She wants to say something but she doesn’t. And Nat’s babysitting her now, making sure she stays calm and kinda drunk until Sunday.”
“Good. Here.” I grab bottles of water and toss him one. “Hydrate.”
He catches it and cracks the lid, taking a huge gulp, draining the bottle, and tossing it into the blue bin next to the small desk. “Nothing but net!” He does a mock cheer as it lands.
“All right, let’s go, LeBron.” I laugh at him.
“Oh, you’re finally ready? You don’t need to spiff that hair up for a few more minutes so you can impress the ginger assassin?” He toys with my hair. “I saw you after paintball. Slinging your arm over her shoulders all pathetically. I admire playing the wounded lamb.”
“I was wounded!” I hit his hand back. “And her name is Jenny.”
“Who?” Carson asks as he comes into my cottage.
“The savage redhead Lori’s dying to fuck.”
“Oh, please fuck her. And film it. I have all kinds of ideas how it’ll be. That was hot to watch her playing paintball.” Carson shakes his head slowly. “Her and Bev.”
“Yeah, I legit almost died watching them take us down.” Brady lifts a dark eyebrow at Carson. “But this thing is scared of her.” He points his thumb at me. “He’s intimidated, knowing she would be the man in the relationship. I mean, how do you even impress a girl like that? Her cock is bigger than yours and if this were caveman days, we both know you’d be the gatherer.” He slaps my ass.
“Ouch.”
