“What’s with all this?” I ask, gesturing around me. Then, I remember it’s pitch black and he can’t see me.
My whole body flushes, heat spreading, well, everywhere. Emotions get way too intimate in the dark. I gather my strength to stand and quickly find the light switch. The illumination hurts my eyes for a moment, but then I adjust.
Braxton sits in the tub, his back opposite the faucet and knees bent toward his chest. The shower curtain lies half on him and halfway on the floor where I was. I meet his eyes and they twinkle with mischief. He reaches over the tub and grabs a Nerf gun sitting on the floor. Not a bazooka, but something much fancier than my pistol.
Where is my pistol?
I frantically search the small room, finding it in the toilet bowl.
“You closed the shower curtain, but couldn’t put the toilet lid down?” I raise an eyebrow at him.
“Guess you’re going fishing for it.” He smirks, holding his own gun up.
“Not a chance, Rawls.”
“Then I guess you’re already out of the game because,” his already deep voice lowers an octave, “I’ve got you in my sights.”
With all the confidence I can muster after that incident, I saunter the few feet between the light switch and tub to stand directly in front of him. Bending down to get eye level with him and the Nerf gun he has pointed at me, I gently use my dominant hand to lower it and lean over, mere inches from Braxton’s lips. The moment he closes his eyes, I snatch his weapon away from him and run.
Could I have pelted him with Nerf bullets at that moment? Sure. But where would the fun in that be?
I laugh maniacally as I run back down the hallway towards the backyard. He mentioned in the note that it was an open area for the game. Before I close the back door, I hear him growl in frustration. Then he bellows, “You better be glad I love chasing after you, Bully.”
The weak knees return as I shut the back door.
No, Braxton and I aren’t over. This is only the beginning.
Because I know anytime I try to run or go to a dark place, he will be there to chase me down and shower me in sunlight. That list I made detailing reasons I couldn’t date my best friend?
It’s torn and thrown out the window, fluttering away in the breeze.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Braxton
Ican’tevenbemad at her for stealing my weapon. The anticipation of her kiss was almost better than an actual kiss. Almost.
Besides,Iknow where all the other weapons and ammo are hidden.
Snagging a Nerf rifle-style gun from inside the stove (unheated, no worries), I bust through the back door. No point in being stealthy now. I’m out for blood.
The sun has set already and the stars light up the early autumn night sky. It’s actually kinda cold for a late October night in Mississippi. I scan my surroundings. Hadley’s backyard isn’t huge by any means, but it’s big enough—and cluttered enough—for her to have squeezed into a hiding spot.
I scan the old playground equipment from our childhood, thankful she isn’t on that. That old, rotten thing should be torn down and burned. I walk to the fence line, still not bothering to be quiet, and scan the trees beyond. No sight of her. I turn around, prepared to check her grandpa’s old mustang parked and rusting away on the other side of the yard, but the weapon I so proudly boasted earlier is pointed at my chest.
“Check mate.” Hadley smirks. I raise my weapon to meet hers.
“Then why haven’t you fired?”
“I like to toy with my prey.” She winks, and her finger moves toward the trigger.
Lowering my gun so I don’t hit her in the face as I pull the trigger, the Nerf bullet finds its mark, hitting her stomach.
“Too bad I don’t toy with mine.” I laugh at her stunned expression. But that’s when the real fun begins. She lets loose, Nerf bullets flying everywhere as I run away from her. She chases me, yelling “You’re going to pay for that!”
A bullet hits my bottom, and I stop in my tracks and whip around. Hadley runs straight into my chest, her braced wrist slamming into my abs. I hold my arms out to steady her.
She grimaces in pain as she takes a few steps back from me.
