I wasn’t quite sure whether to be charmed or offended, but in a fit of self-preservation, I decided to settle for charmed. “I appreciate that, Barnaby. I’ll keep making you proud.”
“Is that Miss McKallen ‘iding behind your shoulders?”
His frank question takes me by surprise, and my brain shuts off for a second before Jade steps out from behind my back. “Hi, Barnaby.” Jade gives him a megawatt smile that strikes me dumb momentarily.
Barnaby’s eyes dance between us, alight with the kind of glee one gets only when they’re in on a secret. “Saw your name on the bookins list but thought it must’ve been a different Jade McKallen until I looked up and saw ‘im. Figured it couldn’t ‘ave been a coincidence at that point.”
“Sherlock should fear for his job.” Barnaby goes quiet before bursting into laughter. “Look, I’d appreciate it if you didn’t mention seeing us here. I wouldn’t want anyone to get the wrong idea.”
A blank stare crosses his face before a giant, mustache-covered smile replaces it. “I ‘aven’t the foggiest what you mean. I’ve never met neither of yous.”
“Good man.” I make a mental note to send him some tickets in the post when I get back to the stadium.
Barnaby corrals us all together to make his introductions. “Alright, lads and ladies, who here has done archery before?”
I whip my head to Jade, who has a big smile on her face that makes me decidedly not want to be anywhere people are around. “This is what you picked for our date?”
“Is it a date? I don’t think that was ever established.” Coy sarcasm drips from her smart mouth.
She yelps lightly when I pinch her side in retaliation, and everyone turns toward us, looking mildly annoyed. I mouthsorrybefore leaning over to whisper, “You know it is.”
“I tried to choose something a man would like to do. Did I do okay?” There’s a brief flash of insecurity on her face, but it’s gone in a second.
I shift my body to stand behind her, wrapping my arms around her waist and resting my chin on her shoulder. “You could have dragged me to the market for the weekly food shop, and I would have had the best time. I enjoy everything I do when I’m with you.”
“I hate that I love how cheesy that sounded.” I place a peck against her neck, and she squirms in my grip.
“Behave and pay attention before you get us in trouble,” I reprimand, smiling down at her.
Someone to our right in the group coughs loudly to get our attention, and we both jump, refocusing on Barnaby while he goes through all the safety precautions of handling a bow and arrow before instructing us to sign the liability waiver and grab equipment from the cabinets.
They lead us outside, and everyone in the group lines up in front of their assigned targets, awaiting instructions from Barnaby on what comes next. An overeager gentleman from down the line steps forward to grab an arrow out of the quiver a few paces in front of him, but Barnaby blows a whistle that’s materialized out of nowhere so loudly, the fellow drops the arrow and clutches his ears.
“No touching the arrows ‘til I say so, understand?”Gone is the jovial man who looks like he belongs with the Fellowship, and in his place stands a drill sergeant.
We all murmur our understanding before he goes over all the safety precautions one more time, passing out three-finger gloves and forearm guards to each person.
He suits himself up next, showing us how to secure the garments, and goes straight into demonstrating how to hold the bow, making us all pull on the centre of the string so we can feel the resistance.
After thirty minutes of instruction, getting used to the weight in our hands, and faux nocking that leads to letting us fire arrows off at the dirt, Barnaby has finally decided to let us take aim.
Jade steps up first, looking like a modern day Artemis—confident, strong, and so absolutely beautiful, I feel like an arrow is flying through my chest every time I see her. Today, she’s clad in soft denim and a plain white long sleeve t-shirt that hugs her body, and sneakers. It’s the most casual outfit I’ve ever seen her in, and this comfortable, carefree version of Jade is so cute it makes me want to throw myself in front of the target just to put me out of my misery. I would gladly stand at the tip of her arrow if she’s the last thing I get to see.
I pull myself out of my borderline pathetic thoughts. “Bad time to mention I had a huge crush on Katniss Everdeen growing up?”
She pulls the loose hair off her neck, lifting it into a ponytail that showcases the long column of her neck. “What was it that got your gears going? The archery skills, or the pretty face?”
“It was her smart mouth, actually. I guess I’ve always had a type,” I say pointedly, looking up to find the sun gilding her face in gold. She’s rolling her eyes at my words but a smile lights up her face, and I feel like the luckiest bastard in the world that I put it there.
“Careful; my aim’s just as good as hers.”
“I don’t doubt it, Hellfire. If anyone’s going to be a natural, it's you. Unless it’s crochet, at least.”
Her eyes narrow. “Low blow.” She grabs an arrow from the stationary quiver in front of us.
Jade gets in position, widening her legs and raising the bow in her left hand while nocking an arrow into the centre string.
I step up behind her, so close that I hear her breath hitch, and the warmth of her back heats me through my clothes, warding off the chill in the air. “I know you just wanted me to touch you.”
