“Nolan’s been too busy planning ‘events’ at the resort with Terri.” Tanner winks.
Corbin growls. “Are we doing this paintball, or are you going to gossip all day? I have other things to do today if you’re going to gossip all day.”
“What other things?” Tanner bats his eyelashes at him. “Do tell. Do other things involve a sexy landlady?”
Corbin prowls toward Tanner but Brock drags him out of the way before Corbin can reach him. “Do you want to die today?”
Tanner snorts. “As if Corbin can catch me.”
“He has no sense of self-preservation.”
“Speaking of self-preservation.” Gage hands me a full-face mask.
I cringe. “Do I seriously have to wear a mask?”
“Yep. Non-negotiable.”
The mask covers my eyes, nose, and mouth. “If I pass out from not being able to breathe, it’ll be your fault.”
“Don’t worry, songbird. I’ll resuscitate you.” He waggles his eyebrows.
I slap his chest. “Ow. I forgot you were wearing chest protection.” I shake out my hand.
“I wasn’t planning to but you wouldn’t wear yours unless I wore mine.”
I motion to his teammates. “No one else is wearing chest protection.”
Brock shrugs. “Don’t need it.”
“He thinks because he’s the biggest, he’ll be safe. What he forgot is, being the biggest also makes him the slowest.” Tanner points at Brock. “I’m coming for you.”
“We’re on the same team, doofus.”
Nolan motions for me and Gage to join him. “Let’s discuss strategy.” He glares at Brock, Tanner, and Corbin until they wander off to the other side of the galleon.
“Strategy?” I gulp. “Why is there strategy? I thought this was a fun outing.”
Gage chuckles. “We’re professional athletes.”
I roll my eyes. “I’m aware.”
“We’re competitive. It’s in our blood.”
“I’m already regretting agreeing to this outing.”
He squeezes my shoulder. “Trust me. It’ll be fun.”
Nolan claps his hands. “All right. Listen up.” He points toward the other end of the galleon where Tanner is laughing like a villain in a low-budget pirate movie. Brock and Tanner appear ready to throw him overboard.
“This isn’t a field. This is tight quarters. Elevation matters. Corners matter. And that rope bridge?” He points upward. “It’s a death trap.”
My nose wrinkles. “So… don’t use the rope bridge?”
“No. We absolutely use the rope bridge,” he says. “If we control the lower deck first.”
He taps a barrel. “These are our offensive line. We use them. Move barrel to barrel. No sprinting across open deck unless you want to become target practice for the enemy.”
Gage smirks. “So basically, don’t be Tanner.”
