Five Ways to Fall (Ten Tiny Breaths, #4)(34)

“Too bad you’re not allowed to climb the trees,” I murmur with a head shake as I watch Reese wrap her arms around a tree branch and start pulling herself up. Handing my gun to Mason, I hook an arm around her small waist and yank her down just as she’s about to throw her leg over it. “I have a feeling you’re worse with following rules than I am.”

She answers by spinning around to train that gun of hers on my chest. “I’m also not against shooting my own team members.”

I chuckle, pushing it away. I know she’s telling the truth. “You want to get kicked out of the game? Because there are refs everywhere here.” The playing field is so big, they ride around on ATVs.

“I was merely trying to get a better—”

Her words are cut off by the clicking sound of a semiautomatic gun and bursts of paint splatters nearby.

“Take cover!” Mason’s girlfriend, Lina, shouts, oddly enough sounding like a soldier as she bolts, running for the small shack about twenty feet away. We’re all tight on her heels, diving into it as the assault continues. Mason’s howl just as he rounds the corner to protection tells us we have our first casualty. Lina spins him around to confirm the big blue splatter on the back of his tidy plaid shirt. “Yup, you’re dead.”

“That hurt,” he complains.

I hear a fake cough muffling a “Sissy” coming from Reese as she peeks out the small window, followed by a soft punch in the shoulder from her friend Nicki.

“What do I do now?” Mason asks, ignoring his stepsister.

Someone outside answers for us. “Guy in the plaid shirt! We know you’re hit! Don’t be a cheater and try to wipe off the paint!” he yells.

“I’m not cheating!” Mason exclaims with indignation. “I don’t cheat!”

“Yeah, whatever,” comes the lazy reply. “Come out where we can see you with your hands up!”

“There’s some real wackos around here,” Nicki mutters, sticking the nose of her gun through the hole to shoot a few rounds out.

“I guess I’ll wait for you guys at the front,” Mason mutters, stripping off his purple band and heading out, his head hung a little. I actually think he was having fun. Plus, being the first one shot down in a group of girls probably hit his ego a little.

“Don’t worry. I’ll take care of the ladies for you,” I announce, stretching my arms out to reach around all three women as we watch Mason trudge down the path through the tiny window, toward the group, his purple band held out in surrender.

And that’s when all of them let loose, paint pelting the skinny guy as he lifts his arms, trying to protect his chest from the sting of being that close.

“Those motherf*ckers!” Lina screeches, elbowing me out of the way as she tears out of the hut with Nicki trailing her, guns out and firing ahead of them in a manic “banzai!” charge, yelling at the stop of their lungs while Reese and I watch from the safety of our hut.

When it’s all done about twenty seconds later, all four male opponents and both Nicki and Lina are out of the game.

And Mason is covered in paint from head to toe.

“Poor f*cker,” I chuckle. “I guess she must really like him.”

“No, that’s Lina. It’s inevitable that she goes kamikaze at some point. I’m surprised she lasted this long.”

“Go win for us!” Nicki shouts with a wave. “We’ll wait for you at the gate.”

Reese sighs, shoving my arm off her shoulder. “Well, this isn’t going to be a long game.”

“We could always hide out in here for a while. Regroup. ” I smile, taking in her cute little camouflage outfit. The pants are tight around her ass, making it look all the more round and appealing.

Her mask shifts as she shakes her head. “Even though I can’t see your face, I know you’re checking me out.”

I burst out in laughter and she responds by shoving me. “Shhh! We’re hunting!” She leans forward to peer out the window, muttering more to herself, “You’re too loud!”

“Fine. You go and hunt. I’ll just be back here, admiring the goods.” I pull my mask off and lift the hem of my shirt to wipe the sweat off my face.

“Not allowed to take your mask off while out here. I thought you were all about the rules,” Reese mocks, pulling her own mask up to show her flushed cheeks, covered in a sheen of sweat, her hair in a damp, messy ponytail. Her eyes skate over my uncovered stomach for a second before landing on my face again, a strange expression touching her mouth.

I can’t help myself. “Thinking about yesterday, aren’t you?”

She rolls her eyes, but I don’t miss the tiny smile that curls her lips. “No. Are you?”

“I haven’t stopped.” I’m not embarrassed to admit it. Fooling around with Reese was fun. Especially in front of that jackass she was stupid enough to marry. What is it with chicks going for the dark, moody, tattooed types? Because I can tell that’s what he’s like, just by the look of him. And even with the Stepford wife leeched onto his side, I caught the sharp glare he was shooting my way. I’m not surprised. I don’t see how anyone can’t miss kissing a girl like Reese, especially with the dime-a-dozen girl he hitched himself to.

Reese, well . . . she’s all angry and fire-breathing bitchy until her lips find you, and then you’re sure she must have a cocaine-laced tongue because you can’t get enough of her sweet mouth.