Peeking around the tires, I see Max aiming at a point in the crow's nest, still as a statue and waiting for movement. A moment later, it comes.
Pop pop pop.
"Damnit!" the kid yells from his high-up spot, begrudgingly lowering his paintball gun from where he had poked his head out to level at Max. Three spots of yellow paint are splattered across his chest and shoulder.
Max lets out a whoop of joy, and then he's straightening from his crouch and walking around the tires, a look of victory on his face as he nears the ladder going up to the crow's nest.
Pop pop.
My brow furrows in confusion.Where did that shot come from? Max never raised his gun.
Then he turns around, his jaw slack and his chest painted in pink.
Who…?
My question is answered when I hear a sultry laugh from somewhere ahead of me. I can't see her, but I'd recognize that sexy sound anywhere.
"Didn't your mama ever teach you not to celebrate early?" Dani asks.
I can't help it. I start laughing.
"Dude, she totally got you," I cackle, doubled over with tears leaking out of my eyes. "And you're a competitor! What the fuck, man?"
Max goes from shell-shocked to annoyed in an instant. "I wouldn’t laugh too hard if I were you. She's coming for you next."
That sobers me in an instant. I'm still hidden where I am, but I don't know where Dani's shot came from and no idea where she is. I peek over the barrier to try to locate her.
And promptly get shot in the face.
"Ohhh fuck," the little teenage shit gasps from where he's still waiting in the crow’s nest, watching this whole thing unfold.
"Are you fucking kidding me…" I grouse, pulling off my helmet when I'm blinded by the pink paint splatter on the face shield.
This time, Dani's laughter is joined by Max's. I still can't see her, but I settle for glaring at my best friend, ignoring the fact that I was just laughing at him for the same thing.
"Should I feel bad that I found that to be the most entertaining part of the day?" Dani asks with a chuckle, appearing from behind a barrier not far behind the crow's nest. The paintball gun is braced on her shoulder, her posture and lazy gait making her a vision of confidence. And that's not even considering the arrogant smirk on her face.
"What are you even doing back here?" I ask instead. "I would've thought you'd play offense."
She shrugs as she stops beside me. "I made defense my offense. I knew if I could take you two out, I could just grab the flag afterward myself."
And as a grin stretches across her face, she readjusts the gun in her hands and starts to back away to likely do exactly that. "Looks like I was right. Who's your daddy now, pretty boy?"
Then she turns and lopes toward the end of the field.
For a moment, Max and I can only stand there in shock. Then…
"Holy shit, I think I'm in love," I whisper in an awestruck voice.
"Me too," I hear from the crow's nest.
* * *
Dani's already waiting for us in the parking lot when Max and I finish returning all the gear. She's leaning against her car, shades on as she scrolls through her phone, looking every bit the self-assured victor.
"Feel like celebrating your victory?" I ask when we reach her. "I promise we won't be sore losers."
She tucks her phone into her back pocket, the corner of her lip twitching upward. "What'd you have in mind? I would've expected you guys to be too tired to celebrate."