Page 116 of One More Time

Standing up, I help Alec to his feet, the two of us raising our hands and moving toward the small space opposite us where we can respawn and then go back to our team. Sadly, we only make it a few yards before a BB nails me right in the nuts. I fall down to my knees, my hands covering my junk as Alec shouts at someone aggressively. If my balls weren’t crying out in pain, I’d probably get hard from how sexy he sounds.

“Oh my god. They had to be aiming for them,” I wheeze as Alec helps me stand, dragging me behind a tree. He blocks me with his body as he cups my cheeks.

“Are you okay?”

“I’ll be fine,” I say, my words coming out as more of a question. “I’m sorry I thought this was a good idea. But it’s not, Alec. It’s horrific. I’m not made for war. I am just a weakling.”

His lips wobble and he shakes his head. “It was a great idea until it wasn’t.”

I let out a small laugh and then sigh, resting my forehead on his shoulder. “God, can we just go home? I want to ice my balls.”

“Only if we can make it back to the parking lot unscathed. We may have to wait them out. Perhaps leave once it gets dark?”

Just as I say that, Ollie comes roaring out, his airsoft gun poised. “Die! Die you motherfuckers!” he screams, his voice slightly manic. He’s getting hit right and left, but he keeps going, taking out several men in the process. He’s totally cheating, but then again, what are rules anyways? No one seems to be following them out here. It’s the Wild West.

A man in fatigues suddenly stands up, scowling, and then shoots Ollie in the chest, just as Ollie barrels right into him,knocking both of them over. The man falls onto his back with an oomph.

“Get off of me!” the man roars, but Ollie is too busy trying to smash his face into the dirt.

“I’m gonna kill you. You hurt my friends!” Ollie screams.

I feel slightly bad for the man but since everyone is distracted by the two of them rolling and fighting in the dirt, we have a chance to make our escape.

When we’re finally back at the food truck, where they’re serving snacks and drinks, Alec asks for a bag of ice and presses it against my junk. I sigh, even though I don’t really feel the pain anymore. I just like having his hands on me. I always like his hands on me.

“You feel better?” Alec asks, pulling his goggles off and then helping me with mine. He has a smear of dirt across his cheek and gah, he looks even hotter now.

“Yeah, better now that we’re no longer in a war zone.”

He smirks at me, leaning in and pressing a kiss to my lips. Just as he pulls away, a man says my name.

“Jude? Jude Martin?”

My gaze shifts to someone familiar, a guy I knew in high school. One of the guys who made fun of Alec with me. A jock, a jerk.

Oh, fuck me.

“Oh, hey, Dougy. Long time, no see.” Alec’s hand slips from my leg, but I link my fingers with his and hold on to him tightly. No, I’m not ashamed. I let go of that a while ago.

“Yeah, man, didn’t know you were still around these parts. How are you?”

“Pretty damn good. And yeah, I’ve been around. Moved back after college. Just been busy with work and stuff.”

“Awesome,” Dougy’s eyes move to where Alec and I are holding hands and he glances away, either not wanting to see itor not caring either way. Doesn’t matter to me which it is. As long as no hateful words escape his lips.

I’ve done enough hating for the lot of us, to others and myself. Now I’m going through my self-love stage. I’m gonna love myself no matter what. And Alec is along for the ride. He’s the best hype-guy ever.

“What have you been up to?” I ask, and he shrugs.

“Just working down at the plant. You?”

I glance over at Alec and smile. “Well, as you can see, I have a boyfriend. This is Alec. And I just got hired at a preschool in the next town over. Have my own classroom and everything.”

“Yeah? Congrats man. That sounds awesome.”

“Yeah, I’m happy. Real damn happy.”

Dougy looks a little surprised at this, but just leans over and slaps at my shoulder.

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