Page 48 of Gone for You

“What a coincidence! Mine too!”

“Not helping my situation, Liv. My hand will get even more action tonight knowing that you’re just as hard up as I am.”

“Misery does love a bit of company.”

“Party’s this weekend. Think you can make it?”

“I’d have to shuffle around my extremely busy social calendar but I think I can make it. Do I need to bring a gift?”

“The birthday boy likes Nerf guns.”

“Sounds like it’ll be a good time.”

“Yup. Wear your armor, he’s ruthless.”

Chapter 25

Ethan

“Cover me! I’m going in!”

“Cover you? Cover me! I thought men were supposed to protect the women!” she screams, panic clear in her voice.

I snort. “Haven’t you ever heard of the women’s movement? You’re supposed to be brave and able to take care of yourselves.”

“Not when I have bullets zinging by my head!”

I turn around, a foam dart hits me in the chest as I stare at Liv, cowering on the ground, hands over her head. I bend down, pick it up, load it into my Nerf gun and raise my arm, aim and hit my target. “Bullets? They’re foam.”

“And they hurt! Sometimes. I mean, the big ones kind of do.” She peeks through her arms that are draped over her head, hair a disheveled mess, a smudge of mascara under her left eye. “Don’t make fun of me. This is a lot more intense than I expected it to be.”

I reach out a hand for her and she accepts it, looking around as she stands up slowly. You’d think with the way she was acting that we were using paintball guns rather than a children’s foam dart gun.

“Head’s up!” Rex shouts, running by wearing army fatigues, fingerless gloves, a helmet, and protective vest. He throws himself on his side, landing right in front of us as his Nerf gun zings out a fast succession of bullets. Leave it to him to have the big, fancy Nerf gun while the rest of us struggle along with the small one bullet at a time guns. Like normal adults.

He grins up at us from his place on the floor. “They missed.”

“They’re fourteen.”

“So? They’re hard core. Fourteen is more like twenty-four now with all their exposure to the internet and shit. Besides, you should be thanking me because I saved you guys.”

Rolling my eyes, I ignore his comment about saving us. “You’re blaming their time they spend on social media on how badass they are with Nerf guns?” I ask, getting nailed in the temple with a bullet. I lift my arm, aim without looking and fire one off. I hear, “Ahh! I’m hit! I’m hit! Everyone save yourselves!” off in the distance and smile.

Conner’s birthday party is going off without a hitch. Austin and he worked for an entire day plotting out the course for their Nerf battle. Samantha suggested it as a way for Conner to get to know some of the boys in his grade and from what I’ve seen, it’s a party the boys will be talking about for a long time.

Rex caught wind of what was happening when Austin and Samantha were at The Goat one night for a much-needed evening away. One of Austin’s boss’s daughters was babysitting the kids for a few hours. They spent their first date night eating fried pickles and potato skins, playing a few rounds of pool, and smiling. A lot of smiling. I introduced them to Rex and they surprised him – and me – by explaining how they knew me.

Rex listened, told them it was a rare treat to see me so generous, and informed everyone that he was coming to the party. He’s like an overgrown kid, so this shouldn’t have come as a surprise.

With his computer skills and love for gaming when he does have a few minutes to himself, he made fast friends with Conner. I may have gone a little overboard and gave him an Xbox for his birthday. I asked his parents if it was okay first. They hesitated, but when I informed them it was one that Rex had refurbished and I didn’t have to pay much for it, they agreed.

Overall, it’s been a perfect day. And having Liv here has just been the icing on the cake, so to speak. Samantha loved seeing her again, they squealed and held each other, leaning in close to talk for a few minutes before Austin tugged her away, wrapped her up in a hug and told her thank you for forcing Samantha to let her buy a certain article of clothing. I raised an eyebrow, curious what they were talking about but everyone waved me off like I didn’t need to be in the know. Pretty rude, if you ask me.

“You know what?”

“What?” I ask, entirely too amused by the way her voice suddenly sounds so sure. Like she’s mustered up all kinds of strength and courage and is about to throw down some major whoop ass.

“This is bullshit. I’m better than this.” Liv juts her chin up, squares her shoulders, moves from where she was just hiding behind me, steals my gun right out of my hand, and runs into the fray, both arms extended in front of her.

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