Page 56 of Our Little Moments

There’s a lull in the action, a stretch of silence that feels almost unbearable.

And then, surprising everyone, Nate splashes Hazel.

My heart stops, my attention stolen and entirely on Hazel. She and Nate had avoided splashing each other since we got here, and everyone is frozen, waiting to see Hazel’s reaction.

Her face lights up, a wide smile spreading across her features. Without missing a beat, she retaliates, her splash hitting Nate with a splash of her own. And just like that, the war is back on.

Water splashes in every direction, cold droplets flying through the air, and the creek turns into a flurry of chaos. I don’t even think, I just move, my gaze flicking between Isabella and Adrian once again, both of whom are too distracted by Jay to notice me.

Sam, Layla, and I are the only ones that haven’t been splashed a lot since the beginning of this mess—

The water hits me right in the face.

Crap.

I wipe my eyes, blinking rapidly to clear the water, and when my gaze lands on Adrian, my heart skips a beat. He’s grinning, the mischievous light in his eyes making my stomach do a little flip.

His eyes sparkle with amusement and his smile says it all,I know you’ve been attacking me since the beginning. Your cover’s blown.

I hesitate for a second, caught off guard by the warmth spreading inside me. It’s like we’re two magnets, caught in a playful tug-of-war, neither of us willing to give up first.

I flick water in his direction in retaliation, but just as I do, I feel Jay’s gaze flicker toward me. I snap my focus away from Adrian’s grin.

We were supposed to be a team here, Jay! Why are you turning against me?

I glare at him, my eyes screamingtraitorat him, but he just grins.

A laugh escapes me, and I return my attention to Adrian, who hasn’t stopped watching me. It’s impossible to ignore the butterflies that take flight throughout my entire body.

But then water crashes into me from the side.

Jay’s ability to control the wind is terribly unfair. He can send waves of water flying from a distance, keeping himself protected while the rest of us are left soaked and helpless.

Still, I can’t help but laugh.This is so much fun.

Water flies left and right . . . No, I’m just kidding, it all flies in my direction.

We’re all laughing like maniacs.

The shock of the cold water takes my breath away as I tumble off my rock, my hands flailing for balance as I slip into the creek with a loud splash.

I’m underwater for a split second, disoriented. When I break through, my eyes land directly on Adrian, who’s now looking down at me with that damn smile of his. His annoyingly beautiful smile that makes the entire world fade away.

“Having fun?” he asks, his voice playful, but there’s something more underneath it. I don’t know if it’s the water splashing around us, or the way his voice seems to carry an unspoken promise, but my heart skips a beat.

“Oh, I’m having a blast,” I reply.

Before he can respond, the water in the air suddenly freezes mid-splash, hanging in the air like a thousand tiny diamonds. We all turn toward Layla, who’s smirking playfully. We all know she’s in control now.

And with a flick of her wrist, all the suspended water comes crashing back into the creek with a loud splash.

“Come on, you three!” Layla calls out, directing her words at Isa, Adrian, and Jay. I can’t help but giggle, despite the fact that I’m soaked to the bone. “That’s enough targeting one person. We should—”

But Layla’s words are drowned out in the chaos as we all turn on her, suddenly united in our mission to target her.

She stops the water from reaching her and redirects it in all of our directions.

“You!” Layla calls to me, a grin on her face. Her voice echoes in the creek, while everyone else is silent, holding in their laughter. “I saved you from their targeting! How dare you turn your back on me—”

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