Page 152 of Coff

“I thought you were going to leave without me, but there was no way this was going to be it. I’m never leaving you again.”

CHAPTER35

Delaney aka Jolene

Three monthslater

I’mnervous as I step into the Morgan Thompson Security building. It’s the first time I’ve been here. Logan, or Coff, as I now call him to prevent saying the wrong thing, has been working here for a few months, and today is the first day all the guys are in town at the same time. Apparently, on those rare occasions, they have some sort of huge paintball competition here. And since we still aren’t going out in public very much, they decided that was another reason it was time for paintball.

All I know is I’m happy to be included. The guys’ girlfriends, Sarina, Connie, and Lucy, have invited me to a weekly happy hour at Lucy’s house. That is the highlight of my week. But this is the first time I’m meeting some of the other guys.

“We’re ready to kick some ass,” Coff says as we walk out the back door.

“Now that’s funny,” Rover says as he pulls on coveralls.

Another man walks up behind Rover. “It will be funny after he does it.”

Rover’s hands go to his hips. “Hey, whose side are you on?”

The man grins. “Not yours.”

Coff laughs. “Jolene, this is CT. CT, this is my girlfriend, Jolene.”

I’m still trying to get used to being called Jolene.

CT nods in my direction. “Nice to meet you. You two need coveralls. They are over there.” He points to a bin.

Coff walks over and comes back with two.

“Yes, that’s what I was saying!” Connie says as she walks out of the woods with Lucy and Sarina.

“What were you all doing back there?” Rover asks.

“Plotting to take you out,” Connie says, then she kisses Rover.

He steps back. “Put them on different teams!”

“Already done,” CT says. He’s now holding a clipboard.

I lean closer to Coff. “They take this very seriously, don’t they?”

Fox laughs behind us. I turn, and he’s zipping his coverall up. “You have no idea.”

“It doesn’t matter because I always win,” another man sitting on the stairs says.

“Bullshit,” Sarina says.

“Ooohhh!” several guys respond.

The man stands up. “One time I lost to you.Onetime.”

Sarina smiles. “It will be two after today, Trax.” She steps away, then turns back. “Maybe you guys should call me Trax from now on.”

The man doesn’t even smile.

“Does he have a sense of humor?” I ask Coff quietly.

“Not that I’ve seen yet.”

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