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Taking aim, I flung the red balloon at him, gaping as he twisted his body, avoiding the hit. Once he was steady on his feet, his eyes connected with mine, and the challenge shining from within riled something primal and territorial in me.
Sophie was laughing with Cheryl, a welcomed sight as the two of them had been at odds since the Kayla-Aaron incident, as they sprinted forward for more balloons, yelling for us to cover them as they filled their arms with more ammo.
Aaron took a balloon to the thigh, catching him off guard and pitching him forward with the impact. As Sophie and Cheryl reached the rest of our group, Aaron sprawled forward, and the two balloons he’d been clutching flew from his arms. Nicoletta, Diego, and I leaped forward to catch them, but Diego was unlucky as one exploded on him.
“Aaron, you’re out, and Diego too!” Troy called. “Friendly fire and all that, but still out.”
Shit. We had lost two team members with one well-placed shot. It was down to Sophie and me to get Ryan out.
Sophie, Cheryl, Nicoletta, and I were still alive on our team.
The other team was also down to four, with Daniel and Viv already out and standing with Troy. We could totally do this.
“Here, take these!” Sophie said breathlessly when the four of us stood together. She unloaded two water balloons to Nicoletta and me as we turned toward the others. Cheryl was still holding onto the ones she’d grabbed from their mad dash to the buckets, and soon, we were all armed with three apiece.
Sophie sprinted away, drawing fire away from us as she reached the left side of our territory. I took the opportunity and got Zander as he wound up to peg Sophie when she stopped to lob her balloon over to the other side. Sophie dropped to the sand, the balloon inches from her head, and she rolled out of the way from a second shot.
Something about dodgeball made gender, friendship, and propriety go right out the window.
I felt a balloon come whizzing in my direction. It hit my hip and exploded, leaving hot pink paint in its wake. Zander and I joined the others on the sidelines, watching as Sophie, Cheryl, and Nicoletta remained alive on our team while Julie, Ryan, and Gia were still in the game on the other.
“Avenge me, babe!” Daniel shouted as he clapped for his girl.
Gia shot him a winning grin and refocused on the game.
Sophie stared down Ryan as he shifted from foot to foot like a goalkeeper on a football pitch. Proper football—not American football.
I didn’t know who I wanted to win on either side, honestly. I just knew I wanted Ryan to lose. He had posed less of a threat lately, but I would be ignorant to think he would pass up a date with our girl.
Julie was focused on my teammates, assessing the play before she launched the balloon into the air. It arced up, and while there, Ryan threw another at chest level, distracting my teammates. They dodged it, Cheryl breathless with laughter as she spun away.
The balloon Julie had fired came back down, narrowly missing Sophie as it plummeted into the sand. It exploded on impact, but Sophie dove away just as one of Cheryl’s balloons hit Gia, knocking her out of the game.
It felt crazy to bethisinvested in a game of dodgeball, but it was what it was.
“Come on, Sophie! You got this! Focus on Ryan!” I shouted. There was a sentence I never thought I’d say.
The man had an arm like a cannon, and I knew it was only a matter of time before he got one of the girls. I was loath to admit it, but his control was admirable, and he never threw until he had a clear shot.
Cheryl took a balloon to the leg when Ryan finally let one rip.
“Cheryl, you’re out!” Troy called. “Two on two, now! Remember, the last ones standing win a date; believe me, this is not one you’ll want to miss out on. Unlike the usual dates, we’ve chosen to leave the cameras behind so you can enjoy your time together without pressure.”
Nicoletta’s eyes connected with Julie’s, and, as if in slow motion, I watched them reach the same conclusion an instant before they both turned to their teammates and threw a balloon at them. Nicoletta hit Sophie on the side, and Julie pegged Ryan in the stomach.
Red and blue paint exploded on them, leaving Nicoletta and Julie unmarked and the clear victors.
“OH!” Troy shouted. “In an unexpected move, friendly fire has knocked out the remaining competitors!” As the cameramen moved closer, Troy stepped into the center of the battlefield. “Julie and Nicoletta, you are our winners today. What devious tactics, ladies. I’m impressed. But was it enough to impress our viewers? I guess we’ll find out tomorrow.
“Nicoletta, who would you like to take on your date?”
She looked over her choices from the opposing team. “Zander.”
Viv looked pissed beside him, but maintained most of her composure.
“An ex reuniting… that will be interesting.”
“Zander, how do you feel about that?”
