Haven Bound

38. Austin

38

Austin

“Laser tag? Are you serious?” Chelsea squeals, that stunningly bright smile of hers spreading across her face as she spins in her seat to reach for the door handle.

“Don’t even think about it, Sunflower.” I give her thigh a gentle squeeze until she drops her hand back into her lap. Climbing out from behind the driver’s seat, I walk around to her side and open the door for her, holding out my hand to help her down. I wait until her feet are planted firmly on the ground before I pull her body against mine, taking her lips in a soft kiss while we wait for everyone else to climb out of the car.

“Are we really about to go in here and run around in the dark, trying to shoot each other?” Quinn asks as we all walk inside.

“What’s the matter, Quinn? Afraid to lose?” Chelsea teases, a smile painted across her face as she wraps her arm around my waist, leaning into my side while we wait to be given all of our gear.

“Psh, not even. I’m just afraid of making one of these boys cry when we beat them,” she quips, her arms crossing over her chest as she looks at me, Ethan, and Zack.

“Guess we’re not gonna be on the same team,” Chelsea mumbles, tilting her head back to look up at me .

I run a hand through the long strands of her ponytail and tug at the ends. “Don’t worry, baby, I’ll go easy on you.” I lean down to press a kiss to her temple.

She scoffs and places a hand against my chest, pushing me away with a smile as she plants her hands on her hips. “Don’t you dare! This is my chance to see if you’re as good of a shot as you think you are.”

We all stand around and banter for a few more minutes, deciding to keep it simple and split into two teams. Chelsea, Hailey, and Quinn comprise one team with Zack, Ethan, and I being the other. We all load up with chest sensors and laser guns, and each team enters through doors on opposite ends of the course, separating our two groups and giving us a chance to strategize.

Zack is keeping an eye out for Quinn while Ethan and I go after Hailey and Chelsea. Now that each person has their established target, we span out across the dark arena, lit only by scattered neon lights, the light rays from our guns, and the chest sensors lighting the area with a soft glow.

Hailey is the first one out after Ethan lands a long-distance shot, and I don’t know if I should be giving her shit for getting taken out so easily or if I should be congratulating him on the hit. He always has his nose buried in his sketchbook, even when he’s not at the tattoo shop, and I forgot how good he was at these kinds of things.

It doesn’t take long before Chelsea sneaks up behind us, taking Ethan out with a swift shot to the chest from where she stands, grinning as she peeks around the corner from one of the obstacles. I’ll admit that I’m impressed. Even if these guns only shoot beams of light, she’s a good shot and can hold her own.

Chelsea’s eyes meet mine from across the room, and I watch as she slips out from behind the wall she was using for protection, sauntering toward me with the laser gun pointed directly at me.

“Are you gonna shoot me, Sunflower?” A low growl rumbles from my chest when she stands a foot in front of me, the tip of her gun pressed against my chest sensor.

The corner of her rosy pink lips pulls into a smirk, her green eyes alight with mischief as she holds the laser gun steady, her arms unwavering as her gaze lifts to mine. “Hmm, not sure. I do like the idea of winning.” She steps forward to close the distance between us.

My hands slip around her waist to rest on her lower back, pulling her against me as I lean in to brush my lips along hers. She teases my upper lip with the tip of her tongue, and a groan escapes me. Taking her mouth with mine, I nip at her bottom lip at the same time that she pulls the trigger of her laser gun, my chest piece flashing and casting a red hue of light between us.

I can feel her smile into the kiss, and I move my hands up to cup her face in my palms, pulling away from the kiss. “You’re gonna pay for that one later, baby,” I growl. She giggles, fucking giggles , and places her hands against my chest, playfully pushing me away.

By the time the game ends with Zack as the sole survivor, everyone seems to be in good spirits as light conversation and laughter flows among the group. “That was so much fun!” Chelsea says as she hands over her laser gun and chest sensor to the employee at the counter. Zack chuckles as he does the same.

“You’re a pretty good shot, I’ll give ya that,” he says, clapping a hand on Chelsea’s shoulder before they join the rest of us near the exit .

“Give me some time to practice, and then I want a rematch,” Chelsea declares as she walks over to me and wraps her arms around my waist, her cheek resting against my chest, and I revel in the feeling.

I’ve spent far too many years doing everything I can to stay away from Haven Beach, away from Chelsea and everyone else that I cared about. For so long I’ve felt like being a member of the Phoenix Legion meant that I was destined to live my life alone, never truly knowing what it’s like to love and be loved in return.

Standing here among these five people, I listen to their banter and soak in the sense of family and peace. I know that I’ll never be able to go back to the way my life was before I accepted the assignment that brought Chelsea back into my life.