Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 66233 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 331(@200wpm)___ 265(@250wpm)___ 221(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66233 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 331(@200wpm)___ 265(@250wpm)___ 221(@300wpm)
“How did your dad—?”
“A car accident,” I answer before he can finish. “He was on his way home from work when it happened.”
“I’m sorry.” His lips touch the side of my head, and his hold on me tightens.
“It’s okay.” I close my eyes, feeling my throat get tight, not because thinking about my dad makes me sad, even though it does, but because when this is all said and done, even knowing it’s just pretend, I’m going to miss being with him like this.
Chapter 26
Capture the Flag
“Okay, so our team needs to make it to these three locations,” Brice whispers, pointing at three spots circled on the map that is illuminated by Haylee’s flashlight. “I think Jace should distract the other teams while you girls work your way around, gathering ours flags, and I’ll stay here to protect ours.”
I look around the dark woods we are standing in, feeling unsure about this plan. I’ve always been a little scared of the dark, but being out here makes that fear even more apparent. Still, I can’t admit that I’m the scaredy cat in the group or that I’d feel better if Jace were with me.
“I think that sounds great,” I say quietly, and Jace, who’s standing behind me, squeezes my waist like he knows I’m unsure.
“All right, once you two get the flags, meet us back here, and we’ll all head to the beach together,” Brice says, folding up the map and handing it to Haylee, who tucks it in her pocket.
“Umm…” I look around my group. “I don’t want to sound like an idiot, but how exactly will we remember where ‘here’ is? We’re in the middle of the woods.”
“We’ll leave a flashlight on the ground under a tree nearby so it’s illuminated,” Jace suggests, and although I’m not sure it’s the smartest plan, since other people will be able to see it, I don’t really know if there’s another option. In order for our group to win this challenge, we all have to make it to the beach together with our flags without being tagged by an opposing team member.
“Five minute warning,” I hear Daniel yell into the woods from wherever he is, and adrenalin and fear begin to pump through my veins.
“Are you okay?” Jace asks as Haylee and Brice wander away to place a flashlight under a tree.
“No.” I turn to face him. “But apparently I’m doing this anyway,” I say, and he grabs the sides of the black hoodie I have covering my hair and uses it to pull me toward him.
“Stick with Haylee, stay hidden, and move fast. I’ll be nearby and try to block anyone I see coming your direction.”
“All right,” I whisper, and he dips his face close enough that I feel his warm breath against my lips.
“One minute!” Daniel shouts.
“Be safe.” He kisses me, and I sink against him like I always do when his lips are on mine.
“Ready?” Haylee asks, and he plants one more swift kiss on my mouth before he lets me go.
“Ready.” I reach for her hand and hold it tight. When the horn sounds, the two of us take off.
One thing I learn quickly is that running through the woods in the dark sounds as stupid as it is. During the day, I’d likely twist my ankle, tripping over something I could see in my path. So almost zero light, fear, and no real athletic ability is a recipe for disaster as I trip over tree branches and my own feet.
“I think I hear someone coming,” I whisper, tugging Haylee with me toward a large tree, and the two of us duck behind it. Listening, I search for the sound I heard before, but it’s difficult to make out anything over my heart pounding in my ears and our heavy breathing.
“Maybe it was Jace.”
“Maybe.” I look around the side of the tree to see if I can spot any kind of movement, but I don’t see anything. Then again, that doesn’t mean much.
“Do you see that tree over there?” she asks, and I look to where she’s pointing.
“Yeah.”
“I say we run for it and see if that draws anyone out.”
“Okay, yeah. Sure.” I try to hype myself up, and she takes off before me. I follow behind her as quickly and as quietly as I can, hearing nothing but twigs and leaves crunching under my feet. When I get to the tree, I blink, because tied around it is a yellow ribbon that leads to a tree a few feet away, and hanging between the two are three flags, each a different color.
“Oh my God.”
“What?” Haylee asks, glancing around.
“Look.” I point, and she gasps, then her eyes widen as we hear two people start talking quietly nearby, probably whoever is supposed to be watching the flags.
“Now what?”
“I don’t know.” I peek around the tree but don’t see anyone. “We could just go for it. I mean, what’s the worst that could happen?”