Broken Hill Hearts (Broken Hill High 4)

“I know, but how?”

“Don’t you recall me saying you were a human shield?”

He shakes his head like one of those little bobble head toys you find on the dash board in people’s cars. “No way.”

“Yep, you have to. I need to get him. Pleeeeease?”

Jess scrunches up his face and cringes. “Fine, but only because it’s your birthday.”

“Yes,” I cheer.

I crawl in behind Jesse and the second Nate turns back around, we make a break for it. I glue myself to Jesse’s back and just as I suspected, the boys can’t resist. Puck and Nate both appear from their hiding spots and let loose on Jesse while I shrink behind him.

Jess and I keep moving forward as he groans with every hit he takes. We’re dead center in the middle of the field when Jesse gives in. He’s probably been hit at least twenty times, all to Nate and Puck’s enjoyment of course, but the second he gives in, he crumples to the ground, leaving me as exposed as possible.

The paintballs instantly stop and it’s clear neither one of them are willing to shoot me. Either that or Puck’s scared Nate would kick his ass for shooting at me.

I smirk at the two of them, both out in the open. This will be like taking candy from a baby.

Decisions, decisions. If I go for Puck first, that would give Nate a chance to run, if I go for Nate, then I’ll lose Puck… Hmm, definitely Nate first.

I go to raise my gun and within the blink of an eye, Nate aims his gun and shoots. A green paintball splatters across my stomach and I look down in shock. My mouth drops open. Did he just…? No. A second later, the pain hits.

I look back up at Nate, still in a world of shock. I mean, I can’t believe he just did that. I expected a million other things to happen here today, but getting shot by Nate Ryder was not one of them. “You shot me,” I yell across the field. “What the hell was that?”

He throws his gun over his shoulder and looks at me with a proud smirk as he begins walking forward. Fuck, he looks hot. If I wasn’t in so much shock, I’d probably jump him right now. “You said I didn’t have the balls,” he reminds me. “I couldn’t have my girl thinking I’m a fucking pussy now, can I?”

My stomach starts to sting like a bitch, but I don’t let it show. The closer he gets, the clearer his intentions become. He’s coming to apologize and make sure I’m not in any pain, but I’m not having it. “I’m not your girl, Nathaniel Ryder.”

His eyes sparkle. “Bullshit.”

Before he even realizes what’s going on, I raise my gun and fire off three shots.

Three pink paintballs land in a perfect triangle across his chest and we both stand for a moment in shock. My eyes widen as I realize what the hell I just did. He looks down at his chest then back up at me.

Shit, did I just do that?

I’m in trouble.

A grin lifts the corner of his perfect lips. “Fuck, you better run,” he warns me.

A laugh bubbles up my throat and not a second later, I run for my life with Nate hot on my heels.

Chapter 10

I walk out the back of the Ryder home to find a fairy light canopy taking over their whole backyard. Everywhere I look, from the left to the right, is fairy lights twinkling above me. A beautiful contrast to the dark sky above.

“Oh, my god,” I whisper as I take it all in. I turn in Nate’s arms and look up at him. “Did you do all this?”

“Well,” he says, “I had a little help.”

“You’re amazing,” I tell him. “Thank you. It’s beautiful.”

“I told you, Tora. Whether you accept that you’re my girl or not, I’m sticking to my word. I’m giving you the fucking world.”

I take in his words and think about what he said while we were paintballing. His girl. I take it for what it is. He’s either ready or nearly ready to accept the inevitable. We’re meant to be together whether he wants to admit it or not. We need to be. We’re like opposite ends of magnets drawing together.

Like I said. It’s inevitable.

“You know,” I tell him with a smirk as I revel in the feel of his arms around my waist. “I’ve just dated the baddest boy in Broken Hill, so if you want all this, you’re going to have to step up your game.”

His eyes sparkle as he looks down at me. “Really?” he questions. “You don’t think I’ve got game?”

“I don’t know,” I grin. “All I see is a guy who’s willing to shoot the woman he loves. I mean, even Puck had the decency to lower his gun. Maybe I should be trying to steal him away from Court.”