Chapter Ten - Julianna

Ouch.

Julianna hadn’t ever played paintball before. She hadn’t realized how much it would hurt and hadn’t even considered being shot in the chest. And right in the most sensitive spot, no less. Her first instinct was to grab it, cradle it. Maybe whimper a little.

Yeah, that wasn’t going to happen. Especially considering who had just shot her.

Scott Dallenforth.

It was such a relief; she couldn’t stop herself from smiling. Julianna had been so worried when he’d complimented her—flirted—that she was just another girl to Scott. But now that she knew that when it came down to it, he would shoot her, Julianna realized she had nothing to worry about. Scott wasn’t trying to get her to kiss him— to add her to his wall of trophies. Because shooting a girl was certainly not the way to her heart.

So, why did she feel more attracted to Scott now than she had an hour ago?

Why did she kind of wish he would kiss her?

Julianna shook her head. That was the pain talking.

Scott seemed frozen in place, like he was unsure how she was going to react. But there was still a war going on, and she didn’t want to be in the middle of it, so she motioned with her head for him to follow and then held her gun over her head as she walked past the broken-down car and a few Julianna-sized tires, and back up the hill to the shed.

“Very impressive out there,” Jimmy said, giving them each a nod. And he really did seem impressed. “Just two left on each side now. Things should get interesting.”

Julianna took her mask off and shook out her hair. There was paint in it. She grinned, excited that she had something to show for her first paintball game. Other than a bruise that she most definitely was not going to be able to show off. She threw a glance at Scott, who was just taking his mask off. He met her gaze, his eyes troubled.

“What’s wrong? You just took out like five guys. I’d think you’d be happier,” she said, her lips lifting at one corner. Gosh, he was good-looking. Julianna didn’t usually allow herself to look too long, afraid what that might do to her.

She had had reason to be scared.

Julianna glanced away, begging her heart rate to slow. Forcing herself to see Scott as a friend. Not as someone who could make her breathing stall.

Scott didn’t answer her, and she didn’t push him any further. They watched as Blair took out the last two members of Julianna’s team in a good old-fashioned showdown.

It was painful to watch, but not as painful as the silence that had settled between her and Scott.

Jimmy blew his whistle, indicating the game was over. Once Blair and the others rejoined them, Jimmy declared the red team the winners. The team cheered, but it was nothing compared to the cheering that came from everyone when they discovered they had two hours off to eat and clean up.

Everyone filed out of the back of the shed, and Julianna moved to follow them. Except, Scott didn’t. Even though his entire team was grinning and clapping him on the back, telling him he did amazing—even Blair—Scott didn’t seem as excited as everyone else. Sure, he smiled and said thanks, but his smile disappeared as soon as they looked away. And then he sat on the edge of the shed and watched the others pushing each other down the hill as they headed back to the barn.

Julianna sat down next to him. The ledge was high enough that her feet didn’t quite touch the ground and they swung over the dirt.

“It’s beautiful up here,” she said, taking in the view. From the top of the hill, she could see the stables to their left and guest cabins to their right. The barn and lodge sat in the middle with a fishing pond just beyond. When Scott stayed silent, she tried again. “Looks like you’ve won over your bunkmates. Funny the things that will make someone a friend. Like being really good at shooting people.”

“I’m sorry,” Scott said, the words fast and explosive. “For shooting you. If I would have known it was you—” He must have seen Julianna’s stricken expression, because his words faltered.

“Please…” Julianna said, her voice quiet. “Please don’t say that.”

Scott hesitated, seemingly unsure how to proceed. “You don’t want me to apologize?”

“No. I don’t,” Julianna’s words came out angrier than she had intended. But she didn’t want to be just like all the other girls—didn’t want him to treat her like them. “I don’t see you apologizing to anyone else you shot.”

Scott raised a shoulder. “They’re guys. And you’re…you.”

Julianna pushed off from the ledge and landed in the dirt behind the paintball shed. “Because I’m a girl. And because if you say nice things and then spare me in a paintball game, you think I’ll fall for you, like every other girl.” Her voice quieted. “And then I become invisible again. Like every other girl.”

Scott’s lips parted in surprise. “Is that why you thought I was apologizing? Because I was trying to start something with you? I just felt bad because I shot you in a place where I’m pretty sure it hurt. A lot.”

“Oh.” Julianna’s breath caught, and it felt like her heart had landed in her shoes. Scott Dallenforth had no feelings for her. No attraction. Which was what she had said she wanted. Multiple times. It should be a relief.

But she’d been lying to him. To herself. Anything other than admitting the truth.

Julianna had finally gotten over Blair. By falling for someone who was so much more out of her league, they weren’t even playing the same sport. “I…better go. Need to shower and eat and all that.”

Scott jumped down from the shed and landed next to her. “Hey, I didn’t mean—”

“It’s fine,” Julianna said, holding up a hand, stopping him. “I have paint in my hair and…” Her words trailed off as Scott reached forward and lifted the lock of hair where the green paint was already drying.

“I think you should keep it like this.”

The way Scott was looking at her—Julianna felt her walls crumbling, and panic rose in her chest. “I—”

And then Julianna did the unthinkable.

She kissed Scott Dallenforth. More like threw herself at him. The kiss was so short, she didn’t even know if he had kissed her back.

And then she ran away, tripping over those stupid coveralls all the way to the barn.