“I’ve never played laser tag.”
“No? Well then you can’t be on my team. I don’t lose,” he gloated. I hit him on the shoulder and his eyes danced with mischief.
“Can I see your tat?”
“It’s not finished.”
“Oh…later then?” As he stared down at me I could see the turmoil behind his eyes. He stepped away from me and jammed his fingers in his hair. Did he already regret getting the tattoo?
“We need to go,” he said, taking my hand and pulling me up the stairs. I heard Keenan creating a ruckus as soon as we reached the first floor.
“What are you pigs doing here? This isn’t the time we scheduled.”
“We’d just thought we’d come ask a few questions and maybe have a look around. We hope you don’t mind,” one of the suits said but his tone suggested he didn’t care otherwise.
“You can ask your questions from the doorstep because you aren’t stepping foot inside this house without a warrant.”
“Do we need one Mr. Masters?” the second detective asked in a gruff tone. “Is your father home by any chance? We’d really like to speak with him as well.”
“Don’t you guys have some donuts you need to suck back or was that just my cock?”
“Keenan, let those officers in and stop being a pain in my ass,” his father ordered from somewhere in the house. Keenan sucked his teeth but didn’t budge. Keiran went straight to the door and I followed behind. I don’t know why but I felt the need to stand between Keiran and trouble. Someone had to be the voice of reason.
“We aren’t interested in whatever the fuck you think you know,” he said without preamble.
“You know why we are here son. We just want to ask some questions about Ms. Risdell and Officer Reynolds’s son’s disappearance. “
“So ask them.” He crossed his arm over his chest and stood next to Keenan who now wore a cocky expression on his face.
“This is hardly the way to conduct an interview.” The officer appeared flustered and angry and I tried to stifle my laugh but they must have heard when their gazes landed on me.
“Ah, Ms. Monroe. How convenient. We were planning to pay you a visit next. Do invite us in.”
“Not my house,” I said and walked up to Keiran, molding myself against his back. My touch seemed to relax him as I felt the tension in his back fade.
“How cute,” the officer mocked, noticing our embrace.
“We’ll be back,” his partner warned as they retreated to their car.
“Dude, you sound like a Terminator reject.”
“I loved that movie,” Keiran commented.
Ha! A fact about Keiran. I was getting somewhere. “Me three,” I piped. They turned to grin at me.
“Thanks for sending those pigs squealing,” Keenan grinned. “One for all…”
“And all for one.” I bumped fists with him when he held his out.
“I hated that movie,” Keiran added.
“Only because it had a happy ending.”
“I hated that movie too, actually.”
“You two lovebirds make me sick.”
“Jealous?”
He snorted. “No. Dating Sheldon is like dating a guy and a girl at the same time. It’s awesome. Although I do wonder sometimes…”
“Where is Sheldon,” I asked, looking around.
“She and Dash went ahead. I hung back for you guys. Took long enough.”
“Shut up.” Keiran cuffed Keenan on the back of his head. Just then their uncle came out of the living room.
“Where are you boys going?”
“Laser tag,” Keenan answered shortly. Keiran barely spared him a glance.
“Well stay out of trouble and get this girl home at a decent hour. Don’t make me come looking for you,” he warned.
“Sure thing pops,” Keenan agreed, halfheartedly. John grunted and went back into the living room.
Keiran pulled me by the hand and we left out of the house. “Oh, wait. My phone.” I turned to go back inside for it when Keenan stopped me.
“Shelly gave it to me to give to you.” Keenan handed me my phone.
“Hey, do you think Willow could come?”
“I don’t mind, but you do know Dash will be there right?”
“Yes I know. It won’t hurt to ask.” Once we got into Keiran’s car I dialed Willow who answered on the first ring.
“Please tell me you’re home,” she breathed into the phone.
“No but I have something better. Come play laser tag with us.”
“Us?”
“Yeah. Keiran, Keenan, Sheldon, and…”
“And Dash?” she guessed.
“Yeah, but –”
“I’ll come,” she cut in. “But I’m bringing Buddy as reinforcement.”
* * *
“You can’t wear bright colors to laser tag! Dude,” Keenan looked at Dash, “tell her she can’t wear bright clothes to laser tag.” Willow had just met us outside of the arena appearing as flamboyant as usual despite her earlier mood. She’d dressed in only jeans and T-shirt that showed off her figure but her jeans were pink and shirt was purple.
“I tried to tell her,” Buddy said walking up to slap hands with the guys.
“Suck it, morons. I’ll wear what I want.”
“She’s on your team,” Keenan whined to Dash.
Dash ignored him and continued to stare at Willow while Willow looked everywhere but at him. After a few moments of tense silence he smirked and walked over to Keiran and began whispering low to him. I knew they were up to something.
“Alright,” Keiran spoke up. “We aren’t pairing up. This is a free for all.”
Willow then flipped off Keenan who smiled and blew kisses at her. Sheldon caught them and hit his arm, growling, “she’s mine.” I laughed at the little competition they seemed to have over her. Sometimes I think Sheldon really did have a crush on Willow.
“Thank fuck! I love you sis but you’ll get me killed.” Buddy had his war face on as if this was real. Boys.
“You guys are ridiculous.” She snatched the gear he offered to her and huffed.
Dash explained the rules and we activated our sensors. Just before we started, I noticed Dash lean in behind Willow and whisper something in her ear with an evil look on his face. Her face paled and her eyes widened and suddenly she took off in the darkness of the arena. He chuckled and followed after her but it didn’t seem as if he was in a hurry. Sheldon, Buddy, and Keenan all ran into the arena and I could immediately hear the sound of lasers firing.
“Standing there is a good way to lose,” Keiran said. “It’s okay. I always save the best for last.” He disappeared inside the arena, the dark swallowing him up.
I clutched my weapon and slowly walked in. As soon as I did, my sensor beeped and I looked over to see Keenan bouncing up and down in victory. On his second bounce he was tagged in mid-air by Keiran who turned and winked in at me. Another series of shots were fired so I ducked for cover behind a low wall near the entrance. My blood was already pumping with excitement. Keeping low I moved cautiously around the arena, which had grown quiet so I knew the guys were on the hunt. I wondered how Sheldon and Willow were fairing.
“Ah babe, you got me! How could you?” I heard Keenan yell somewhere in the distance.
I looked over the wall and saw a flash of blonde hair a few feet in front of me. It was Buddy with his back turned but he looked like he was concentrating on something and that’s when I noticed Keiran. He was about to catch him unaware. I knew we technically weren’t on the same team but he fierce need to protect him even in a silly game overrode my common sense. I shot up and tagged Buddy from behind just as Keiran turned and tagged Buddy from the front. He knew he was there all along!
Buddy spun around and looked at us both in shock before running off, leaving Keiran and me to face off. He stared at me and I stared back while he seemed to be praising and challenging me with his eyes. I quickly fired a shot but missed and as I ran off I could hear him say, “I’m hurt baby but still you have to actually aim the gun at me.”