Chapter 21

We said our goodbyes and Alfred led us to the front door. On our way back I got a call from Carolyne.

"Hello, Carolyne."

"It's already dark, where are you two?" O shucks, I forgot.

"I'm so sorry Carolyne. We are on our way back. I forgot to tell Nathan. Send me your location and we will see you later. I almost forgot to ask, who will be joining us?"

"A few other friends of mine."

"Okay, good. Oh yes, do you know James?"

"YES! Why? Oh, please don't tell me you also invited him, Mia!"

I bit down on my bottom lip. "Yeah… I kind of did."

"MIA…!!!"

"Oh, Carolyne. I met him for the first time today. His not that bad, anyway you are wasting time. Send me the location, see you, bye!"

"Mia…" I ended the call before she could continue.

Nathan started laughing. I looked at him confused.

"What?"

"James and Carolyne used to date."

"What? How was I supposed to know that? He kind of invited himself. What was I supposed to do, say no, and besides he is your coach and friend."

"I don't mind, but I bet you Carolyne is throwing a fit now."

I received a message from Carolyne with the location. Giving it to Nathan, he nodded and headed in that direction.

"I need to send the location to James. Can I please get his number from your phone?"

"Yeah sure." He hands me his phone.

"While you are busy, please also insert your number into my phone."

I just nodded. I added my number to his phone dialing myself from his phone to also get his number. I then messaged James with the location and got an immediate 'okay' in reply.

"Here's your phone." I give him his phone.

"Thank you."

We finally arrived. Climbing out of the car, Carolyne came running towards me.

"Mia…!"

Nathan walked around the car and stops beside me. I grab him by his arms, placing him in front of me, using him as a shield while hiding behind him.

"O no, don't you dare hide Mia!"

"I am innocent I did not know! How was I supposed to know?" I peeked around Nathan towards her, only my head sticking out while pouting at her.

Just then James stopped next to us. He climbed out doing a double take towards Carolyne,

"YOU!" They both said at the same time while pointing at each other.

I whispered to Nathan. "What happened between them."

Nathan started laughing. He takes my hand in his and starts to walk away from them.

Confused I looked back at them and then at our fingers that are entwined.

"Are we just going to leave them behind… together?" I pointed with my other hand towards them "What if they kill each other?"

"They won't."

I stopped walking pulling him also to stop.

"And how do you know that… and … and what is this?" I raised our entwined hand up to him.

"Me and you holding hands." He gives me a 'duh' look.

"Don't look at me like that. You know what I mean. You keep saying the weirdest thing to me and then you don't clarify yourself."

"What I say is what I mean."

"You see, there you go again. What is this?" I pointed between us.

"Whatever you want us to be…"

"AAAHHH!!! You are driving me insane. So, if I want to be your wife right now, you will agree to that?"

"Yes…. Of course… I have been waiting for you for a long time."

"Are you talking about the four years back, when we briefly met?"

"No, Amore. We met before, remember …."

"Amore! Why didn't you tell me this mad woman will be here?" James screamed from behind me. They were walking toward us while bickering with each other.

I closed my eyes and turned around towards them while breathing out slowly….

Then I lost it. "I don't even know you. I met you today for the first time, James! How the hell should I have known you two have a history together? BUT… you know what.. I do not CARE. YOU TWO will stop this… this bickering right NOW!" I stopped, taking in a deep breath "We came here to play paintball." I said slowly. "If you want to kill each other do it on the field. OKAY." I looked at them both, waiting for a nod, "OKAY!!!" They both looked at me as if they just got scolded by their mother while nodding their heads.

"Are those your friend Carolyne?" I pointed towards the group of people standing and watching us.

"Yes." Carolyne replied

"GOOD!" Let's go, Nathan. I grabbed his hand, leaving the two behind.

We split up into teams of two. Nathan and I were obviously on a team and as odds would have it, James and Carolyne were the last two without partners, so they ended, teaming up.

Every team got a colored flag. The goal is to shoot the team down and take their flag, the team with the most flags or the last remaining wins.