Eli usually won’t grab for them, but it wouldn’t be the first time Aiden used them against me to keep me from beating him to home base. When Eli finally moves on and is a safe distance away I slowly let my breath out, tie my long braids in front of me and tuck them down the front of my shirt. I hold completely still, never taking my eyes off of him through the fronds. He’s looking down at the bush suspiciously. My hand is cupped hard over my mouth to be sure no sound escapes.

He’s holding still so he can try to hear me. Eli is standing right next to the palmetto bush there’s no way he can see me. It’ll totally be worth the pain and the punishment. I’ll brave some cuts from the palm fronds and ruining some shorts if it keeps Eli from finding me first. Sometimes if you wanna win you have to make some sacrifices. Mom is totally gonna flip out when she sees the black dirt and blood on my shorts. That’s why I suck at this game I either giggle when they get too close or have to pee in the middle of hiding. My laughing is going to give me away if I don’t stop. “…Twenty-nine, thirty!” Eli’s voice cracks as he turns away from the tree he was leaning against. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.Īll rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously.

INK by Bella Roccaforte