The Last Time I Cried Your Name novel Chapter 364

A gust of wind picked up the end of the tie covering Franco’s eyes. Petty couldn’t look away from that fluttering bit of fabric. Her heart was pounding, each beat louder than the last.

Shooting earlier had been easy compared to this. Now that Franco had only five shots left, she found herself holding her breath, afraid to even blink.

Franco lifted his hand, and before she knew it she was on her feet. For a second, she thought something big was about to happen. Instead, he just calmly switched the gun into his left hand.

She froze, staring. Oh right, Franco was ambidextrous. He used his right hand more in normal life, but she’d almost forgotten he was just as good with his left.

Franco must have heard her move, or maybe it was the way her breath caught and sped up. The corner of his mouth curled up in a barely-there smirk.

He pulled the trigger, clearing his throat just as his wrist tensed. Bang. Petty sucked in a sharp breath. The digital display announced in a flat, robotic voice, “Nine.” She relaxed, then frowned. Just eight points between them. Four shots left.

Franco fired again. This time, out of nowhere, a seagull swooped right across the range.

Bang. “One!”

Petty’s heart was in her throat. Three shots left. Seven points.

The shooting range had fallen quiet. Franco listened, then caught the sound of sand and pebbles being scuffed around nearby.

Just as he pulled the trigger, a pebble shot through the air and hit the back of his hand. Bang. “Four.”

Another pebble hit. Bang. “Two.”

This one was bigger. It actually broke the skin on Franco’s hand.

Now there was just one shot left. The difference between them… only a single point.

Petty weighed a stone the size of an egg in her palm, fingers tight around it. Her face was all focus.

Then Franco spoke, his voice calm and cold. “Go ahead. Try throwing another one.”

His whole body jerked, muscles tensing up. Bang. The shot missed.

Petty yanked her hands back, just in time to hear the electronic voice announce his score: “One hundred sixty-six.”

“A bet’s a bet.” Her expression didn’t change, not even a flicker.

Franco threw the gun down and yanked off the tie covering his eyes. He spun around to face her and, without missing a beat, stepped forward. Both arms went around her, one lifting her off the ground, the other holding her pressed against his chest.

“Let go!” Petty shouted. Angry, flustered, breathing hard. Her chest was heaving, her shirt dangerously close to giving everything away.

Franco glanced down and, just for a second, looked like he was on fire inside. Then his eyes met hers. When he spoke, his voice was low and rough. “You win.”

Petty knew it, too. Her victory wasn’t just questionable… it was pure cheating.