Page 11 of Out on a Limb
Collette was quiet for a minute. “I really thought he might show up today.”
The odd tone of her voice dragged my eyes up to her face.
The face I was supposed to be ignoring.
I usually struggled to pick up on emotional cues. Usually had to think through what I saw and come to a conclusion about what emotions a person was experiencing.
But right now there was no question in my mind what Collette was feeling.
And it made me do something stupid.
Something I regretted almost immediately.
Chapter Three
Collette
I STOOD VERY still.
Mostly out of shock.
I thought my life couldn’t get more confusing.
More problematic.
Then Andrew went and wrapped me in the biggest, tightest bear hug I’d ever been lucky enough to experience.
The man was a giant. Tall and broad and solid.
It was like there was suddenly a wall stacked between me and the rest of the world.
Like there was finally something propping me up as the wind tried to knock me down.
It made me close my eyes. Savor the moment. The sense of safety I hadn’t known in so long.
I looped my arms around his back as I pressed my face to the center of his chest, breathing deep.
He smelled like grass and bark and outside air. Three of my favorite things.
They reminded me of someone I loved very much.
I might have stayed there all day, pretending like I was the same girl who used to do anything she could think of to win this man’s attention.
But the quiet moment was suddenly and rudely interrupted by a very loud, very close crow.
I looked over to find the hen I’d been holding standing tall, head thrown back as she screeched into the ether.
Hescreeched into the ether.
Andrew immediately took a step back, stealing away all his closeness offered.
It was probably better that way. Better that I didn’t have time to really think through things.
Because after practically throwing myself at Andrew for the better part of two years, it was pretty clear his interest in me was not the same as my interest in him.
Not that it mattered anymore.
The little rooster immediately ran my way, coming over to gently peck at my sneakers before looking up at me, craning his neck from side to side before jumping, flapping his wings for all he was worth.
