Page 36 of Out on a Limb
The fabric of my tank top was stuck to the bark of the tree like Velcro, so not only was I going to fall to the ground and die—
I was going to do it topless.
I kicked my legs, praying that maybe I just overshot the ladder and my flailing feet could find it, all while I continued to slip.
In one last-ditch effort to avoid dying during the great cock caper, I slung one arm around the limb and locked my hands together, managing the grip right as my body cleared the branch.
And my boobs cleared my shirt.
I dropped down, skin burning, face covered by the fabric of my stuck shirt, boobs blowing in the breeze.
A flash of light hit me, illuminating the pink print covering my face.
I’d been caught.
Dangling from a limb.
Topless.
Because I was dropping chickens through a trailer hole.
This was bad.
As bad as bad got.
At least I thought it was.
“Collette?”
Chapter Eight
Andrew
“GET HER A ladder.” Julia rushed from the darkened edges of the fence line separating the garden from our unwanted neighbors.
I watched in horror as Collette’s grip slipped.
There wasn’t time to grab a ladder. All I had time to do was drop the flashlight in my hand and run her way, making it there right as her hold on the tree failed, sending her dropping toward the ground.
It was surprising how much momentum a body could build up over such a short distance.
I thought I’d be able to catch her. Easily.
Instead, Collette hit me with a force that knocked the air from my lungs and my feet from the grass, sending me careening backwards. There was nothing I could do to save either of us, so my only option was to hold onto her and hope no one broke anything.
The impact with the ground shoved out any air I had left on a grunt and a swear.
I had blonde hair in my face, gravel in my skin, and a soft body stacked on top of mine.
Two out of three wasn’t bad.
“Are you guys okay?” Julia stumbled our way.
“I think so.” I started to sit up, taking Collette with me as I went, keeping one arm around her so she didn’t fall off and onto the gravel I’d be picking out of my parts for the next two weeks.
But Collette didn’t seem concerned about embedded rocks because she was off me almost immediately, hands across her chest as she rushed away. “Where’s my shirt?”
I reached for the flashlight I’d dropped in my haste to catch her. I shined it up to the limb she’d been dangling from. “Looks like half of it’s up there.” I reached between my knees to pick up the rest of her mangled tank top. “And here’s the rest.”
