Page 9 of Whiskey Chase
We both heard it. The rattle of metal, and I turned to watch in horror as the ladder listed to the side and disappeared.
“Ah, fuck,” Scarlett swore and jogged to the edge of the roof.
I scrambled after her and grabbed the back of her belt when she peered over the edge. “Jesus, Scarlett, can you maybe not plunge off my grandmother’s roof?”
“I’ve been climbing on rooftops since I was twelve years old,” she said, rolling her eyes at my concern.
“And how many have you fallen off of?” I asked.
“Six or seven.” She shrugged, unconcerned.
I towed her away from the edge for my own peace of mind. “We’re trapped. We’re stuck up here.” I could feel the panic rising in me, and I hated it. I hated myself. The anxiety that had reared its ugly and inconvenient head when I found out my whole life was a sham rushed back, socking me in the chest with the force of a fist.
“Sit your ass down,” Scarlett said, her voice stern. She pushed me down, and I dug my heels into the shingles and tried not to think about how high up we were. She sank down in front of me and stared hard until I met her gaze. “We’re gonna be just fine. I’ve got my phone in my pocket. Okay?”
She was talking me down. I hated the fact that it was necessary.
I nodded. She squeezed my knees through my jeans. The contact helped.
“Heights bother you?” she asked, her accent softening her words.
I shook my head and closed my eyes. “Life bothers me.”
She cupped my face, and I opened my eyes. Her clear gray eyes—so close to sterling—were inches from me. Her lips, soft and pink, hovered just out of reach. “You, Devlin McCallister, are gonna be just fine.”
It sounded like a promise. Or maybe it was a threat. I didn’t care. I clung to the words like a lifeline in a storm.
“I’m going to hold you to that.”
“Well, let’s see how this relationship progresses, and we’ll see if there’s anything else you can hold me to.” She gave me an exaggerated wink, and I felt my lips quirk.
Scarlett ruffled my hair like I was a kid. “I’m gonna call my brother. He’ll get us back on the ground quicker than gravity.”
She didn’t leave my side but sat down hip-to-hip with me.
“Gibs, what are you doing?”
I couldn’t hear his response, but I imagined it was something snarky.
“Good, then you have time to help your favorite sister out. I’m up on Granny Louisa’s roof—”
She stopped and frowned. “I did not fall off this one… No. I don’t need an ambulance… Jesus, Gibs, chill out. The ladder fell. Dev and I are stuck on the roof, and I’m getting hungry.”
She listened, rolling her eyes heavenward.
“Thank yooooou,” she sang before disconnecting. “He knows it’s an emergency when hunger is involved. He’ll be here in ten.”
5
Scarlett
Gibson gave me the growly once over when my boots hit the ground. “I didn’t fall off of anything. I swear,” I sighed, punching him in the arm. He smelled like sawdust and stain.
Devlin climbed down after me. He looked considerably less green around the gills once his feet were on solid ground.
“Thanks for the rescue,” Devlin said to Gibson.
My brother, being a rude bastard, grunted. I kicked him in the ankle. “Ow! god damn it, Scarlett!” He gave me a shove and I laughed.
