Grady
So, it IS punishment! I knew it.
Cleo
Take it however you want. Now, will you stop texting me? It’s late, and I need sleep.
Grady
Why? You’re beautiful already.
Was it stupid and corny? Absolutely. But I didn’t give a shit. As I watched, bubbles popped up and disappeared repeatedly. There was a high chance Cleo was fighting with herself about responding, which was something I reveled in.
I waited five minutes before sending something reckless. Something that would either save me or damn me.
Grady
Sweet dreams, bluebird.
The bubbles never popped back up.
grady
. . .
17 Years Old
“Why’reyou still down there? I told you it was safe.” Cleo stared down at me from her treehouse, trying and failing not to laugh at my hesitancy. She may have thought she was slick, but I saw the twinkle in her eye. She was getting way too much pleasure from this.
I eyed the rickety ladder skeptically. “For you maybe, but we’re not exactly the same size.” Each rung on that deathtrap had groaned when she’d climbed up. I had an easy fifty pounds on her, and that was being modest. There was no way my ass wouldn’t break it.
There was also the issue of being deathly afraid of heights, but telling her I had concerns about my safety seemed like a better reason to keep both feet planted on the ground.
She laughed. “Oh, come on. Stop being such a scaredy cat. Dad has climbed up here a million times. You’ll be fine.”
Well, that made me feel a little bit better, but I still wasn’t convinced. She’d been trying to get me up this damn tree for about six months now. I’d always been able to navigate around it before, but I had a feeling my luck was running out.
“Okay. Say I got up there. What happens if it breaks on theway down? Then I’m supposed to—what? Live in a tree for the rest of my life?” I asked, putting my hands on my hips.
Her giggle was infectious. It was almost enough for me to throw caution to the wind and climb up, the prospect of a horrible death be damned. “Only for a year or two. Nothing long-term.”
“Uh-huh. Makes sense. Is there food up there, or will I be forced to eat leaves and twigs?”
“No. I’ll throw bags of Doritos up here so you don’t starve. Maybe a Dr. Pepper or two if you’re lucky.” She rolled her eyes. “Honestly, Grady. Just get up here or else I’ll call Bishop and tell him to bring the tractor with a lift.”
“Yup! Coming.” That wasn’t a threat I wanted to mess with. I didn’t know Bishop well, but I’d never seen someone so young with such a permanent scowl. The dude always looked like he was ready to fight someone.
“Thought so!” she called, scooting back. “Now, hurry up!”
“The things I do for you,” I mumbled, blowing out a breath. I climbed slowly, testing out each rung. Every time something made a noise, I cringed. It didn’t even matter if it was from this stupid ladder or not. I didn’t want anything to send me crashing back down.
“Just keep your eyes on me, baby,” Cleo cooed, blowing me a kiss. “And how I’ll reward you once you make it.”
I paused, raising a brow in question. “A reward, huh?”
Her nod was the only answer I needed. Only a few feet separated, so I hurried up the final rungs and hopped inside. She squealed as I grabbed her waist, hauling her into my arms. She wrapped her legs around my waist as I peppered kisses along her cheek and neck. “Well, shit. Why didn’t you say so earlier?” I asked, setting her on her feet. “I’d have jumped right up here.”
Cleo swatted at my chest. “You’re the worst. I don’t understand why you threw a fit to begin with.”
