Page 76 of Gator

I’m sorry.

Did she just say she is scared of heights?

Pinching the bridge of my nose, I asked, “Then why in the hell did you climb up there?”

“Well, it seemed like a good idea at the time!” Devlyn shouted, her voice laced with equal parts fear and indignation.

Donut chuckled as he looked up at her. “And now?”

“And now,” Devlyn snapped, “I’m seriously considering taking up permanent residence up here if it means avoiding those gators!”

Thore sighed, already shooing Nibblet and Kiki back into their home, his boots squelching with each step. “Alright, Dev, my babies are safe. Now let’s figure out how to get you down without upsetting them even more,” Thore grumbled, glancing up at my woman as she clung to the scaffolding for dear life.

Donut stepped forward, scratching his chin thoughtfully. “We could always use the trampoline. You know, the one Kiki loves bouncing on.”

Devlyn shot him a glare that could have curdled milk. “Unless you’re planning to catch me yourself, Donut, I suggest you come up with a better idea. Preferably one that doesn’t involve me breaking every bone in my body!”

Thore rolled his eyes and muttered something under his breath about “drama queens and dire situations.” He grabbed an old tarp and spread it out with Braveheart’s help.

“Alright, Dev, here’s the plan,” Thore called up. “You’re gonna ease yourself down as far as you can and then let go. We’ll catch you.”

Devlyn eyed the tarp suspiciously, her voice dripping with skepticism. “Catch me? With that? I’ve seen sturdier napkins!”

“Trust me,” Thore sighed, already bracing himself, “if I can handle gators, I can handle you.”

“Are you trying to kill my woman!” I shouted, exasperated. “I’ll just climb up there and get her.”

“And my new kitten?” Thore pouted, dropping the tarp.

Rolling my eyes, I groaned, “Yes, and your new fucking kitten!”

Thore smiled.

Shaking my head, I shrugged off my jacket and started climbing. The rickety scaffolding creaked under my weight, and I couldn’t help but throw a glare down at Thore. “This thing feels like it’s held together with spit and hope!”

“Hey! That’s quality spit and hope, thank you very much,” Thore shot back, crossing his arms. “I built that thing myself.”

“Uh, boss.” Worm’s eyes widened as he inspected the scaffolding. “I don’t think the scaffolding will hold you both.”

“Just hold it steady, Worm!” I barked, just as another ominous creak reverberated through the scaffolding.

Despite Worm’s warning, I pressed on, determined to reach Devlyn. The scaffolding groaned louder than a pirate ship in a storm, but I wasn’t about to back down.

“Chèr, just hang tight—well, not literally—I’ll get you down.”

Above me, my woman shifted, sending a few loose screws rattling down. “This whole operation feels like the setup for a cautionary tale!” she hollered, gripping onto the beam for dear life.

Thore chuckled from below, clearly enjoying the show. “You’ve got this, boss! And hey, if the whole thing crashes down, I promise to write a very flatterin’ eulogy.”

“Oh, shut up!” I snapped, reaching for the next rung. Each step felt like a gamble, a mix of shaky metal and gravity defiance. Worm muttered prayers under his breath, clutching the base of the structure like it could miraculously grow sturdier, as Donut shoved another beignet in his mouth, eyes wide with anticipation.

Finally, I was within arm’s reach. “Alright,Chèr, on my count, you’re gonna grab onto me, okay? And we’re gonna get down—hopefully in one piece.”

Devlyn raised an eyebrow. “You’re trusting me to not accidentally knock us both to our doom? Bold move, Wade.”

“Do you have a better plan?” I shot back.

“Fair point,” she muttered, inching closer.

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