Read Online Skies Like These by Tess Hilmo - Free Book Online Page B

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    13
    Jade knew where Roy was taking her, she just didn’t understand why. After being shown around County Hardware and seeing how connected he was to that place, she couldn’t imagine why he’d want to rub in the sight of their empty parking lot by contrasting it to Farley’s busy store.
    When they came upon the Hammer and Nail, Roy crossed the street and settled in behind the wide trunk of an old walnut tree. “Come on,” he said with a jerk of his head.
    Jade crossed and stepped up to his side. “What are we looking at?”
    â€œNothing from down here. There’s too much risk we’ll be seen.” He grabbed a low branch, hooked the toe of his boot into a knothole, and began pulling himself up. The way he moved let Jade know he had made the climb before. Hand over head, sure and confident. When he reached a thick branch near the middle, he turned back. “You coming?”
    â€œI’ll watch from here.”
    â€œThat’s no fun. Come on up with me.” He moved over and brushed his hand across the thick branch. “There’s plenty of room.” He had a teasing look in his eyes. “Unless you’re afraid or something.”
    â€œI’m not afraid,” Jade said. “It’s just that we don’t go around climbing enormous trees in Philly. It’s dangerous. Besides, I’m pretty sure it’s against city ordinance.”
    Roy looked surprised. “I never knew a person could live twelve whole years without ever climbing a tree.” He got all determined. “You can do this, Jade Landers, and I’m the one to talk you through it. Grab the first branch and shove your foot into that big knothole.”
    â€œFine,” Jade said, tugging on the hem of her shorts and then reaching up for the low branch.
    â€œNow take hold of that next one, off to the right.”
    Jade hauled herself up, following Roy’s direction at each step. She was three full branches into the climb when her foot hit a patch of moss and slipped, sending her tumbling and crashing to the ground.
    â€œAre you all right?” Roy asked from his perch.
    Jade rolled over on her side, trying to find some air in her lungs. “I fell,” she said.
    â€œI saw that part.”
    Jade looked down and noticed dark red blood pushing up out of some torn skin on her kneecap.
    â€œIs anything broken?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œWell, are you just going to lie there and bleed?”
    Jade was speechless. She sat up and brushed the hair away from her face. She took a cold, wet clump of leaves and gently pressed them to her burning, tattered knee. She paced her breaths. She ignored Roy.
    â€œI said—” Roy began.
    â€œI heard you,” Jade snapped. “For your information, I’m hurting here!”
    Roy tempered his voice. “Yes, I know. And you have a choice. You can sit there feeling sorry for yourself or you can cowboy up and climb this tree.”
    Frustration pulsed underneath Jade’s skin and water rimmed her eyes. She sank her head into her hands and groaned. Her knee was searing with pain, but she knew Roy was right. It was only a medium-size scrape.
    â€œA little sympathy wouldn’t kill you,” she said, standing up and returning to the base of the trunk. A trickle of blood ran down her shin.
    â€œWhat do you mean? I asked you if anything was broken.”
    Jade grabbed on to the bottom branch and began working her way back up into the tree. She moved with more surety this time. Hands first, double-checking her footholds as she went, not looking down. Soon she was at Roy’s side.
    â€œI knew you had it in you.”
    â€œThanks,” Jade said. Looking out through the broad canopy of leaves, Jade could see a half-full parking lot and a cluster of people standing around the front of Farley’s store. The sight of those people milling and chatting and gathering made her heart slump.