Butterflies in Honey (Growing Pains #3)(74)

“Okay, Bob.” Krista’s voice was as strained as her body. “I am going to dip my head down. Come grab my shoulders. Sean, can you lift my feet and put them through when I have most of my weight on Bob?”

Krista felt Sean’s hands slide down to her ankles and grab tightly.

“Ready?” Sean called. Apparently that was a yes.

“Yup.”

Krista bent her head and saw Bob reach for her shoulders in distaste. At least he did it. Her legs lifted as Sean started to pass her through.

“Wait!” Krista yelled.

Sean froze, his arms shaking as bad as Krista’s whole body.

“How does this end? I am not going to climb down Bob.”

“I’ll grab your legs as they come through,” Georgie grunted.

“Then what? Drop me?”

“Krista, gotta do something, you’re looking a little fragile,” Sean said.

“So are you, Mable. Okay, go with it. If I fall, hopefully it won’t be on my head.”

The progression continued. Donald had to let go because Krista was too far away, so Georgie reached up and grabbed her hip bones.

“Krista, I’m not getting fresh, alright? Please don’t kick me in the balls,” Georgie said as he struggled with her weight.

“Georgio-buddy-o, you need to do some weights. You’re making me feel fat,” Krista said through the strain.

“Are you sure it’s me?” He answered with a wheezing laugh.

“Okay, Krista,” Sean said, “I’m putting you through now. Get ready.”

Krista had her forearms on Bob, making her much too close to his gross, straining face. Georgie was awkwardly trying to grab her lower stomach to hold her up. Sean wasn’t letting go because he knew she would topple to the ground. In short, it was a mess.

“Sean, just let go!” Krista yelled.

“You’re going to fall!” he retorted.

“Let go!” Krista yelled again.

“I got her…kinda!” Georgie exclaimed.

The ref moved in closer, followed by three more guys he’d called in.

“Don’t let the refs touch me!” Krista screamed. “I will not let all this go to waste!”

“We’re just here in case something goes wrong,” The head ref said, hands out.

“Something did—I showed up. Sean let go.”

Sean let go. No one was ready for it even though they were expecting it. Krista went down like a sack of potatoes. Georgie tried to help, but ended up falling with her. She skidded down Bob’s fat stomach and hit the dirt with a loud grunt. A ref fell on top of her, followed by Georgie, followed by another ref.

“Great job, guys,” Krista wheezed to the refs, flattened against the ground. “Good looking out.”

“Are you okay?” Sean asked too loudly.

“I’m fine. It could’ve been worse. I could have rocks in my mouth instead of dirt. Dirt doesn’t chip teeth.”

The whole progression was quickly helped to their feet. Georgie was dusted off, and Krista thankfully wasn’t touched.

“Okay,” she said, looking everyone over. “Dean, you think you can follow my lead? Your hole isn’t as high, but you’ll have to do much the same thing I did.”

Dean looked like a cornered rabbit. “Sean, probably best if you do it.”

Sean smiled and hung his head. “I was afraid you would say that. Alright, how are these two guys going to get me up five feet in the air?”

“Lift you?” Krista asked with candor.

Donald and Dean had a hell of a time trying to get Sean through the ropes. Sean tried to keep it together, and barely did so using all his strength. His whole body was taut, the sun glinting off his straining shoulders. He came through the ropes, looking for someone to hold him on the other side. It was slim pickings. Bob backed away like the coward he is, so Georgie and Krista stepped up with hands out.

“Krista, your arms haven’t a hope of holding me!” Sean yelled, his shirt coming up and exposing his exerted, rippled abs.

“Put your hand on my shoulder,” she said back, trying to get her mind off of him naked. “Me strong like bull—except my arms.”

He did so with both Georgie and her. The difference was, Krista didn’t bother holding his arm like Georgie was—Georgie was a lot stronger. Instead, she put her hands on her thighs and did a wide, half squat. She hoped it would be stable enough. Georgie followed suit.

Sean’s muscular arms held him as Donald and Dean staggered him forward.

“How does a skinny, six-foot guy weigh so much?” Dean asked while the veins were popping out in his neck.

“Muscle is much heavier than fat,” Donald rasped. “Made of denser material.”

It took everything they had to lift him enough to get him through the rope, then they unceremoniously shoved him the rest of the way. The refs ran in again. They did exactly as bad a job with Sean as they had with Krista.

“Bob, make sure his feet don’t hit the ropes!” Krista yelled as the guys were pushing.

Bob didn’t move all that fast, and didn’t get there in time. Luckily, it didn’t matter. Sean came hurtling toward them, the refs panicking, Krista and Georgie accepting their fate, and Sean curling his feet as he fell so they missed the rope—barely!