Crazy For You Alexander, S.B. (ebook reader 8 inch .TXT) 📖

was my bestie. She and I used to sit on my porch and watch him cut the grass. We were lowly freshmen then, as was Colton, but man, he’d been the hottest guy in school.

Mia said something, but I tuned her out as I followed Colton like a puppy. He led me to the passenger side of his truck.

Most guys in school drove trucks—in the South, souped-up trucks were like Mercedes cars. The girls in school—the rich girls, anyway—drove expensive convertibles. I didn’t keep track. Dad had an old Toyota that was officially mine since he couldn’t drive anymore, but frankly, I preferred to get around on my skateboard.

I finally swallowed the dryness in my throat and attempted to speak. “So…”

Colton opened the glove compartment and took out a first-aid kit. “I stopped at your house earlier. Sorry to hear about your dad.”

And just like that, the lust tethering me to him snapped. A rush of sadness blanketed me.

Georgia bounced up, her blond curls swaying with her jean-clad hips. Like Mia and me, she was wearing shorts, soft blue to be exact. We didn’t switch our summer wardrobe until late December or January, when the weather cooled down. “We should get going.”

I didn’t want to leave. I wanted to stay and talk to Colton. He’d never given me the time of day before.

He hit you with his car. He’s feeling guilty.

It was best if I left, though. I didn’t want to talk about Dad, and I didn’t want Colton’s pity.

“Are you sure you’re okay, Skyler?” Colton’s eyes swam with concern—maybe he worried that I would press charges.

The ache was stronger in my shoulder than my hip. “I’m cool.” I was anything but. My emotions were all over the place. “I’m sorry too. I probably whizzed by too fast, and you couldn’t track me.”

“You need to get that elbow looked at,” he said, his gaze melting me into gooey and warm saltwater taffy.

“I’ll get a Band-Aid from the school nurse.”

“Colton, is that you?” Grady Dyson’s gruff voice scraped every nerve along my arms. Then, like a hurricane, he barreled through, pushing poor Georgia out of the way.

Definitely my cue to leave. I couldn’t be responsible for what happened if he so much as glanced at me in front of Colton.

My BFF’s feistiness blossomed as she pushed the beefy guy back. “Watch where the fuck you’re going!” She snarled up at him.

He laughed, ignoring her as he all but swatted me out of the way.

I didn’t take shit from anyone, either. “Asswipe.” I kicked him in the calf when I wanted to punch him in the jaw. That would probably have broken the bones in my hand, and I already had an elbow to heal and a shoulder to nurse.

Grady spun around, his ice-blue eyes glaring daggers. “Did you just kick me, Lawson?”

I snorted, puffing out my chest. “Is your dick small?”

His pudgy cheeks burned red as his gaze dropped to my average-sized breasts. “Want to see for yourself?” He grabbed his crotch.

Colton mumbled something I couldn’t make out, and Georgia full-on laughed.

“You’re lucky I didn’t use your balls as my punching bag this time.”

His wince was fleeting, but it was there, nonetheless. “Are you trying to look like a boy, Lawson?” Grady continued to scrutinize me. “Why did you cut your hair?”

I threw him the middle finger as my stomach dropped to my feet. I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised that Grady didn’t like my new look. Then again, rumors about my hair were far better than him telling boys I was bad in bed.

Mia came running up like she was about to save the day, her ponytail swishing behind her. “Back the fuck off, Grady, or I will blast pics of your small dick around school.”

“You, of all people, know my heat-seeking missile isn’t small,” Grady shot back.

Georgia and I snorted at his metaphor—of course Grady had named his third leg. Colton didn’t react at all. Actually, I couldn’t get a read on him, in stark contrast to Grady’s flamboyance.

Petite and fiery, Mia rolled her hazel eyes, brushing off Grady’s bravado. “Well, if you want to get laid again”—she poked him in the chest—“step off.”

Grady squinted at Mia, a muscle ticking in his jaw. Then he turned to Colton, who had just closed the door to his truck. “Welcome home, bro. Are you ready to play football?”

They exchanged a quick manly hug.

It was my turn to roll my eyes. I didn’t remember Colton being friends with Grady. Then again, I couldn’t recall much of my freshman year after Mom’s death.

Colton’s head dipped, his hair falling forward. “For sure.”

Georgia took hold of my arm. “Let’s get out of here. I had Mia put your skateboard in my car.”

Mia flanked me on the other side as we left the guys talking about football and games and the upcoming season.

Whatever.

When we were finally in Georgia’s VW convertible, she asked, “Did you know Colton was home?”

I pushed out a shoulder. “No clue.” His mom came over to see Dad on occasion, but hardly talked about her son, and I had no reason to ask.

“You think he got kicked out of that private school?” Georgia asked, starting the engine.

Mia flipped down the visor in the passenger seat and checked her red lipstick. “Who cares? Have you seen him? His hair. I want to run my fingers through it.”

Sighing, I rested back against the seat, glancing up at the clear blue sky. “Get in line.”

Georgia wheeled out of the lot behind a long line of cars. “It will be an interesting year.”

“Why? Because Colton is back?” I asked, even though I knew what she was thinking.

Georgia eyed me through the rearview mirror. “Um. Yeah. He’s the only guy who stole your heart. So you need to make sure no girl gets her paws on him.” Then she whipped her attention to Mia. “He’s off-limits.”

I had to love my BFF. She always had my back.

Mia propped her arm on the passenger door. “It’s not me you