Crazy For You by Alexander, S.B. (love story novels in english TXT) 📗

diamond-stud earrings sparkling, and an off-the-shoulder blouse that gave her a seductive vibe.

The need to scream was strong, but I straightened my spine and plastered on a fake smile. I wasn’t about to show my jealousy. Dad had taught me to be the bigger person. Don’t ever let them see you sweat.

It was probably too late for that. I was sweating like a pig. Dad had meant it metaphorically.

“Amanda.” My tone was as sweet as I could make it. “Did your mom sell that house on Pony Circle in Crane Plantation?”

She looked at me like I had five heads. “Why would you want to know that?”

Colton tucked his hands into the pockets of his black jeans, which were hugging his body nicely, and inclined his head.

No harm in telling them the truth. “My mom designed that house. I lived there until she passed away.” I wouldn’t expect her to know any of that. We’d never been close friends.

“That’s a badass house,” Colton said.

I could feel my lips forming into a smile that would brighten a dark room. “My mom was a great architect.”

“I don’t keep up with my mom’s business.” Amanda’s tone was curt. Then she regarded Colton. “I just wanted to say thanks for last night.”

My eyebrows disappeared into my hairline. I was such a fool for believing he liked me. You were just his means to salvation. He saved you to forgive himself.

Swallowing, I willed my legs to move. To get the hell away from him. To find a dark hole to curl up in and cry.

24

I ran to get my skateboard, which was lodged under the back tire of Colton’s truck. My hands shook as I pushed the tears away. I wasn’t going to cry. No way in hell. Dad had said to “live and learn” many times when I made a mistake as a kid, but I didn’t like learning when my heart was on the line.

As soon as I retrieved my board, the darn thing fell to the ground. That time, my board rolled over to Colton’s feet. I was beginning to believe he’d put a curse on it when he’d fixed it.

I debated whether to interrupt their conversation, since Amanda was blushing at something Colton was saying. Unbelievable. I fisted my hands at my sides, and when she laughed, I walked in the opposite direction. To hell with my skateboard. My heart was more important than a piece of wood with wheels.

I’d barely made it ten feet when Colton called my name. Goosebumps immediately pebbled my skin at his Southern drawl.

Damn him. Damn my body.

“Wait!” he shouted.

My legs stopped, against my better judgment.

Amanda sped by, honking her horn.

I was ready to throw her the finger until Colton’s breath tickled my ear. “Don’t forget this.”

I pivoted on my heel, and I shouldn’t have. A tear ran down my cheek.

“Hey, what’s wrong?” His tone was gentle, soft, and soothing. “Seriously, is your dad okay?”

I took my board from him. “My dad is fine. It’s nothing that concerns you.” I was lying through my teeth. “Why are you here, Colton? Shouldn’t you be on the football field?”

“I quit football.”

I shouldn’t have been surprised. He’d said he was only playing so he wouldn’t be home as much. Yet my body felt chilled. “You’re leaving earlier than you planned?”

The sadness in his eyes said it all. “I am. I came to say goodbye.”

I was grateful that he was showing some emotion rather than a deadpan expression. In fact, upon further scrutiny, he seemed as though the weight of the world he’d been carrying had fallen away. The pain in his eyes, so evident on Saturday, was no longer swimming in his depths.

Another tear escaped. “To me or to Grady?”

“I didn’t want to leave without seeing you first. Mia told me earlier you would be here. She also gave me your number, but I got your voicemail.”

“I forgot my phone at home.”

Colton closed the tiny distance between us. “Skye, thank you for Saturday and for listening, and thank you for the mind-blowing kiss. That, I’ll never forget.”

I had so much to say, but jealousy took possession of my tongue. “I’m sure you told Amanda that too.”

He answered by growling before his mouth landed on mine, his tongue trying to break the barrier that I had sealed up tightly. He tugged me to him. “Open.” His tone was possessive, demanding, and downright painful, as if he would die if I didn’t do as he ordered.

The sound of my skateboard hitting the ground boomed, or maybe it was my heart ramming against my ribs.

I shook my head. “No. I don’t move in on other girls’ boyfriends.”

“Damn it, Skye. I told you, I’m not into Amanda.”

“Then why were you at her house last night?”

He stiffened before he let go of me. “Did you follow me?” He grabbed the back of his neck, guilt written all over his handsome face.

“I might be a lot of things, Colton, but I’m not a stalker.” Or maybe there was some truth to that. I was always looking out my window since he’d returned from private school. “I heard some girls talking today.”

As if he knew who the girls were, the skin around his eyes relaxed. “I needed to apologize to Amanda. I’ve been an ass to her, and I realized after talking with my parents yesterday that I had to stop making everyone’s life around me miserable. I led Amanda on, and that isn’t me.”

Admirable. “Are you leading me on?” I had to ask even though a large part of me knew he wasn’t, or I wanted to believe he wasn’t, toying with my emotions.

He grasped my arms. “Never. I like you. I can’t get you out of my head. Please understand that I need time.” His voice was gentle, his plea desperate.

My chest pitched and rolled. I didn’t know how to respond.

He rubbed his nose against mine. “Please understand.”

My pulse was racing like a horse at the Kentucky Derby. Maybe hope existed for him and