Page 47 of Crazy for You
Sinking my feet into the sand, I scanned the immediate vicinity. The tide was low, and the waves slid along the sandy shore like a conductor leading an orchestra through Beethoven’s Symphony No. 2. Mom came to mind as I searched for Georgia among the handful of beachgoers who lounged on blankets and in chairs.
Mom had loved classical music, and I’d often found her listening to a symphony while she sketched on the back porch, absorbed in her craft as a way to unwind and relax.
I did one last pass, not seeing Georgia. Her text that morning had said to meet at the beach. Maybe I’d read it wrong. Hiking my bag higher on my shoulder, I opened the text app on my phone.
Georgia:Beach. Noon. Be there.
I didn’t misinterpret her message. “Beach” meant our usual spot. It always had. I checked the time. I was five minutes early. Maybe she was running late.
I was primed to text Georgia when a little boy squealed. “Mom, look at my sandcastle. Isn’t it awesome?”
With the nod, the mom acknowledged the blond-haired tyke before she resumed reading.
I couldn’t help but remember when Dad and I would build sandcastles.
Don’t you dare cry, Skyler Lawson.
My phone rang, distracting me from the emotions that wanted to break free.
“Where are you?” Georgia shouted in my ear.
I scratched my neck. “What? I’m at our usual spot.”
“Yikes. Didn’t I text you to meet on the beach in front of Grady’s?”
“Um, that’s a fat no. Why Grady’s?” Colton was there, and I wasn’t ready to see him, but the butterflies in my stomach said otherwise. Truth be told, I was anxious to see how we would react to each other after our intimate and intense encounter on my porch. I was curious if he would blow me off as if nothing had happened or if he would act awkward. I knew I would do just that.
“Shit. Sorry. My mom and I got into it about something stupid, and I spaced. Just get your cute butt down here. Mia and I are hanging.”
“Is anyone else with you?” I couldn’t see Colton lounging on the beach with Mia and Georgia unless Grady was with him. Even then, Colton didn’t strike me as the type to lie on the beach.
She snorted. “If you’re asking about Colton, then yes. He’s here, but he and Grady are playing pool in the game room.”
“Maybe I should bag out today.” As soon as the words dribbled from my mouth, I knew I was in trouble.
In true Georgia fashion, her voice sounded like a bomb going off in my ear. “Like hell you will. If I have to come get you and drag you by the arm, I will. And you’ll want to hear what I learned, anyway. Before you ask, it does involve you. So chop chop.” Then the line went dead.
I couldn’t even begin to think of what she’d heard. So much had happened in the last eighteen hours. I’d found out I was adopted. I’d witnessed a father beating his son. And above all else, I’d had not one, but two moments with Colton.
Georgia and Mia were about to get an earful, unless Colton had overheard that I was adopted. After all, I’d been on our deck when I read the letter. But if he had, and he’d told Georgia, she would’ve been at my house the second she found out.
Ten minutes later, I was dropping my mesh bag, which had my towel and wallet inside, on Georgia’s sun-kissed stomach.
She sat up. “What the…” She removed her sunglasses, squinting up at me, ready to break my nose. “You’re lucky this isn’t heavy.” She tossed my bag on the sand.
“That’s for sending me to the wrong location.” Playfulness weaved through my words.
She rolled her big green eyes as she rested back on her elbows. “You love me.”
No question about that.
Mia popped up from her spot next to Georgia and adjusted a strap on her white bikini top, which was blinding against her tanned skin. “Took you long enough.”
I threw both of them the finger.
A laugh bounced around as the three of us giggled. I snagged the striped towel big enough to be a blanket from my bag and spread it next to Georgia. Then I shimmied out of my frayed denim shorts and my black tank top.
Mia tried to whistle. “Girl, Colton is going to drool over those sculpted abs.”
