Page 65 of Crazy for You
I rubbed his chest, the act keeping my tears at bay. “Happy belated birthday.” I was surprised Grady hadn’t thrown a party for him. But Colton probably hadn’t mentioned his birthday to anyone. “Remember, call or text me. If not, I might have to hunt you down.” I lifted onto my toes and gave him a chaste peck on the lips.
Then I pivoted on my heel. I was a nanosecond away from flipping on the waterworks. I hated goodbyes, though it seemed the norm for me.
He grabbed me, spun me around, and crashed his mouth to mine.
I gave in, allowing him to take what he needed, my body trembling, tears spilling, and heart breaking.
When we came up for air, his soft lips glided along my jaw until he was nibbling on my ear. “I like you a lot, Skyler. Don’t ever forget that.”
I stiffened. Not because of his admission, but he sounded as if I would never see him again, and suddenly my mouth was ten miles ahead of my brain. “I think I’m in love with you.”
He tensed.
Oh my God! I just messed up.
His breathing grew heavy. “I need to get on the road.”
And I needed to bury my head in the sand. I eased out of his embrace.
He stared at me like he didn’t know me all of a sudden.
I wasn’t sure I knew myself, either.
However, it was clear by his shock that he wasn’t ready to hear how I felt. I wasn’t sure I was, either.
I stabbed a thumb behind me. “I better go.”
He opened his mouth to speak, but I raised my hand. “Don’t.” I didn’t want an excuse or a cold response, and if he did feel the same way, I didn’t want to hear it when he was driving out of town.
I jumped on my skateboard and rode hard and fast out of the school lot.
25
Icoasted around the cemetery, the only place where I could think clearly. I scolded myself the entire way there for opening my big mouth and telling Colton how I felt.
I screamed at the top of my lungs. Good thing no one was around, which was the reason I chose that place.
A strong scent of freshly cut grass wafted on the late-afternoon air. The sky was drenched in orange and red as the sun slid down on the horizon in the distance. I was headed toward Mom’s grave when I passed Josh’s headstone.
I backtracked and jumped off my board, leaving it on the pavement. I wanted to say a quick prayer, something I hadn’t had a chance to do when Colton and I were there the other day.
As my Vans dug into the soft earth, a sudden wave of dizziness washed over me. I wavered for a second as I held my stomach.Whoa!I was ready to puke.
I lowered myself to my knees, closing my eyes and willing the queasiness to go away. I inhaled and exhaled, realizing I hadn’t eaten anything that day. I kept rocking back and forth, tamping down the nausea that was ready to rush out when the whir of an engine tickled my eardrums.
The sound grew louder as the nausea increased. Any second, I was about to puke. Then the engine died, and someone called my name.
For a beat, the nausea settled.What is Colton doing here? He must’ve followed me.
He called my name more loudly. “Skyler!” Concern—like, a ton of it—dripped in his tone.
My mind scrambled to process why he would be so upset or worried. Surely, the word “love” hadn’t made him agitated enough to hunt me down… unless he wanted to tell me he felt the same way. If that were the case, I would expect a different emotion. Maybe happiness.
I blew out a breath as I wobbled upright, dizziness washing over me. Maybe it was Colton’s presence. He stood inches from me, looking like something that authors described in romance novels. A Greek god. Lips that tempted women into sin. Muscles that bulged with strength and purpose, and eyes that rendered me tongue-tied. He drilled his smooth gaze into me as though he wanted to taste me, tempt me, and devour me.
He caught me before I had a chance to fall. My knight in shining armor. He was always saving me.
He searched my face. “You look pale.”
