Page 72 of Crazy for You
Seconds, minutes, hours seemed to tick by. Then ever so slowly, he unfolded his muscular frame and climbed down the steps until we were barely an inch apart.
I sucked in the warm night air along with his clean, soapy scent, and I almost whimpered.
“Hi.” His Southern drawl caused my skin to tingle. “Grady told me about your dad. I’m sorry for your loss.”
My bottom lip started to wobble. Instead of saying thank you, I wrapped my arms around his waist and pressed my ear against his chest. It didn’t matter that I hadn’t heard from him in a week. It didn’t matter that he’d made himself a ghost. What mattered was that he was with me then, and he’d come at the perfect time. I wouldn’t have paid much attention to Colton with Dad in a coma, anyway.
He held me to him as though he needed me as much as I needed him. I couldn’t help but think of what Nan had just told me about channeling my pain.
He rested his chin on top of my head as he rubbed my back. “I wanted to be there with you this week, but I had to take care of my parents.”
I stiffened.
“My mom checked my old man into a rehab center in South Carolina this week. I was just getting back into town when Grady sent me the text.”
I craned my neck up at him. “Where’s your mom?”
“She’s staying with a friend in Charleston, not far from the rehab center, for a few days.”
My shoulders sagged, relieved that his parents were okay. “Why do you look like you lost your best friend?”
“I’m just tired, Skyler. And I’m kicking myself for not being here for you. I told you I wouldn’t leave until you were okay.”
Oh my word. He blamed himself for his brother’s death and endured punch after punch from his father, yet he was worried about me. “Hey, stop that. Your parents come first. It’s great your dad is getting help. And your mom needed you. Plus I’m a tiny bit better now that you’re here.”
His lips split into a thigh-squeezing grin. “Just a tiny bit?”
I batted my lashes, ropes of pleasure spiraling downward. “Maybe a lot.”
He chuckled, a sound that was glorious and only heightened my desire to give him my most precious virtue.
“You should laugh more, Colton.”
His lips feathered over mine. “I plan to, and only if you’re with me.”
I was definitely not going anywhere. “Wait, aren’t you staying with your friend in Virginia?”
“Not anymore. My mom is giving me some space this week, and she’s convinced me to finish school here.”
Maybe I had an angel watching over me. Maybe that angel was Dad. “That’s great news.”
“Yeah?” he asked, fixated on my lips.
“You can kiss me.”If he doesn’t, I might combust.
“Not yet, Skyler.”
My forehead creased. I knew he wanted me and wondered what had changed. “I don’t care about your control.”
“It’s not about that.”
“Are you afraid, then?” That didn’t make sense, either. Colton didn’t strike me as the type of guy who was afraid of anything.
He backed far away. “Not afraid in the least, but you need to process your dad’s death. I’m not about to take advantage of your emotions.”
As sweet and considerate as he was, I needed something or someone to take my mind away from Dad, to take away the pain and numbness, to hold me and tell me everything would be okay.
But Colton wasn’t a distraction. He was the love of my life. “I’m in love with you, Colton.” Life was too short to mince words. The two people I loved the most were gone. I wasn’t about to lose him too.
