Crazy For You by Alexander, S.B. (best ebook reader ubuntu .TXT) 📕

my bottom lip. “Are you going to tell me or stare at my chest?”

His grin was magnifying. “What would you think of taking a year and exploring the world? After we graduate, of course. After what you just said about finding an outlet, I think it would be good for us to hit the road and clear our heads, so to speak.”

My brows hiked to my hairline. “Like other countries?” I’d never thought past Dad or high school. College had crossed my mind, but my grades weren’t great, and I wasn’t eager to sit through four more years of school. Traveling with Colton for a year sounded freaking amazing. “I don’t have money.” I didn’t even have a job. I did have a trust fund, but couldn’t touch it until I turned twenty-five.

“I have a nice savings account with money I made at a job I had when I was at the academy. And I’m planning on finding work here to keep adding to it. We have several months before we graduate, anyway.”

The giddiness bubbling inside was ready to burst. “Yes. Yes. Yes. I’ll get a job too.” I’d never worked because of Dad, but it was time for me to start. “You know, Dad and I took a road trip after Mom died. We had a great time.”

“For real? Well it’s settled, then.”

I threw myself at him, crashing my mouth to his.

As long as Colton was with me, I was ready to tackle anything head-on.

36

The cafeteria hummed as utensils clanged, kids chatted, and chairs scraped along the scuffed tiled floor.

Georgia and Mia sat on the other side of the table, hovering over my phone. “The lady with the pendant is your mom?”

“Yep. I’m waiting to talk to my dad’s lawyer to find out more.” I’d finally sent the email after Colton had left the night before.

Mia glanced at me. Her hazel eyes sparkled beneath the heavy coats of mascara. “I can see the resemblance.”

Georgia pointed to the screen. “Yeah. It’s the nose.” Then she sat back and studied me. “You’re ready to meet the woman who gave birth to you?” Her skepticism came through loud and clear.

I shrugged. “I guess. I’m a little nervous, to be honest. One minute, I get excited. The next, I don’t want to deal. If anything, I want to wait until after Dad’s funeral—which, by the way, will be one week from today. So mark your calendars.” Nan and I had decided that at dinner the night before, barring any hiccups from the funeral home.

“I can tell you’re not really sure if you want to open that door,” Georgia said.

She knew me well, but I asked just the same, “How do you know?”

Georgia leaned over the table. “You don’t light up. And I can see it in your eyes.”

“Everything seems like it’s hitting me at once. Dad just passed three days ago, my aunt blows into town, and now I find the pic of my birth mom.”

Mia slid my phone over to me. “Breathe, Skyler. One thing at a time. And why are you even in school, by the way?”

A heavy sigh shot free. “Distraction. I didn’t want to stay home and stare at four walls. And I have a lot of schoolwork to make up if I want to graduate.”

Narrowing her eyes, Georgia crossed her arms over her chest. “We are graduating together, which means you’re not moving, period.”

I’d filled Georgia in on my aunt earlier. “I’m not so worried about my aunt as much as I’m wondering about the law. I tried to research trusts, but I couldn’t find anything specific to my case.”

Georgia snagged a napkin off the table and dabbed her eyes.

“Are you crying?” Mia asked Georgia.

Georgia hung her head. “I’m sorry. I can’t get Mr. Lawson out of my head. Now Skye might be moving. It just sucks.”

I hurried around to her side of the table and hugged her. “You’re going to make me cry.”

“I’m already crying,” Mia chimed in. “I didn’t know your dad that well, but he was a good man. And I don’t want you to leave either, Skye.”

The waterworks opened more because they’d brought up Dad. “As I told Colton, Nan will do everything she can to help me stay. And I didn’t get the vibe that my aunt would fight to take me, either.” She’d never come out and said that for sure.

“I know,” Georgia said through sniffles. “Can I say a few words?”

I giggled softly. “Since when do you ask?”

The three of us huddled together.

Georgia wiped her nose with the napkin. “I want to say a prayer for your dad. I need to get this off my chest.”

Georgia, Mia, and I held hands.

“Mr. Lawson, I know you’re listening,” Georgia started. “I want you to know we miss you terribly and that Skyler is courageous and determined. She has a great extended family with me, Mia, Grady, and Colton. Oh, and Colton will take good care of her. All of us will make sure she’s happy, loved, and protected, especially Colton. He loves your daughter, and I know without a doubt that the two of them are destined to marry and have tons of kids. They’re the soulmates that many of us dream to have.”

“You really believe Colton and I will marry?” My jaw was close to hitting my lap.

“Shh,” Georgia said.

“I do,” Mia chimed in. “That dude is hopelessly in love with you.”

“Shush,” Georgia snapped. “I’m almost finished. I love you, Mr. Lawson. I will never forget the fun times we had riding roller-coasters together. I hope you can ride all those roller-coasters in heaven. You’ll always be in my heart.” Georgia shuddered.

I dabbed my eyes with a hand. “That was beautiful. My dad loved you like a daughter.”

The three of us jumped when Grady slid into a chair next to Mia. “Why are y’all crying? Do I need to sever heads?”

Colton skirted the table and sat in the chair next to me. “Did something happen?”

Mia smiled. “Georgia just conducted her first