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

was infectious, and I couldn’t help but smirk. “Let’s go. The bell is about to ring, anyway.” I needed to get out of that suffocating space.

Georgia grabbed her tray. “Mia wants us to meet her in the library.”

The three of us had a study period after lunch, which made me happy. If I’d had a class, I wouldn’t have been able to concentrate. Then again, the day had been one big blur. All I kept thinking about was Colton, his delicious cologne, the way he’d touched me that morning, and the way he’d looked at me with awe in his eyes. I was toast if I couldn’t get my head on straight.

I stomped over and deposited my tray and trash before walking out, trying hard not to look over my shoulder. I was afraid that if I did, I would do something I would regret. I also didn’t want to torture myself more than I already had.

I didn’t have time for Colton or dating. It was best I forgot about him. My heart and mind belonged with Dad. With time ticking away, he deserved all of my attention.

Yet somehow, it was going to take an army to prevent me from not thinking about Colton. After all, he lived next door. And if the day was proving how I would react to him, my senior year was going to be hell on wheels.

Once Georgia and I were out in the hall, I let out a humongous breath and almost screamed at the top of my lungs.

A handful of kids followed us out and scattered down one of two halls.

She curled her hair around her ear. “You have to show him you’re interested.”

We headed down an empty hall toward the library.

I was about to volley back a barb of some sort when Colton called my name.

Every fiber in me tingled at the sound of his Southern drawl. His voice was like a balm to my frayed nerves.

“Now’s your chance,” Georgia whispered in my ear. “I’ll see you in the library.” Then she hurried off.

I went to stop her when Colton sidled up to me. “How’s the elbow and the hip? Again, I’m so sorry.”

My heart pounded even harder when he placed his hand on my lower back. The most delightful shivers blanketed me, and I was a goner. I knew I wouldn’t make it out of school in one piece that day or ever as long as Colton was anywhere in the vicinity.

“Can I take a look?” he asked sweetly.

His sandalwood fragrance was messing with my head, and any second, I was about to pass out. “I’m fine.” Well, my elbow was, but my mind wasn’t. Still, as soon as I’d gotten into school that morning, I’d gone to see the nurse. She'd bandaged me up and said she didn’t think anything was broken. Her orders were to take some over-the-counter pain meds if I needed to.

Colton arched a brow, his gaze circumspect. “You don’t look fine.”

My face scrunched. I knew what he meant, but a small part of my brain was heading in a different direction.

He shook his head as though he wanted to take those words back. “What I mean is you look hot—I mean flushed.” His cheeks were turning a light shade of red.

“Which is it?” My voice cracked. “Don’t answer that.” I didn’t want to hear his explanation. It was clear to me he was feeling guilty for hitting me with his truck and nothing more. “I gotta run.” But my legs wouldn’t move.

The guy who’d wrangled my heart in that parking lot earlier sized me up, slowly and surely. What was I saying? Colton had taken my breath away when I’d first moved in next door. Granted, he hadn’t been as godlike then, and the feelings coursing through my body hadn’t been as strong.

The more he casually took his time checking me out, the more my face burned like an inferno. Question after question hit me. Does he think I’m pretty? Does he like me? Is he only paying attention to me out of pity? One thing was certain—the way he was looking at me was starkly different than when Grady sized me up.

Grady always wore a disgusted look, as if I was the scum of the earth. Colton was giving me the vibe that he was trying to get inside my head.

Footsteps clamored nearby, breaking our connection.

I stabbed a thumb down the hall. “My friends are waiting. See you around.”

He caught my arm just as I took a step. “Skyler, would you do me a favor?”

Please say “come over after school and hang out.” Shut up, brain. “Depends.” I had to be careful. As much as I would probably bow at his feet, I couldn’t just open myself up. Colton was friends with Grady, and my weird thoughts went to a dark place—Grady could’ve put him up to something. The football team had a thing with initiating new players. And with my luck, Grady would spew more untrue rumors about me.

Colton looked both ways down the somewhat empty hall. “Can you not say anything to my mom or even your dad that I hit you with my truck?”

The way I was feeling about Colton, I would do just about anything for him, but lying to Dad was not an option. “I don’t lie to my dad.”

He combed his long fingers through his hair, and I almost whimpered. “I get that. But please.” His brown eyes softened to silk.

I craned my neck up at him. I wasn’t breaking my moral code no matter how handsome he was. “I’m sorry. I can’t lie. Have a good rest of your day.” I started for the library.

He growled, muttering swear words.

He probably hated me, but I couldn’t worry about that.

“Wait,” he called. “I said please.”

I pivoted on my heel and shrugged. “Please isn’t enough, Colton. Like I said, I don’t lie to my dad.”

His jaw went slack. I got the feeling girls didn’t say no to Colton Caldwell.

I didn’t fall