Page 102 of Crazy for You

I eyed Georgia. “Anytime.”

Colton wrapped me in his arms from behind while the guests launched into singing Happy Birthday.

As I listened to the out-of-tune melody, I took a minute to think of Dad. Once he was diagnosed with ALS, eighteen became the magic number. But things hardly happen the way one wants them to. I looked back on the last two years—because it had been close to two years since Dad and I had cried in his bedroom at three in the morning when he told me he had ALS, and I realized in that moment, among family and friends, that each step in our journey had been necessary to get me to where I was.

I was with a guy who loved me so hard it hurt, but in a fantastic way. I had friends who would die for me. I even liked Grady more than I had when he’d stuck his tongue in my mouth in elementary school, and we were on track to be stepsiblings. His dad and Ashley were tying the knot in October.

When the guests finished singing, I made a wish that one day, Colton and I would get hitched. He was my forever, and I wanted to build a future with him. Then I blew out the candles.

Claps resounded, then trailed off as the guests resumed talking or refreshing their drinks. Nan and Ashley began to cut the cake.

“What did you wish for?” Colton bit lightly on my ear. I’d learned quickly that Colton was an ear man. He loved doing things to my ear that made me want to jump his bones. I guessed that was why he did.

“I can’t tell you until it comes true.”

“I can tickle it out of you,” he said.

“You can try,” I volleyed back.

“Mmm. I will later, then.”

He could do whatever he wanted to me.

Two days had passed since my birthday party, and I stood on the porch, hugging Nan and not wanting to let go. She and I had been crying for the last twenty-four hours, which was crazy—Colton and I weren’t going to be gone that long. But I felt like I was losing a part of my life that I’d come to love with Nan. She’d been the best guardian ever.

“Skyler, let’s go.” Colton’s sexy and impatient voice sent shivers over my entire body. “We’re only leaving for a couple of months.”

We had to be home in time for Ashley’s wedding to Mr. Dyson. I’d agreed to be her maid of honor, and Colton had accepted Mr. Dyson’s offer to be a groomsman.

I snarled over my shoulder at the love of my life. “I’m coming.” I could almost hear Colton saying, “You will be later when you’re under me naked.”

I dashed a tear away and smiled. “I should go.” I kissed Nan on the cheek. “I’ll call you when we get to Columbia later tonight.”

Colton and I were headed out on our road trip—not around the world, but across the great US of A. We’d decided it would be cheaper, especially since we never got those jobs we’d planned on getting during the school year.

Both of us had too much going on. Colton had gone to see a therapist to work out his issues with his father and Josh’s death. And I wanted to take time to mourn Dad, get to know Ashley, and build a relationship with Nan.

I grabbed my bag at my feet, gave Nan one last hug, then hightailed it over to Colton, who was sizing me up from head to toe like he always did when I walked into a room or toward him, swinging my hips. “I’m ready.”

He pecked me on the lips. “Are you sure?”

I playfully punched him in his hard-as-stone abs. “Wherever you go, I go. So let’s get a move on. Oh, wait. Did you get my skateboard out of the garage?”

“Of course. I also have your helmet and other gear to protect you,” he said sternly.

I rolled my eyes as I climbed into the truck. He freaked out every time I fell. I couldn’t blame him. If the tables had been turned, I would have felt the same way.

Nan waved at us, looking forlorn. My heart pinched as though I was losing her, but she would always be part of my life. I owed her so much. I knew that as she grew older, she would need me to help her in some way, and I wouldn’t hesitate for one second to be at her side. Great caregivers were super-special people, and in my book, they deserved to be honored and cherished.

Colton slid behind the wheel and started the engine. “Is she going to be okay?”

I buckled in. “She will. It’s just hard. We’ve grown so close.” I sighed, ready to shake the sadness and start a new adventure. I pulled out my iPad from my bag. “First stop will be Columbia, South Carolina. Grady and Mia are expecting us tonight. Then we head out to Tennessee to see Georgia at the end of the week.”

Our friends chose to attend college, though Colton and I had decided to put off major life decisions for a year. I wasn’t in a rush. As long as we were together, I was over-the-moon happy and still had to pinch myself sometimes because I was hopelessly in love with the best guy on the planet. He’d come a long way since that day in the parking lot of the Latte House when he’d hit me with his truck. The mysterious Colton, who had been angry with the world, was as loving and caring as my dad had been.

Colton had been through hardship that I couldn’t even imagine. The physical and emotional abuse he’d been through was something no one should ever have to endure, let alone the death of his brother. I would do everything in my power to make sure Colton knew he was loved every minute of every day.

The future was ours to make new memories, and I was sure we would. But for the time being, Colton and I needed space to heal, to shed the darkness that had clung to us for so long, and to have fun and breathe. Regardless of any obstacles thrown our way, our love for one another was all that mattered.

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