Page 3 of Crazy for You (Loco, Texas 1)

His eyes shifted away from hers, but she could have sworn he appeared guilty. “What do you mean?”

“I mean, you’ve been avoiding me and acting weird. What did I do?” She hated the pleading tone in her voice, which only fueled her fury. She’d been humiliated enough to last a lifetime, and now this guy, who she’d begun to have feelings for, was lying. At least the other people who tormented her were open with their maliciousness.

“You didn’t do anything!” he snapped.

There he went, hiding again. “Obviously, I did something. Just tell me the truth. I mean, on Friday when you—”

He cut in, his green eyes meeting hers with a look full of regret, and her stomach turned. “Look. I’m new here, and it’s my senior year. I’m going to go to college next year and get out of this town anyway. I’m not looking for anything serious, and I just want to fit in.”

Cold sweat broke out all over her body as she anticipated the punchline. “And you can’t do that if you date Disaster Deana, right?”

He swallowed, grimacing like there was something foul in his mouth, and she knew deep down he wasn’t this guy, that he hated what he was doing. It didn’t make it any less painful or make her sympathize with him one little bit. After all, it might be his reputation he was saving, but it was her heart that was breaking.

“You know what? Don’t worry about it. I think you should probably find a new tutor, though.” She stood swiftly, holding on to the shreds of her dignity as she walked away from him. Even when he called her name, she didn’t turn back, prepared to make her grand exit.

Instead, she’d walked into a library cart full of books and had fallen over it. Books scattered around her as she lay on the ground, so horrified she couldn’t move.

Burying her head in her arms, she couldn’t hold back the sobs that exploded from her.

His hand came down to rest on her shoulder, and it infuriated her. She shook him off and sat up, dashing at the tears on her cheeks as she struggled to her feet. “Just leave me alone.”

“De—”

“Leave me alone.” She ran for the door of the library and all the way home, making it after fifteen minutes of lung-burning pain and several scrapes and bruises from falling.

After she slammed into her bedroom, she leaned back against the door, breathing heavily. She caught her reflection in her vanity mirror. At the red-rimmed, puffy eyes and pale skin. She stared at the face of Disaster Deana and swore, “One day, things are going to be different. Just you wait.”

Chapter One

Eight years, eleven months, and fourteen hours later.

Deana Sawyer paced down the main street of Loco, Texas, population 3,112, trying to drum up the courage to walk into Crazy Al’s Food and Drug. It wasn’t like she was a silly teenager and needed to sneak around, but she also didn’t want everyone in town talking about how Disaster Deana was seen buying red hair dye and condoms. It wasn’t any of their business what she did or didn’t do in her spare time.

Except people love to talk, and they’re going to wonder who you’re shacking up with.

The truth was…nobody. Yet. But Deana had a plan. Before Christmas, she was going to get a man and shed her horrible luck if it was the last thing she did.

With a deep breath, she ducked into Crazy Al’s and made a beeline for the beauty aisle, determination lengthening her short stride.

“Well, good morning, Deana, honey. How’s your mama doing?” a voice called from her left.

Deana stopped and gave Albert Calhoun, Senior a nervous smile. “She’s doing fine, Mr. Calhoun.”

“Enjoying Arizona, huh? Tell her we miss her, okay?” Mr. Calhoun raised a bushy red brow laced with gray. Mr. Calhoun and her mother had gone to high school together, and she always had a feeling he might have been sweet on her before he married Mrs. Calhoun.

“Will do.” Then she snuck away before he could ask her anything else. She was on a mission.

Her escape was blocked when she bumped into another customer, and she immediately started to apologize. Before she could get the words out, though, she lost her balance and fell against a canned food display. As she struggled to remain upright, the unmistakable crash of cans met her ears. She closed her eyes and hit the ground, covering her head in case one of the hard cylinders fell on her.

“Dad-burned and blast!” Mr. Calhoun shouted.

Deana moved her arms enough to see she was safe from any lingering cans. As she started to sit up, rough hands lifted her to her feet from behind, and she looked over her shoulder, past Mr. Calhoun’s scowling face, to see the retreating back of a man with unkempt hair. As he exited the store, he turned back, staring at her with dark fathomless eyes, and a shiver raced up her spine. Where did she know him from? He seemed familiar, in a disturbing sort of way.

“Are you all right, Deana? What happened? Did you have another one of your spells?” Mr. Calhoun fired off the quick succession of questions, drawing her attention from the creepy man.

Spells. That’s what many of the older generation called her frequent bouts of clumsiness. Or episodes. Or total catastrophes. Just once, she wished she could spend one day where nothing bad happened around her. No slipping, sliding, tripping, falling… One day when she wasn’t Disaster Deana.

“I’m fine, Mr. Calhoun. I’m really sorry for knocking over your display.” Mr. Calhoun tried to help her to her feet, but instead, she knelt down to pick up the mess.

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