Page 25 of Make Me Crazy (Loco, Texas 2)

He led her out of church and wasn’t surprised when people kept stopping them and complimenting Rand.

“Why Miranda, how wonderful you look,” Mrs. Donaldson exclaimed kindly.

“Thank you, ma’am,” Rand said quietly.

Mr. Donaldson slapped his shoulder and said, “Well, damn Jake, if she isn’t the prettiest girl in church today. Miranda dear, you clean up mighty nice.”

Rand clenched his hand and he could tell from the look on her face she wanted out of there. “That she does, Mr. Donaldson. If you’ll excuse us.”

He kept leading her towards the door and she whispered, “Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me yet. Kim is standing by the door looking fit to be tied.” He heard her groan and said, “Well hiya, Kim.”

Kim looked like she had swallowed a lemon. “Why Miranda, don’t you look different.”

Jake wanted to cheer when Rand’s chin tilted up. “I don’t mean to be rude, Kim, but we need to be going.”

Kim blinked at Rand like she’d never seen her before.

“Miranda, you look so nice. I trust my son is being a gentleman,” his mom asked behind them.

“Yes, ma’am, he was brought up right,” Rand said, giving him a knowing smile.

“I’ll take the credit for that. This one has a bit of a wild streak, you know.” His mom said it smiling as she patted his cheek, ignoring Kim.

“Yes, ma’am I do,” Rand replied.

“Hey, standing right here ladies. Mom, I’ll talk to you later.” Jake steered Rand away from his mom, who had an expression on her face he didn’t like at all. Like she was already planning his wedding. One thing about the mamas of Loco, they wanted their boys to marry a good southern girl. Apparently she thought Rand fit the bill.

They had almost made it to his truck when Red’s voice stopped them. “Hey, y’all wait up.”

Jake and Rand turned to face him and Jake said, “Hey Red, I was just going to take Rand home.”

Red couldn’t seem to take his eyes off Rand which was getting on Jake’s last nerve. Red, oblivious to Jake’s irritation responded, “Well ma wanted me to invite y’all over for dinner tonight. Your mama’s already coming.”

Rand answered him, “Please thank your mother, but I always go to Earl’s on Sunday afternoons for pie.”

Jake looked at her with surprise. She still went over to cranky old Earl’s house?

“That’s fine, dinner ain’t until six and then we usually do a game or two.”

Jake’s mouth thinned. Red had been his best friend since they were in diapers. So why did he feel like breaking Red’s nose for looking Rand over like he was interested?

“Alright, I’ll come over afterwards,” Rand said with a smile.

Red looked way too pleased. To his surprise, Jake squeezed her hand and said, “Don’t you mean we will, sweetheart?”

Rand blinked at him. “Of course I meant us. After all, you’re coming with me to Earl’s, aren’t you…baby?”

Jake started to open his mouth and say, “The hell I am” but caught Red looking at them like they had two heads, one body, and eighteen legs. “Of course, honey, I can’t wait to catch up with Earl.”

Red felt his own forehead. “I swear I don’t have a fever, but I must be febrile because this can’t be real.”

Jake shrugged. “Should have come to movie night, buddy.”

Red shook his head. “I’ll see y’all tonight.”

As he walked away Rand turned to him, looking confused. “I thought we were trying to make Jay jealous. Why didn’t we just tell Red the truth?”

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