Crazy for You
Jennifer Sucevic
Copyright © 2021 by Jennifer Sucevic
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review. This is a work of fiction. Any names, characters, businesses, events, locations, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
Editing by Kate Newman at Once Upon a Typo
Jennifer Sucevic
https://www.jennifersucevic.com
Also by Jennifer Sucevic
Campus Player
Claiming What’s Mine
Confessions of a Heartbreaker
Don’t Go
Friend Zoned
Hate to Love You
Heartless
If You Were Mine
Just Friends
King of Campus
King of Hawthorne Prep
Love to Hate You
One Night Stand
Protecting What’s Mine
Queen of Hawthorne Prep
Stay
The Breakup Plan
The Girl Next Door
Coming soon…The Boy Next Door
Contents
Danielle
Ty
Danielle
Danielle
Danielle
Ty
Danielle
Danielle
Danielle
Ty
Danielle
Danielle
Ty
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Campus Player
About the Author
Danielle
“You are never going to believe who just showed up.” Excitement threads its way through Lizzie’s voice.
As I swing around, her fingers bite into my shoulders to keep me in place before she hisses, “I didn’t mean you should actually turn and look! He’ll see you!”
A grin simmers around the corners of my lips as I roll my eyes. “If I can’t look, then tell me who has decided to grace my graduation party with their esteemed presence.”
Her attention stays pinned to someone over my shoulder. “Damn, but he’s such a stud.”
“Come on, you’re killing me.” When she fails to respond, I grow impatient. “Who are you talking about?”
“Hmm?” She straightens, her bottle green-colored eyes snapping to mine. “Oh, umm...you didn’t tell me Ty Nelson was in town for the summer.”
Air gets wedged at the back of my throat, making it impossible to breathe.
Ty is three years older than me and just finished his junior year in college. I haven’t seen him since Christmas break when he stopped over to see my older brother, Brett. They’ve been best buds since elementary school and played football together. He’s a talented quarterback who broke all kinds of records at Pine Grove High School and received a full athletic scholarship to State.
I’ll be headed there in the fall. They have an amazing dance program. And no, my decision to attend the prestigious university has nothing to do with the hunky football player I’ve been crushing on for years.
At least, that’s what I tell myself.
“All right, you can turn and look,” she murmurs. “He’s talking to your brother.”
In an attempt to calm all of the nervous energy rampaging through me, I suck in a steady breath before releasing it into the atmosphere. Then, ever-so-casually, I turn and search the backyard for one face in particular. There must be about sixty people in attendance—f riends of my parents, family from out of town, and kids from school.
It doesn’t take long to find him lounging on the other side of the pool. No matter how large the gathering, Ty sticks out. He’s a little taller than everyone around him, including my brother, who tops out at six-foot. His hair is dark, almost charcoal in hue, and his eyes are a bright, ocean-like cerulean color. The combination is totally dreamy. Kind of like Rob Lowe.
It takes all of my willpower to bite back the lovesick sigh attempting to break free as I catalogue all the little changes half a year has wrought. His hair is a little longer now, brushing against the collar of his shirt. His chest is wider, shoulders broader, and biceps more pronounced, as if he spent the last six months pumping iron. The navy-colored T-shirt he’s wearing molds to his arms like a second skin.
Ty Nelson might have left Pine Grove as a boy, but he’s come back all man.
“When did he turn into such a hottie?” my bestie whispers.
“He’s always been hot.” As soon as the comment escapes from my lips, I wince. I’ve always tried to keep this silly crush to myself. After all, Ty is my brother’s best friend. There isn’t a snowball’s chance in hell he will ever see me as anything more than Brett’s little sister. Over the years, I’ve come to terms with it.
Sort of.
It's as frustrating as it is depressing. The one guy I’ve always been crazy about barely knows I exist.
Lizzie nudges my shoulder with her own before snickering, “You’ve got it bad.”
Yeah...that’s the hard part about crushes. They don’t disappear simply because you realize how lame they are and want to move on. I’ve been in love with the guy since I was fourteen years old. He was my first kiss freshman year in high school. It might have been nothing more than a fleeting caress, but it was the best four seconds of my life.
It had happened at a school dance. The boy who had asked me to winter formal had decided he liked one of my friends more. I found this out when he asked her to dance instead of me. Not wanting to cry in front of everyone, I’d held my head up high and escaped from the gym to one of the nearby bathrooms. It had taken a couple of minutes to blink away the tears and pull myself together again.
When I’d pushed out of the restroom, Ty had been waiting for me in the darkened corridor. The moment our gazes collided, he pushed away from the lockers and closed the distance between us. He’d cupped my cheeks in the palms of his hands before searching my eyes and asking if I was all right. That’s all it took for the emotional dam to break. Thunderclouds had gathered in his eyes as he told me that Billy Wilders was a stupid piece of shit, and I could do better. Deep down, I knew Ty was right. I was more hurt that Billy had embarrassed me in front of my friends than anything else. Just when I’d expected him to pull away, he’d pressed his lips against mine.
The kiss had been nothing short of amazing.
To me, anyway.
And nothing I’ve experienced thus far has come close in comparison.
How sad is that?
Trust me, I know exactly how pathetic it is. It’s not like I haven’t tried obliterating Ty from my brain by dating other boys. I have. Half a dozen of them. But that’s exactly what they always end up seeming like.
Boys.
They burp, fart, and shotgun their beer at parties. It’s kind of hard to get into them when they act like a bunch of idiots. They’re more interested in impressing their friends than me. A few have even driven me out to The Point that overlooks the lake to make out.
Gag me with a spoon.
Like that was going to happen.
Not.
“Earth to Danielle,” Lizzie waves a hand in front of my face, “your mom is trying to get your attention.”
When I blink back to awareness, I realize Ty is staring at me and freeze like a deer caught in the bright glare of oncoming traffic. His lips quirk into a smile as he raises a hand in greeting.
Oh my god.
What do I do?
What do I do?
As if understanding my panicked quandary, Lizzie elbows me in the ribs. “Wave back before he thinks you’re a total loser.”
Yeah...it’s much too late for that.
By the time I jerk my hand up to respond, he’s already turning away and nodding at something my brother is saying. My shoulders slump in defeat.
And that, my friends, would sum up this crush perfectly.
Ty
“Did you hear about the bash at Miller’s lake house Wednesday night?” Brett doesn’t wait for me to confirm or deny the information, which is probably for the best, given that my interest is focused elsewhere. “It’s gonna be totally rad.”
I watch Danielle from the corner of my eye as she greets her grandparents. A smile wreathes her face, and her dimples pop.
Damn. I’m such a sucker for a girl with dimples.
“Hey, asshat—did you hear me?”
I jerk my head and focus on the guy next to me. Brett’s brows beetle together as a frown morphs across his features.
Well, fuck. I really need to be more careful. There is no way Brett would be cool with me perving on his sister. And that’s exactly what it’s always felt like. Perving. In high school, I was a senior when Dani came in as a freshman. At that point, it felt like a massive age gap. Adding to the complication is that it’s Brett’s little sister we’re talking about here. He’s beaten the crap out of guys for even glancing in her direction.
“Yeah, I heard you.” I wrack my brain before pulling something out of my ass and hoping it’s correct. “Chad Miller. Party at his parent’s lake house on Wednesday.”
The concern marring his expression melts away. “Yeah, dude. It’s going to be—”
I lift a brow. “Rad?”
He chuckles before punching me none-too-gently in the bicep. “Totally.”
My attention flickers in Danielle’s direction. It’s like there’s a magnet drawing me to her. What is it about the girl that I find so irresistible?
If I’m being honest, I’ve felt the hum of energy between us for years.
She’s blond with big, espresso-colored eyes that dominate her heart-shaped face. Her body is long and lean from years of dance classes.
If only I could figure it out and move on. She’s not someone I should be interested in. I dated a girl senior year and then went out with a few others in college, but none have held my attention the way she does.
Trust me, it’s a fucked-up situation, and I damn well know it. Luckily, Brett hasn’t figured out my secret. It would probably ruin our friendship, and I love that guy like a brother.
I plow a hand through my hair; it’s a little longer than I usually keep it.
“Thanks for dropping by,” Brett says, glancing around. “All these geezers and high school kids are seriously lame.”
I snort and point out the obvious. “Three years ago, that was us.”
“Yeah,” he jerks his shoulders, “I guess. Feels like forever ago.”
It sure does.
“You want a beer or something?” he asks.
“Nah, I can’t stay long. I’ve got to work this afternoon.”
“That’s a major bummer.”
“It’s only for a couple of hours.” I shrug. “Pops needs the help. One of his guys called in sick this morning.” And I’ve never minded landscape work. I like being outside in the fresh air. It beats sitting in an office, pushing paper, any day of the week.
I hold up a small, gift-wrapped box. “I wanted to stop by and give this to your sister.”
He glances at the present, and I find myself shifting with unease, hoping he doesn’t read too much into the gesture. “Dude, you didn’t have to get her anything.”
Yeah, I know. But this is Danielle’s high school graduation. It’s a big deal, and I wanted her to have something special to commemorate the achievement.
“Hey, did I tell you that Dani will be headed to State this fall?”
Every muscle in my body goes whipcord tight. “No, you never mentioned it.”
He slaps my shoulder. “I’m glad you’ll be there to keep an eye on her next year. You can make sure that she doesn’t get into any trouble.”
I stifle the groan that fights to escape. Brett wouldn’t feel that way if he knew the dirty thoughts that go through my head when I think about her. He’d probably beat the piss out of me. And who could blame him for it?
Looks like next year is going to be both heaven and hell. Heaven, because I’ll be able to see Dani anytime, and hell, because she’ll never be mine the way I want her to be.
Danielle
“Have I mentioned how much I despise working here?” Lizzie grumbles.
“Only about a thousand times.” I glance at her perched position on the counter as she does a half-ass job of wiping off the napkin and straw dispensers. Her back is facing the shoppers who walk past. If our manager, Marty, saw her, he’d probably flip his lid and fire her on the spot. And Lizzie would cry real tears of joy. She’d wanted to spend the summer laying out by our pool, covered in coconut tanning oil, and soaking up the rays. Her parents, however, had other plans.
Something about responsibility and money management.
“Then make it a thousand and one.”
“Noted,” I say with a smile, washing the back counter and fountain machines. “At least we get to work together. That’s something, right?”
Like Lizzie, working at Orange Julius wasn’t exactly my dream career, but it’ll do for the time being. Jobs for summer help in Pine Grove were scarce, and I was forced to take what was available. The local Orange Julius owner is one of my father’s clients, and when Dad mentioned I was looking for part-time work, Mr. Landers offered me a position. Luckily, I was able to snag Lizzie one as well. Although, it’s doubtful she would see it that way.
The best part of the job is clocking out and walking around Pine Grove Galleria for an hour or so. Lizzie and I like to spend our paychecks at Esprit, Benetton, The Gap, Merry-Go-Round, Sam Goodie, and Walden Books.
“I guess.”
“Really?” I lift a brow, offended by the comment. “What am I? Chopped liver? We only have two and a half months to spend together before college starts. Then we won’t see each other until Thanksgiving.” As excited as I am to embark on this new chapter of my life, the idea of not having Lizzie by my side makes me sad, and a little nervous. We’ve been best friends since third grade. What am I supposed to do without her?
Lizzie bites her lip before blurting, “You’re right, I’m sorry. I’m being a shitty friend.”
“Lizzie,” Marty snaps from the backroom, “no swearing.”
Even though it’s clearly unnecessary, Lizzie raises her voice. “Sorry.” When he fails to respond, she sticks out her tongue and rolls her eyes at me before mouthing—I really hate this job.
My shoulders shake with silent laughter as my fingers flutter to the light blue polo and the gold chain that lies beneath it.
Lizzie homes in on the movement with interest. “That’s pretty. Is it new? I don’t remember seeing it before.” She hops off the counter, sauntering closer until she can inspect the necklace. With a quick brush of her fingers, she knocks my hand away before picking up the delicate ballerina shoe pendant. “Did your parents give it to you for graduation?”
“No, it was a gift from Ty.” Even voicing the words out loud has a burst of giddiness exploding inside my chest.
“Wow, that’s an awfully expensive gift.” She eyes me speculatively. “This is definitely something you’d give to a girlfriend.”
When Ty had shown up at the graduation party over the weekend, I never expected him to bring a present. I figured he was stopping by to see my brother. It was a total surprise when I came across the small, gift-wrapped box at the end of the night. The necklace is a slender gold chain with an elegant ballet shoe pendant hanging from it. Out of everything I received for graduation, this is my favo
rite. The fact that it’s from Ty makes it even more special.
“Yeah.” I can’t help the reluctant smile that lights up my face.
Lizzie’s eyes dance with mischief. “And I know the perfect way to thank him for such an awesome gift.” She cups her hands around her mouth before whisper-yelling, “Boink his brains out.”
“Give me a break.” I swat at her shoulder. “He doesn’t see me as anything more than a kid.” Not only was I fifteen years old when he left for college, I was still wearing braces.
And headgear.
It was horrific.
“You know what?” She doesn’t let me get a word in edgewise before continuing, “We’re going to make our last months in Pine Grove the best we can. Who knows what will happen this summer?” She waggles her brows. “Or on campus next fall.”
That’s the secret hope I cling to. Although, I probably have a better chance of getting runover by a Mack Truck than making out with Ty Nelson. But a girl can dream, right?
Before I can respond, a deep male voice clears his throat. Caught off guard by the interruption, we both swing around only to find piercing blue eyes watching us.
“Well, well, well...speak of the devil,” Lizzie murmurs before beelining for the counter and propping her elbows on the smooth surface. “Hey, Ty.”
Heat fills my cheeks at the thought of him overhearing our conversation.
“Hi, Lizzie.” His gaze slides from her to me, where it settles.
Even though the gold chain and pendant are delicate and light against my skin, it feels as if they are being singed into my collarbone. My hand rises to touch the necklace before I force it back to my side.
“Hey, Danielle.”
I give him a wave in return. The longer he holds my stare, the more heated my face becomes. Any moment, I’m going to self-combust behind the counter of Orange Julius. An awkward silence descends as I wrack my brain for something to say.
Crazy for You: 80's Baby Series Page 1
