Free Make Me Crazy (Loco, Texas) by Codi Gary Page B

she sat down between him and Jake, but he leaned over anyway. “Damn Rand, you have boobs.”
    His mother, who was sitting on his other side, must have heard him because she slapped him upside his head at the same time Rand pinched his arm.
    “Ow!” Red yelped, glaring at his mother. “Ma, what was that for?”
    “Mind your manners, you are in a church.” Hannah, Red’s mother, sat forward and said, “You look lovely, Miranda.”
    Miranda couldn’t stop blushing, nervously tugging her hair. “Thank you, ma’am.”
    Red rubbed his arm and gave her a dark look which she returned by sticking her tongue out.
    “Real mature,” Red said with a smirk.
    Jake squeezed her hand and she turned to see what he wanted. He kissed her cheek and whispered, “Jay has been watching you since you walked in.”
    Rand would have turned to look but she was mesmerized by the flecks in Jake’s eyes and the warmth his kiss had left on her cheek.
    “Stop looking at me like that or I’m going to forget we’re in a church,” he said it quietly but Red must have been listening because he squawked, “What?!”
    Rand’s face was crimson as the pastor began his sermon and she looked around, catching Jay’s eye. He gave her a smile and a wave and Rand waved back, thinking for a man who should be overcome with jealousy, he looked awfully cheerful.
     
     
     
    Jake was grinning by the time church ended. He’d held Rand’s hand the whole service, trailing his thumb over her skin and loving her reactions to him. He didn’t know what it was about Rand, but he didn’t want to stop touching her which was a major complication if she was going to marry someone else real soon.
    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.