Crave Me (The Good Ol' Boys #4)
M. Robinson
Dedication
To my VIP group
I love you.
I write all my books for you.
Thank you for being YOU.
Oh my God ladies… words cannot describe how much I love and appreciate every last one of you. The friendships and relationships that I have formed with you are one of the best things that have ever happened to me. I wish I could name each one of you, just please know that you hold a very special place in my heart. You VIPs make my day, every single day.
THANK YOU!!
Acknowledgments
Boss man: Words cannot describe how much I love you. Thank you for ALWAYS being my best friend. I couldn’t do this without you.
Dad: Thank you for always showing me what hard work is and what it can accomplish. For always telling me that I can do anything I put my mind to.
Mom: Thank you for ALWAYS being there for me no matter what. You are my best friend.
Julissa Rios: I love you and I am proud of you. Thank you for being a pain in my ass and for being my sister. I know you are always there for me when I need you.
Ysabelle & Gianna: Love you my babies.
Rebecca Marie: THANK YOU for an AMAZING cover. I wouldn’t know what to do without you and your fabulous creativity.
Heather Moss: Thank you for everything that you do!! I wouldn’t know what to do without you! You’re. The. Best. PA. Ever!! You’re NEVER leaving me!! XO
Silla Webb: Thank you so much for your edits and formatting! I love it and you!
Mitch Mckersie: Special thanks to my cover model! You did Austin justice and you’re the perfect muse!
Jon Schueler: Thanks for the inspiration.
Michelle Tan: Best beta ever! Argie Sokoli: I couldn’t do this without you. You’re my chosen person. Tammy McGowan: Thank you for all your support, feedback, and boo boo’s you find! I’m happy I made you cry. Michele Henderson McMullen: LOVE LOVE LOVE you!! Roxie Madar: Thank you for all your honest feedback! Love you! Dee Montoya: I value our friendship more than anything. Thanks for always being honest. Clarissa Federico: Thank you so much for coming in last minute and handling it like a boss. Your friendship means more to me than you’ll ever know! Rebeka Christine Perales: You always make me smile. Alison Evan-Maxwell: Thank you for coming in last minute and getting it done like a boss. Mary Jo Toth: Your boo-boos are always great! Ella Gram: You’re such a sweet and amazing person! Thank you for your kindness. Kimmie Lewis: Your friendship means everything to me. Tricia Bartley: Your comments and voice always make me smile! Natasha Gentile: Thanks for being gentle on my children and for all your amazing feeback. Danielle Renee: Thank you for wanting to join team M. Kristi Lynn: Thanks for all your honesty and for joining team M. Pam Batchelor: Thanks for all your suggestions and for also wanting to join team M. Jenn Hazen: Thank you for everything! Laura Hansen: I. Love. You. Patti Correa: You’re amazing! Thank you for everything! Jennifer Pon: Thank you for all your feedback and suggestions! You’re amazing! Jen M: Welcome back! I missed you! Sandi George Laubhan: I love all your feedback! Thank you! Michelle Kubik Follis: Welcome back! I missed you too! Deborah E Shipuleski: Thank you for all your quick honest feedback!
To all my author buddies: T.M. Frazier: I f*cking love you, you f*cking Ginger.
Jettie Woodruff: You complete me.
Erin Noelle: I. Love. You!
Brianna Partin: Thank you for making my dreams come true!
The C.O.P.A Cabana Girls: I love you!!
To all the bloggers: A HUGE THANK YOU for all the love and support you have shown me. I have made some amazing friendships with you that I hold dear to my heart. I know that without you I would be nothing!! I cannot THANK YOU enough!! Special thanks to Like A Boss Book Promotions for hosting my tours!
Last but not least.
YOU.
My readers.
THANK YOU!!
Without you…
I would be nothing.
Prologue
<>Austin<>
I tied the belt tighter around my upper arm to stop the blood flow.
Squeezing my fist every few seconds to pump up my vein, it didn’t take me long to find old faithful. It never did. I leaned back against the old, dirty, mold-infested couch, faintly hearing “Mad World” by Andrew Michaels somewhere in the dark, ominous background. The lyrics immediately brought back old memories—good times, happy vibes, when in reality there was anything but f*cking happiness.
This wasn't who I’d always been.
Once upon a time, I tried to find my independence, and somewhere along the way, I found solace in the haze of dependency, which was what led me to that place in time.
I didn’t bother to take in my surroundings.
It was always the same.
Familiar faces that blended together and never changed, always jonesing, always wanting, always needing, always craving.
More. More. More.
And never enough.
It wasn’t about being high anymore. The euphoric, free feeling was long gone. All that was left was the pursuit. Day after day I was pulled down the proverbial rabbit hole with nowhere to turn, always trying to escape, chasing the non-existent dragon that only led to darkness.
It was too late.
It had me.
The addiction.
A tight grasp on my soul, pushing me further and further into the black abyss. What goes up, must come down. It’s the law of physics, the code of life. I rode the high for as long as I could remember. I had been so far up that there was nowhere left for me to go but straight to the bottom. All I wanted was to drown out the feeling of my entire body caving in on me. Soothe the ache, throw fire on the chill, and ease the nausea.