Rae of Sunshine (Light in the Dark 1)

“What are you doing?” Thea asked, walking into our dorm. The door slammed closed behind her—Thea never did anything quietly.

I’d hoped to be gone by the time she arrived. Of course my luck wasn’t that good. Actually, I was pretty sure my luck was nonexistent.

“Trying to find something to wear,” I mumbled, frustrated with myself for getting so worked up over this. What I wore shouldn’t matter, but right now I was being a typical girl.

“Oh, yeah. That’s right, you’re going out with Cade.”

“It’s not a date,” I spat.

She smirked. “I didn’t say it was.”

My cheeks colored. “It’s really not.”

“Hey,” she lifted her hands, “you don’t need to defend yourself to me.” She dropped her bag on her bed. “Do you want any help?”

No. “Yes.”

Thea walked over and perused my closet. “Here.” She shoved torn black jeans into my hands a loose gray sweater that hung off my shoulders. “And these.” She bent down, picking up a pair of chestnut colored leather boots. “Cute and simple and not trying too hard.”

“I don’t want to try at all.”

She huffed. “There is nothing wrong with that outfit. It’s cute and something you’d wear around campus. It’s not a skintight dress that has your boobs hanging out asking for some attention, so pull your panties out of that wad.”

My lips twitched with the threat of laughter. “Okay,” I agreed.

I changed into the outfit and looked in the mirror. Thea was right. It was perfect.

Cade had texted me hours ago, telling me he’d pick me up at six. After arguing that I’d meet him at the restaurant, instead of going with him, I’d finally given in when he threatened to carry me out of the dorm and to his car if I didn’t cooperate. I knew he wasn’t lying.

“Are you nervous?” Thea asked.

My head snapped in her direction. “Why would I be nervous?”

“No reason,” she shrugged innocently. I was going to throttle that beauty queen one of these days.

My phone vibrated in my pocket and I pulled it out to see a text from Cade telling me he was in the parking lot. Stupidly, my heart sped up.

When I looked up from my phone Thea was watching me with a knowing smile.

“See you later,” she sing-songed.

“Mhmm,” was my only reply, as I grabbed my bag and left.

It wasn’t easy to miss Cade’s black Jeep Wrangler sitting in the parking lot. The thing was huge.

He hopped out of the truck and my breath faltered.

Holy hell.

His hair was brushed back away from his forehead, which only served to accentuate the curves of his cheekbones and the cut of his chiseled chin.

He wore a light blue button down shirt that made his eyes pop even more. His shirt was tucked into a nice pair of jeans and held up by a thin black belt.

Cade was good-looking. Period. But right now…he was almost god-like.

When he chuckled I realized I’d stopped walking and stood staring at hi

m. Such a great way to start off this non-date.