Rae of Sunshine (Light in the Dark 1)

If I hadn’t met Cade, I might never have been able to accept that I had to get better.

That was pretty crazy to think about.

We came to the Jeep and I clambered inside, curious as to where we were headed.

Twenty minutes later and I still had no idea.

He pulled in front of a Subway and I gave him an odd look. “Subway?”

He chuckled, lowering his head. “Are you disappointed, Sunshine?”

“Well, it’s better than that burger place,” I shrugged, ready to hop out of the massive Jeep.

“Don’t worry, we’re not eating here…well, we’re getting our food here, and then we’re leaving.”

“Leaving?” I questioned, raising a brow. “And going where?”

“It’s a surprise.”

Of course it was.

With a sigh I headed for the sub place.

It took us no time to get our food and drinks. Another five-minute drive and Cade exclaimed, “Here!”

I didn’t know where here was. I looked around and all I saw was an empty field of grass.

“What are we doing here? Isn’t it kind of cold to be outside?” I asked, afraid to leave the warmth the Jeep provided.

“We won’t stay long,” he promised, reaching into the back for a blanket. “You can wait here until I get everything set up.” He surprised me by leaning over and kissing my cheek, well more like the corner of my mouth. Cade had no problem expressing his affection while I was a little more reserved.

He got out of the car and I watched him wade through the tall grasses and spread out the blanket and lay the food on top. He came back to the car for the drinks and grabbed yet another blanket. I looked behind me wondering what else he had stored back there and saw a duffel bag and football.

“You coming?”

I jumped, realizing he was still standing there waiting for me to get out.

“Yeah,” I mumbled, my cheeks heating at getting caught being nosy.

It was cold, after all it was practically December, but luckily it wasn’t windy.

Cade led me to the blanket spread out over the dried brown grass. He set the drinks down and shook out the other blanket he’d tucked under his arm. He wrapped it around both of us, which meant that when we sat down we were impossibly close. My heart sped up and my breath stuttered. Cade affected me like no guy had before. From the first moment I met him deep down I knew he was different.

Cade handed me my food, his eyes lingering on the side of my face. “So, you think it went well with the therapist?”

I should’ve known he’d bring it up again. I shrugged, staring out at the grass and trees beyond. It was easier to look at it than him when I spoke. “I do. She was nice and wanted to get to know me instead of trying to diagnose me or pry information out of me. I didn’t expect that.”

“I’m glad to hear that.” The way he said the words I knew he meant that genuinely. “I just want to see you happy.”

Cade Montgomery was infinitely too sweet for me, but I was too selfish to let him go now.

“I am happy,” I replied. “Right now, with you, I’m happy. I’m not happy every second of every day but who is?” I took a breath, gathering my thoughts. “I’m trying to learn to appreciate the little things, those brief moments where…”

“Where what?” He prompted.

I turned my head towards him, my hair blowing around me. “Where I feel peace.”

His lips quirked into a smile, and he reached forward to grasp my chin between his thumb and index finger. “Do I also bring you peace?”