Rae of Sunshine (Light in the Dark 1)

I groaned and used my hands to hide my face.

“I promise I had nothing to do with it,” he continued.

“I believe you,” I muttered, but his words did nothing to alleviate the embarrassment I felt. “How am I going to walk out of here?”

“Easy,” Cade grinned. “You stand up, put your clothes on, and walk out the door.” He used his fingers to mime a person walking.

“Don’t be a smartass,” I groaned. “You know what I mean.”

“So what? There’s nothing to be embarrassed about,” he shrugged, then rolled onto his back. “What time is it anyway?”

I located my phone. “Seven,” I answered. “And you know it isn’t that simple. You’re, well, you,” I waved my hand at him, “people pay attention to what you do and I don’t want to become some story for gossips.”

Cade rose up once more, leveling me with a glare. “You act like we had a fucking one-night stand and that if you walk out the door everyone will think you’re a slut. Maybe I didn’t make my intentions clear enough, but after last night I very much thought you were my girlfriend.”

My eyes widened in surprise. I hadn’t expected him to say that. Not at all. In fact, I was pretty sure all the air left my lungs and the room, because I suddenly couldn’t breathe.

“Girlfriend?” I repeated, my voice no more than a squeak.

“Yeah,” he looked at me like I’d lost my mind. “Did you really think I would fuck you and kick you out? And might I add, there was no sex involved last night. Besides, I would never fuck you, Rae. A girl like you deserves so much more than that.”

I clasped my hands over my eyes. This was too much. He was too much.

“I don’t mean to embarrass you, Rae,” he rattled on, “but it’s the truth. I’m no saint, but with you things are different.”

I heard the bed squeak as he sat up. Then he was crouched in front of me, prying my hands from my face.

“I don’t know if it’s because I’m technically a jock that you find me hard to believe, but I would never lie to you, Rae. I’m not a player, never was. Yes, I fooled around, but it was random hook-ups that were rare. I was hurt by what my first girlfriend did to me,” it didn’t escape my notice that he still didn’t reveal her name, “but I’m not like these other guys that have a different girl in their bed every night. I’m not like that and I don’t want to be.”

“I don’t need an explanation,” I told him, “you just caught me off guard.”

He shrugged. “I know, but I wanted to explain myself. You should know by now that this isn’t me wanting to get in your pants,” he chuckled. “Although, I am a guy so I want that too,” he winked. “But I’ve told you stuff I’ve never told anyone else. Most people don’t know about my brother and the shit with my dad? No one knows that.” He reached out, smoothing a finger down my cheek. “Now, Rae,” his voice dropped low and his eyes bore into mine, “are you my girlfriend or not?”

I took several deep breaths, trying not to think about the day when Brett asked me to be his girlfriend.

“I guess so.”

“You guess so?” He chuckled. “It’s kind of a yes or no question.”

I thought about how much I cared about him already, so really there was only one answer. “Yes.”

He grinned, his eyes crinkling at the corners. Instead of saying anything he took my face in both his hands and kissed me deeply, stealing my breath and maybe even a bit of my soul.

“Now, can we please go back to sleep?” He asked, pulling away.

I laughed as all my fear at what people would think fell from my shoulders and drifted away. “Sleep would be good.”

***

“Why am I not surprised?” Thea slid into the seat across from me in the dining hall. Her gaze swiveled from me to her brother who sat beside me. “You know, you could’ve at least told me you weren’t coming home last night. I was worried.”

“I’m sorry,” I frowned. I’d been horrible not to consider that Thea might worry when I didn’t come back to the dorm. If it had been her out all night I would’ve been worried sick like a protective mama bear. I probably would’ve torn the whole campus apart looking for her.

“You better be sorry,” she scolded. Smiling slowly, she said, “Now that that’s out of the way, I have to say, it’s about fucking time.” With that said she picked up her yogurt and pealed back the top.

I looked at Cade and both of us were trying not to laugh.

“Glad you approve,