Page 34 of Brighter Shades of Light

“What the fuck ever,” the one I assumed was Marcus responded. “Tristen should pay since his family’s loaded.”

“Fine, I’ll pay,” a boy with blond hair answered. “Go order what you want and tell the bartender to put it on my tab.”

Then the last one in the group came into view.

My heart skittered to a stop before picking up again.

Cody smiled at his friends and scanned the room. He froze when our gazes locked. I froze, too. Even from across the room, his stare had the ability to heat me from the inside out.

“Didn’t expect to see students here,” Vance said after following my line of sight. “I heard they all go to the nightclub instead of these kinds of bars. A bit awkward. But could be fun. I bet I could drink all of them under the table.”

I ignored him.

All I saw was Cody.

He wore a blue shirt, which I suspected made the blue in his eyes pop but I couldn’t be certain from my distance, and the dark wash jeans hugged his hips and thighs, emphasizing his impeccable form. His muscular arms and wide shoulders showed he was strong, but it wasn’t exaggerated like many men aimed for.

“The one in the blue is a smart kid,” Vance continued, finally drawing my attention. He turned around, his back to the students, and took a drink of his beer. “If he’s not careful, he’ll flunk my class, though. Those military guys are working those kids too hard, I think. Not giving them enough time to focus on their degrees in between all the training.”

“Cody Miller is in your class?” My interest piqued.

“In my Calculus Based Physics course.” Vance nodded. “I had high expectations of him for the first exam, but he missed things on it that he’d answered correctly in class. I want to let him retake it, but it wouldn’t be fair to all the other kids. He just has so much potential, and it’s a shame to see it wasted.”

My dislike for Vance faded, if only a little. He might’ve been arrogant and used people for their status, but he cared about his students.

I drank more of the beer, still finding it disgusting, but it became more bearable the more I had. When that glass was gone, Vance jumped up and got me another before I could refuse it. As we drank, Claudia talked to me. She grew frustrated, though, when I didn’t put much effort into keeping a discussion going.

“You don’t talk much, do you?” Claudia tapped her nails on the tabletop.

“Not unless it’s related to my work.”

“Hobbies?”

“Reading,” I answered, disinterested.

“What do you read?”

“Science journals, mostly.”

“That’s…interesting.” She sighed and looked away. Then, under her breath, she said, “What a waste of a sexy man.”

She and I had absolutely nothing in common, and although she was beautiful, I felt nothing for her.

No, my feelings were reserved for the Marine-in-training sitting at the table on the other side of the room. I snuck glances at him on occasion, wondering what had him smiling so much. Wondering what the blond-haired boy was saying that made the table erupt in laughter, Cody included.

Was one of the men—perhaps the good-looking blond—his boyfriend?

And why did the thought cause my chest to ache?

Cody caught my eye as I looked in his direction again. He held up his drink in a type of greeting and grinned. With my heart thumping a little faster, I grabbed my near-empty beer and held it up, returning his toast.

His friends looked at me, and before I could register what exactly was happening, the one named Marcus stood up and jogged over to me.

“Come sit with us, Dr. Vale,” he said. “Cody can’t stop talking about you and how much he enjoys your class.”

Behind him, Cody stared at his drink, seeming absolutely mortified. He was the only one at the table not looking over at us.

“I appreciate the offer, but I believe that would be inappropriate.”