Page 35 of Brighter Shades of Light

“He said you’d say that.” Marcus grinned. “Damn, the boy really knows you.”

I cleared my throat and looked at Vance. “Thank you for tonight. I’m going to head home. It was nice meeting all of you.” I stood from the table and faced Marcus. He was a little taller than me. “Goodnight.”

Cody and his friends were sitting near the exit, and I had to approach them in order to reach it. Saying nothing to Cody would be rude of me, but stopping and chatting would be inappropriate.

“Hello, Mr. Miller,” I found myself saying once near his table. “I hope you’re enjoying your evening.”

With a smile that lit up his handsome face, he said, “I am! Are you leaving already?”

“Yes.”

“Come on, Dr. Vale,” Marcus said, gently bumping my arm. “The night’s still young. It’s only ten-thirty.”

My gaze locked with Cody’s again, and I almost threw all the reasons for keeping my distance aside. Almost.

“Maybe another time,” I said. Disappointment flashed in Cody’s eyes, and I was curious as to why he felt that way. “Goodnight, Mr. Miller. I’ll see you in class bright and early Monday morning.”

I left before I could change my mind.

There were lines one should never cross, even if what waited for them on the other side was a warm light, illuminating the night in a soft glow.

Chapter 10

Cody

“Okay,” Tristen said, pointing at me once Dr. Vale left. “You didn’t say the man was hot.”

“You think he’s hot?” Marcus asked, snorting. “Didn’t think nerds were your type, T.”

“They aren’t.” Tristen rolled his eyes. “But I’m not blind. I can see how attractive he is, even if I don’t want to take his clothes off and ride his dick.”

Keith spewed his beer all over Rachel, and she slapped his arm. “Asshole!”

“The real question is,” Tristen said, arching a brow at me, “doyouwant to ride his dick?”

“I’m not answering that.” I sat back and crossed my arms over my chest.

“Sothat’sa yes.” Marcus laughed and tilted his glass back, finishing his drink.

“Don’t know if you guys noticed it or not,” Rachel chimed in, leaning forward on the table, “but Vale was totally into Cody. Did you see how he looked at him? Those green eyes didn’t leave Miller for even a second.”

“What?” I couldn’t have heard her right. “No, he isn’t into me. He’s just…I don’t know. He’s that intense to everyone. Not just me. I’m just some guy in his class. Nothing more. He said ‘hi’ to be nice.”

“Did you know that sometimes when you open your mouth, shit falls out?”

The guys howled with laughter at Rachel’s remark.

“You used to be my favorite,” I said to her before huffing in an overly dramatic fashion. “Not anymore. Keith is my new favorite because he’s actually nice.”

“Hey, don’t bring me into this.” Keith put his hands up, his face red from laughing.

Since I was the only one not drunk or legally impaired, I was the designated driver and got everyone back to campus safe and sound. We all walked Rachel to her building before heading toward ours. Keith and Marcus disappeared into their room after we took the elevator to our floor, and Tristen walked by my side as we moved down the hall.

“I needed tonight,” he said, unlocking our door.

The lamp was on in the living room, so it wasn’t pitch black when we walked in.

“I think we all did.” I collapsed on the couch and kicked off my shoes. “I needed a pick-me-up after two failed exams.”