Page 40 of Brighter Shades of Light

“That won’t be necessary.” If my assumption was correct, I wouldn’t be able to stomach him paying for me. Not when I had more money than I knew what to do with. “My treat this time.”

“This time, huh?” His smile spread. “Is that your way of saying there will be more coffee dates in the future?”

I stared at him in silence for a moment, unsure what to make of his question, before walking to the counter. I thought I heard him chuckle behind me, and I shot him a look over my shoulder to verify my suspicion. His cheeks were pink, as they always seemed to be when he was in my presence, and his dimple was on full display.

“Afternoon,” the girl at the counter greeted. “Can I interest you in one of our specialty fall drinks today? Just got the new pumpkin spice latté in.”

“No thank you.” I studied the menu, reading over the various flavors and feeling a little overwhelmed by them all. “I’ll have the house blend, please. For you, Mr. Miller?”

“Um.” Cody chewed his bottom lip as he stepped closer and looked at the options. “I’ll try the pumpkin spice, I think.”

The girl rang up our order, and I paid.

“Thanks, Dr. Vale,” he said, sounding a little off. When I met his stare, he looked off, too. Ashamed, even. “You didn’t have to.”

“It was my pleasure.”

Cody swallowed and broke eye contact.

I wanted to reach out and take the embarrassment from him, to let him know there was no shame in accepting a gift. Something told me there was more to his behavior than feeling guilty over a cheap coffee, though.

“Here you go.” The barista placed two cups on the counter. “One house blend and one pumpkin spice.”

We took our drinks back to the table and sat down. Outside, the approaching dark clouds blocked out a ray of sunlight. A chance of scattered storms had been in the forecast for tonight. Nothing severe. Just rain.

Rain.

Rain hitting the window. A strike of lightning in the angry, dark sky.

A pale hand holding mine before falling away. Blue eyes open but not seeing. Not anymore.

“Dr. Vale?”

I focused on Cody. “Yes? I apologize. It’s been a very long week.”

“It’s only Tuesday.”

“It is, isn’t it?” I sipped the hot coffee, finding the taste a little bitter but satisfying. “Seems like it should at least be Thursday by now.”

“You don’t sleep much, do you?” Cody took a drink of his latté. “Sometimes in class you seem like you’re one blink away from falling asleep. Sleep deprivation clouds the mind, you know. Makes you distracted.”

“Quite the observation, Mr. Miller.” I wondered if everyone noticed or if he was the only one so keen in his perception of me.

“Cody,” he said, flashing a smile. “Mr. Millersounds too weird when we’re not in class.”

“All right. Cody.” Saying his name aloud made my stomach flutter.

This is dangerous. I should leave right now.

“So, about this TA position.” He ran the tip of his finger along the rim of his cup. “Do you really think I’m qualified? I mean, I bombed your first exam. Not sure I’m the ideal candidate to help you with your work.”

“I’m still undecided on whether I will open the position. For now, it’s only a possibility. But I believe you have potential, yes.”

Potential for much more than just helping me in my lab work.

“Well, in case youdodecide to open it, what do you want to know about me?” he asked, seeming more at ease than he’d been moments ago. “Fair warning, Doctor, once you get me talking, I have a tendency not to shut up. Tristen has to shove food in my mouth sometimes to get me to shut my trap.”

“Tristen?”