Page 90 of Brighter Shades of Light

“Ah, why?”

I could tell he was a little nervous, too.

“This is important for you.” I turned in the seat and grabbed his hand. “And it’s also the first event I’ve attended with a date.”

“Really?” Cody’s eyebrows shot upward. “You never took Leon or Emily out?”

“Never. Leon didn’t enjoy parties, and Emily…well, there’s not much to say there other than I was a rotten excuse for a husband and never took her anywhere. Other than our wedding, we didn’t really go out as a couple. She went out with her friends, and I mostly stayed at home.”

Cody chewed his bottom lip and faced forward. His dress hat sat in his lap, and he hadn’t put on his gloves yet. “Are you ashamed to be seen with me as your date?”

“What? No.” I tilted his face back toward me. “I couldn’t be prouder of you, Second Lieutenant Cody Miller.”

He smiled at the usage of his title. “Then why are you nervous?”

“I want to feel like I deserve to stand beside you,” I finally said. “And I’m nervous about meeting your friends and superior officers. I don’t want to make a bad impression and have it come back on you.”

Cody was chuckling by the end of my sentence. “Baby, you gotta be joking, right? You’re a celebrated chemist who’s had his research published and shit. You’ve toured the country and been the guest speaker at huge seminars. Hell,Iwas, like, your number one fanboy. Still am. You’re brilliant. And not only that, you are the kindest, gentlest, and most respectful man I know. Believe me, you won’t make a bad impression on anyone. Guarantee they’ll be buying you drinks by the end of the night.”

“The drinks are free.”

“But still, you get my meaning.”

He leaned toward me and held the side of my neck. His gaze flashed to my lips and back up again. I closed the gap between our mouths, kissing him. I was careful not to grab him, though, as I didn’t want to wrinkle his nice uniform.

“Ready to go inside, handsome?” I asked.

“Yeah. I need a drink. This past week was brutal as fuck.”

I smiled and got out of the car before walking around and joining him. He slid on his white gloves, then put on his hat. When he stood from the car, my heart squeezed in my chest.

My beautiful Marine.

The general reception started at four-thirty in the afternoon, and we arrived a little after four. It was a time to socialize and have drinks before the ceremony started at six. Other Marines were there with their beautiful dates on their arms. The women wore floor-length gowns to match the formality of their men’s uniforms. Some Marines didn’t have dates and instead stood together, talking amongst themselves. Cody said many of them planned to go out on the town after the ball to continue the celebration.

“Chicks love a man in uniform,” Cody said.

“Well, I knowIdo.”

Cody grabbed my hand and snickered. “I fucking love you.”

“Cody!” Tristen approached, and I nearly didn’t recognize him in his uniform. He nodded to me. “Nice to see you again, Dr. Vale.”

“Sebastian, please. You’re a friend, after all.”

“Well, you look fuckin’ hot, Sebastian,” Tristen said, grinning.

My face heated, and I instinctively looked down at myself, checking to make sure everything was in place as it should be.

An attractive young man stood beside Tristen. He had long brown hair, glasses, and wore a kind smile as he stepped forward to shake my hand. “Hi, I’m Blake.”

“Nice to meet you.” I shook his hand. He seemed familiar, as if I had seen him around campus before. “I’m—”

“Dr. Sebastian Vale.” Blake grinned. “I took your chemistry course sophomore year. It was the hardest class I’ve ever taken.”

“Many students have said the same.” My job wasn’t to give them an easy pass but to make them work hard for their grade.

“Yeah, tell me about it.” Cody laughed, looking at me.