The Brightest Light of Sunshine

“You’ve got any new books this week, dear?”

“Let me check at the back, Sloane.”

I don’t remember seeing any books on the box Olivia dropped off earlier, but it doesn’t hurt to double check. The shop is quiet this morning anyway, with only Sloane and her ten-year-old granddaughter Pauline looking around. I push away the beaded curtain that separates the shop from the small storage room at the back and kneel beside the open box.

Clothes, clothes, a lamp, a jewelry bag, and… Yes!

“I’ve got one about… Oh, vampires.” I send Sloane an apologetic look. It’s not that I believe old ladies can’t read about hot vampires, I just don’t think it would be her style. She always gets the classics or historical romances.

Sloane sweeps her long gray hair over a shoulder and tilts her head towards Pauline. “Do you think it would be a suitable read for this one?”

I open the book at a random page and when my eyes land on the word ‘cock’, I snap it shut immediately. “Nope.”

The woman chuckles at the more-than-obvious blush on my cheeks. “Aw, too bad. We’ll take a look at the jewelry then, Pauline.”

With a sigh, I put the book back in the box and make a mental note to label it correctly when we put it on display next week. I’ll have to text Olivia about it so she doesn’t forget. Once I’m back at the front, I sit on the wooden stool we keep behind the front desk and look at the people walking outside the thrift store.

When I moved to Warlington almost four years ago, the first thing I did was look for a ballet studio. The second was to look for volunteer work at The Teal Rose Women’s Shelter. I couldn’t fathom the idea of other women going through the same thing I did—or worse—without me being there to help in any way that I could.

So even though I couldn’t volunteer to assist actual survivors—which I totally understand—, my people skills landed me a position at the shelter’s thrift store in Melrose Creek.

My Saturday mornings here consist of putting out new stuff, keeping the shop clean and tidy, and helping customers with whatever they need. They are regulars who always, always leave with something. All profits go to help the women and children at the shelter, and knowing that may be the reason why I’m actually considering buying that book about vampire smut. Why not? I’ve never read erotica, but surely it can’t hurt to try.

So, before I change my mind, I hop off the stool and grab the book from the box at the back. I leave the three dollars at the register and text Em.

Me: You won’t believe what I’ve just got from the thrift store

Her reply comes only minutes later.

Em: Is it sexy lingerie?

Me: No, but it kinda has to do with it I guess??

Em: Now I’m intrigued. Spill, woman!!!!

Me: A smutty book… about hot vampires…

Em: I’M DYING!!!! Pls let me borrow it when you’re finished

Me: Ok but don’t drool over the pages

Em: I make no promises

I snort, which gets me an understanding smile from Sloane across the shop. I smile back as my phone buzzes again.

Em: No but really I’m happy for you. Reading smut may not sound like a big deal but I’m sure it’ll help you

Me: That’s what I thought too. We’ll talk later <3

Em: Love you hon x

With a new purpose pulsing under my skin and just because Sloane and Pauline are regulars and I trust them, I open the book on page one and start reading. Sadly, I don’t even get to page two (no dicks so far) when the old woman appears in my line of vision.

“We’ll take this brooch, dear.” Sloane sets the metallic bird on the counter and reaches for her purse.

“Of course. Didn’t see anything that you liked, Pauline?” I ask her timid granddaughter, who only shakes her head. No matter how many times we’ve seen each other, the poor girl still hides behind Sloane when I talk to her. I never take it personally.

“We’ll come back next Saturday to see if you’ve got any new books,” Sloane assures me with a warm smile as I take her cash. “Have a good week, sweetie.”

“You both too.” I wave them goodbye and open the book right where I left off.

So, apparently, this is a high fantasy novel about a witch who gets kicked out of her coven and has to make her way across the kingdom to join other fallen witches and start a revolution. Only that she gets kidnapped on the way there—by a muscled, dark-haired, hot-as-sin vampire of all people. Naturally they despise each other at first, but if their ever-growing sexual tension is any indication, they’ll probably end up having hate sex sooner than later.

I’m not sure how I feel about that yet. I mean, am I ready to read explicit erotic scenes? With very specific descriptions of the male anatomy and everything? I have a vivid imagination, so I know for sure that I’ll be able to see the whole thing in my head as if it were a movie.

Oh, my.

I’m so immersed in the story that I jump, heart racing fast, when my phone buzzes on the counter almost half an hour later. It’s a… text from Cal?

Cal: You might want to book that tattoo appointment soon before I get sent to jail for beating up your cousin six ways to Sunday

What the hell?

***

Callaghan

“Let me check if I got this right.”

Not to be dramatic, but I might die today.

And that’s saying something—with my bulky build, my ability to knock someone unconscious without breaking a sweat and how little fucks I give in general, the last thing I expected today was to be intimidated by a guy I’ve known for three years and who I consider one of my closest friends.

Well, I’m only mildly intimidated, but still.

Aaron continues without missing a beat. “My cousin was at this frat party last night and when she wanted to go home, you were coincidentally driving around the area and picked her up?” He crosses his arms in front of his chest, as if protecting himself from the truth he doesn’t want to hear. “I struggle to believe that, Cal.”

I take a deep breath and stare down at my friend with the cold glare I’ve mastered over the years. I don’t care how good his intentions are or how much he cares about Grace, not right now. He should know by now the kind of man that I am, and I’m sure as fuck not going to let anyone come into my shop and scold me like a damn child.

But I’m also not going to air Grace’s business. She didn’t want to tell Aaron what happened with that guy at the party, and although I don’t get why, I refuse to break her trust like this, or at all.

“Look, man, if you’re worried about me making a move on her, trust me that I’m not interested,” I tell him head-on, perhaps a bit more harshly than I intended. Whatever. I don’t deserve this reprimand in the first place. “I only took her to that vegan truck because she was hungry. She was the one to suggest we hang out, so tone it down a little, all right?”

Aaron scowls at me like I don’t understand a thing. “You know why I’m telling you this, Cal. It’s not because I don’t think you’re a good man—I know you are. This is about Grace and what is best for her.”

A fucking classic. “And what do you think is best for her?”

“That she only surrounds herself with people who have her best interest at heart, for one.”

Ah, no. He’s not going there. Over my dead fucking body.

I narrow my darkened gaze at him. “And you think I’m not one of those people?”

He has the decency to flinch. Just barely. “I don’t know, Cal. You’re one of my best friends and I trust you like a brother, just not with her. I don’t trust anyone with her. It’s not personal.”

That, I can somewhat understand amid my growing rage. His words force a question in my head—who would I trust to keep Maddie’s heart safe? Probably nobody but me, so I get it.

I let out a heavy breath and thank the universe that I’ve got an appointment in five minutes, so this conversation won’t last much longer. “Look, A, I like your cousin. She’s fun to be around, and I think she enjoys my company too. I’ve already told you there’s no sketchy business from my end, so why the hell are you so defensive about her having a male friend?”

He seems to ponder his answer for a moment, as if he was choosing his next words carefully. I’m not dumb. I know Grace—and him—is keeping something big from me. Not that she has any obligation to tell me, but I know the secret is there. I have the nagging feeling that it’s something that would rip my fucking heart apart.

So, when Aaron keeps being his vague self, I’m almost relieved by it. “Listen, men are shit and Grace knows it first-hand. She doesn’t need friends with ulterior motives. She doesn’t need to think they care about her, when all they’ve wanted from the start was to get into her pants. I’d rather she didn’t take the risk.”

Something lethal snaps inside of me. “Get the fuck out of my shop.”

Aaron blinks. “Cal, man—”

“Get. Out,” I grit out. I don’t even recognize my own voice right now.

Thinking better than to fight back, Aaron gives me what my furious eyes recognize as an apologetic look and rushes out the front door after muttering a ‘sorry’ I don’t give fuck about.

Before my foggy brain registers what I’m doing, I pick up my phone and text Grace. I don’t even remember what the fuck I texted her as soon as I lock the screen. All I hear is a ringing in my ears and all I feel is a deadly pressure in my chest that doesn’t let me breathe.

She doesn’t need friends with ulterior motives. She doesn’t need to think they care about her, when all they’ve wanted from the start was to get into her pants.

He thinks I’m that kind of friend? Does he seriously think so little of me?

For fuck’s sake.

Out of everyone in our friend group, I’m the one who would rather stay home than wild out at some random party. I’m the one who doesn’t do drugs or get drunk. I’m the one who doesn’t do one-night stands. I’m the one who doesn’t pick up chicks at bars because that’s not me. It’s never been, and up until five minutes ago I thought one of my closest fucking friends knew that as well.

Wishful-fucking-thinking.

Fortunately for my sanity, my next appointment arrives only minutes later, and I focus on the beautiful traces of black ink on my client’s skin for the next hour. Once I’m done, I realize I forgot about my text to Grace until I see the notification on my screen.

Grace: Not that I don’t share the sentiment (he can be a little shit), but did something happen?

For a second, I debate whether to tell her about Aaron’s accusations and overprotective streak against me. Maybe it’s not such a good idea to stir up drama between them. Aaron might be my friend, but he’s her family.

And then I remember how he pretty much accused me of having ulterior motives to befriend her, and I decide to hell with it.

Me: Wanna grab lunch? I’d rather tell you in person

An hour later, we are sitting at one of the cafés a couple of blocks away from the shop, waiting for our orders as Grace gapes at me like a koi fish. It’s kind of cute.

“He said what?”

I don’t know what I was expecting when I told her about my quarrel with her cousin, but seeing how she sides with me is surprising. And it validates the hell out of my feelings, why lie.

We thank the waiter when she brings out our sandwiches, and I turn to her. “I suspected he was pissed when we talked on the phone last night, but I didn’t see any of that coming.”

“It’s madness,” she agrees before biting on a French fry. “I’ll talk to him, don’t worry.”

“I’m not worried,” I lie like a bastard. “I just don’t appreciate him thinking that I have a hidden agenda when it comes to you. I thought he knew me better than that.”

She shakes her head and takes a sip of her cold water. Anger and disappointment flicker in her hazel eyes. “He’s not thinking straight. His overprotectiveness has gone too far, and I’m done.”

I sit up straighter. “Grace, I really don’t want you guys to fight because of this. Let me sort it out with him.”

“You sort out whatever you need with my cousin, and I’ll deal with my own stuff,” she says in a determined voice I’ve come to notice she uses a lot lately. I like it. “It concerns me as well, you know? He’s going all caveman on me when I never asked him to, and I don’t like it one bit.”

“I get it.” With a sigh, I dive into my sandwich, and I can’t even appreciate it properly because this situation is too damn shocking. “Why does he always go caveman on you, though?”

She shrugs, but I don’t miss the momentarily flash of panic in her eyes. “You have a little sister. I guess it’s kind of the same thing. You get it.”

I shrug back. “I can understand where he’s coming from. Doesn’t mean I will put up with it.”

“Valid.” She eats another fry before her eyes widen so much they almost come out of their sockets. “Oh! Oh! Guess what I bought today?”

The excitement in her voice clears the fog in my head. A change of topics is exactly what I need right now, or I’ll go insane ruminating. “Let me guess—another plain white t-shirt?”

Grace fake gasps and puts a hand over her, indeed, plain white t-shirt. In all the time I’ve known her, she only seems to wear neutral tones and pastel colors; not that they don’t suit her—she always looks beautiful. “You’re one to talk, Mister I-Only-Wear-Black.”

Well. She got me there.

“Don’t distract me,” I say. She chuckles, those pale cheeks turning just the slightest shade of pink, and I nudge her feet with my own beneath the table. “Come on. What is it?”

“It’s… kind of embarrassing,” she admits with a lowered gaze as she wipes her hands on a napkin and reaches inside her tote bag. Then, she pulls out a book.

I blink. “Why would a book be embarrassing?”

But when she passes me the novel, I open it at a random page and the words ‘hardened nipples’ blind me like a freaking flashlight, I think I might just know why.

My lips twitch. “Are you reading porn?”

Redder than ever before, she snatches the book from my hands, and I laugh. “Stop laughing at me.”

“I’m not.” I smile. “I’m laughing at how red you are right now. It’s cute.”

You’re cute.

“Shut up,” she mutters under her breath, and I laugh harder.

“So, what is it about?” I ask her once I’ve regained my breath. “Or is this a case of porn without plot?”

Her eyes have suspicion written all over them. “I’m not going to ask why you know about porn without plot in the first place.” When I laugh, she rolls her eyes at me. Deserved. “It’s a fantasy book about vampires and witches.”

“Uh, spicy.”

“Stop teasing me.”

“Stop being so teasable.”

“Is that even a word?”

“Don’t know. Open that book and let’s see if we can find it between hardened nipples and tentative touches.”

“Ugh!” She groans. “I hate you. I shouldn’t have said anything.”

“Hey.” My voice turns serious as I steal a fry from her plate. “I’m just playing with you. I think it’s awesome books like that exist. Everyone deserves to explore their fantasies.”

At my firm words, she looks down onto her lap and nods. “I just… I’ve never done this before, and I guess I’m kind of embarrassed about it. I know other people read these books, but it’s still a bit taboo. To admit that you read them, I mean.”

I shrug. “Who the fuck cares? Anyone who shames other people for enjoying sex in any way, shape or form is an ignorant douchebag. Don’t ever listen to those people because they have nothing intelligent to say.”

Grace’s lips curve into a small, sincere smile that I wish I could capture forever. I wish I could capture so many things about her forever.

“Thank you for saying that. And you’re right. I just have to get used to it, I guess. It’s a new thing for me.”

I point at her with my index finger and give her my no-bullshit look. “You know what? You got me curious. Why don’t you share some quotes from that book with me and I’ll decide if I want to pick it up myself?”

She chuckles. “Are you sure?” She challenges me with her eyes. “It might get… intimate.”

I challenge her right back. “I can do intimate.”

With an amused shake of head and a bright smile that lives up to her nickname, she says, “There’s no backing out now, Sammy.”

And damn it if my name on her lips doesn’t make my head spin.

“Looking forward to those updates, Gracie.”