The Brightest Light of Sunshine (The Brightest Light, #1)

by Lisina Coney

‘Wherever life plants you, bloom with grace.’” I give him a sad, pathetic smile. “Get it? Because I’m Grace.”

“All beautiful things in life need the sun to bloom and thrive. We might not know each other very well yet, but I have no doubt you’re the brightest light of sunshine, Grace.”

I barely register my body movements as I hang up and put my phone back in my strappy bag. All I see is him, and all I feel is relief.

I’ve never taken a knife to the gut, but I suppose it feels a lot like seeing Grace cry.

She moans. That’s it. I’ve lost my fucking mind.

I’m a patient man, though. And I have the feeling that everything related to Grace Allen will be worth the wait.

“I’m laughing at how red you are right now. It’s cute.”

You’re cute.

Okay, so reading smut in class is a terrible idea. Who would’ve thought, huh?

Although, to be fair, I’m not as scared of the criticism as I am of vulnerability. Writing is such an intimate act for me, almost like stripping down naked but in a different way. In a mental way. And it freaks me out as much as the physical version would.

Ovaries: shattered again.

It’s kind of cute. Not that I think Cal is cute. Wait, are friends allowed to think each other are cute? I’d have to Google that later.

“Wanna watch The Office for a bit?”

The last thing I feel before my eyes close are his lips grazing the top of my head.

“I didn’t make you uncomfortable, did I?”

“No. You never make me uncomfortable, Cal.”

Grace stayed the night at my place. Grace fell asleep in my arms. She made breakfast in my kitchen with my ingredients. My sister absolutely adores her, in and out the ballet studio. Fuck this, fuck life, and fuck me.

I refuse to. I’m more than a victim. I’m a survivor. I’m a whole woman. I’m not broken even if smaller parts of me might be.

I’m a fighter, and I will rebuild myself no matter how long it takes or how uncomfortable it makes me feel.

“You’re good at everything,” he says with such confidence I almost believe it.

“There you go. There’s my Gracie.”

Her smile only widens, and I can’t help but mimic it. “And there’s my Sammy,” she whispers.

That’s right. Forever and always, whatever life throws at us, we...

It’s like fate clicked into place when we met. Like having her walk into my tattoo shop was meant to happen.

“Because I love how your eyes fill with light when you read your sneaky smutty books,” I reply honestly before I can stop myself. “And when you’re happy, I’m happy.”

Her beautiful hazel eyes meet mine, and something unspoken passes between us. A feeling, a jolt of electricity, a truth neither of us want to admit.

Mine. She’s mine. And I’ll be dead before I’m anyone else’s.

“That’s it. This is where you belong. Here with me,” he growls. The praise and possessiveness in his tone make my head all dizzy. “You’re gonna use me to get yourself off, sunshine? Is that it?”

“You look like a fucking goddess on top of me. So sweet, so perfect.”

“Tell me why you were jealous,” he demands.

“I’m going to kiss you right now.”

And just like that, his lips are on mine.

It’s always been Cal who I was meant to find, who I was meant to share this with.

“My sunshine.” He gives me a butterfly kiss I’m afraid I’ll never recover from.

It’s hard to believe this man is real. He can’t be.

There was nothing else in my head but the way her body fit perfectly against mine, the softness of her lips and the little sounds she made as I devoured her.

I remind myself that I don’t want a relationship, that Maddie is and should always be my priority and that a distraction isn’t welcomed right now. But then she smiles at me. That sweet smile, bright enough to blind the fucking sun, and I forget my own resolve.

“I love being your friend and I don’t want that to change, but I also think about kissing you way more often than I should. I think about your smile, your jokes, your smutty books, and it fills my heart with joy. I look forward to seeing you every day and sometimes texting you isn’t enough. I don’t know when my feelings for you changed into something more, but the mere thought of you in my arms keeps me up at night, and I hate myself for wanting you this way when I can’t have you.”

“You’re my best friend, Cal, but it also feels right to kiss you and… when you hold me, it feels right too.

My head is screaming one thing, and my heart is yelling another, and I don’t know what to do.

“Don’t make any plans for Sunday, Sammy. You’re all mine then.”

I trust Cal with my body, my heart, and my soul. And I’m tired of hiding it.

I’d rather have Cal as my best friend—have him be with somebody else, even—than losing him completely. My heart wouldn’t be able to take it.

“I’m scared as fuck, Grace, but I would rather give us a chance than wonder for the rest of my life how it would feel to make you mine.”

“Do you want to be with me?”

“Yes.” There’s no hesitation in my voice. “A million times yes, Grace. I want you in my life as my friend, my girlfriend, my everything. If you’ll have me.”

“I can’t believe you have to ask.”

I don’t think she’s ever looked more beautiful than right now. In my clothes, in my bed. All mine.

“Just thinking about how beautiful my girlfriend is.” It feels surreal calling her that, but it’s also…right. In every single way.

Being with her feels so right, I can’t even remember how I managed to live without my sunshine. And I hope I never find out again.