Light in the Shadows (Find You in the Dark #2)(76)
Author: A. Meredith Walters

“I have presents! So many presents! I can’t wait to give them to you!” I often thought Rachel got more excited about other people’s birthdays than she did her own. I flicked her in the arm.

“You don’t need to be spending your money on me. I don’t need anything,” I complained, not liking my cash strapped friend blowing her paychecks on me. Not when I knew she had to save up for school.

“Psh, don’t be ridiculous. Of course I have to lavish my bestie with gifts on her birthday! It’s like a written friendship rule or something,” she protested and I didn’t bother to argue. There was no arguing with Rachel about some things. And all things birthday related were definitely one of those things.

I rubbed at the Band-Aid that covered the underside of my wrist and couldn’t help but smile. It itched like crazy but it was a discomfort I could handle.

“I can’t believe you actually did it. And that your dad took you to get it! You are such a bad ass, Mags!” Rachel remarked, shaking her head.

Last weekend, my father had gotten me up bright and early on Saturday and taken me to the tattoo parlor in the next town over. I had gotten the rune, Uruz, just as I had wanted. My dad had liked what it represented and conceded that it was small and tasteful. “As long as you’re not getting a rose on your upper arm or Mom on your knuckles, I’m okay with it,” he had said when I had mentioned the idea.

Uruz represented healing and courage. They were qualities that I needed to be reminded of and I liked having something that symbolized it on my skin.

“So your mom said to be at your place by six for the birthday dinner extravaganza! I’m bringing my world famous three cheese and bean dip!” she said excitedly as though the world’s problems could be solved with cheese and bean dip.

“Sounds good. It’s just you, Danny and Clay. Nothing wild and crazy,” I said, hoping to calm her down a bit. No sense in her getting her hopes up for some raging party that wasn’t going to happen.

Rachel gave me a funny look. “Yeah, okay. Well, I have to get to work. I’ll see you tonight!” she said, hurrying down the hallway.

“God, Mags, something could be buried in there! Do you ever clean that thing out?” I looked over my shoulder and grinned as I saw Clay peering into my locker. I turned around to give him a hug and leaned up on my tip toes to kiss his lips before turning back to the task at hand.

“It’s not that bad,” I said in mock defense. Clay reached in and tugged on a piece of paper toward the bottom, sending half the contents of my locker careening to the floor. “Way to go, slick,” I muttered sarcastically, shooting him a glare as I knelt down to pick everything up.

Clay squatted beside me and gathered up most of the trash, tossing it in the recycling bin. “Sorry, I didn’t get to see you at lunch. I was roped into a last meeting with Mr. Hunt.” Clay rolled his eyes. Mr. Hunt, the guidance counselor, seemed to think Clay was his pet project. The older man was determined to make Clay into what he considered to be a productive high school student. I would never admit this to my boyfriend, but I secretly wished something Mr. Hunt shoved down his throat would stick and he’d realize that college and planning for his future weren’t such bad things.

Clay kissed the side of my neck, making me shiver. “I didn’t get to spend lunch with the birthday girl, it’s totally inexcusable,” he said huskily into my ear. Damn, he could make me turn to mush without batting an eye. It was an evil, evil gift and one that he liked to wield frequently, much to my enjoyment and sometimes utter embarrassment.

“The day is still young, you can make it up to me,” I replied, trying to sound seductive but having a feeling I just sounded like I swallowed a bullfrog. I wasn’t cut out for sultry.

“That it is. Do I need to bring anything for the dinner tonight?” he asked as I swiped my hand through the locker one last time, pulling out the few pieces of paper still inside and throwing them away.

“I don’t think so; Mom and Dad seem to have it covered.” I closed the locker with a bang and gathered up my book bag and water bottle. Clay slung his arm around my shoulders and I felt the same rush of heat I always experienced when we were touching. I wondered if it would ever go away? I sincerely hope not.

I hopped into Clay’s car. I was still without wheels and I had forgone the mortification of driving the grocery getter for the time being. I had a boyfriend with a sweet ride, so I opted to take advantage of that. I opened up the glove compartment and then the center console.

“What are you doing?” Clay laughed, watching me reach under my seat.

“Looking for my birthday present,” I huffed out, coming up empty handed.

“Well, baby, you won’t find it in here. So you might as well give up,” he teased, smirking as I sat back with a scowl.

“Fine. Just leave me in suspense. You’re really cruel, Clayton Reed,” I grumped, though I wasn’t in the least bit annoyed with him. Whatever Clay had gotten me was top secret. And no amount of persuasion (you would think taking off my shirt would have made him crack, but he was stronger than I gave him credit for) had made him give up the goods.

I also knew he hadn’t shared it with either of my friends because Rachel, particularly, would never have been able to keep it a secret.

Clay drove me to my house, chuckling at my attempts to get him to spill the big secret. I slithered across the car and pressed my boobs into his arm. “Come on, you know you want to tell me,” I purred into his ear, taking his lobe between my teeth and giving it a tug. Clay groaned in the back of his throat.

“You really don’t play fair, do you?” he complained just before getting out of the car. I had to brace myself on his seat; otherwise I would have face planted with the swiftness of his exit. The dude would not budge an inch. Who could resist the lure of the br**sts? I was beginning to suspect a cyborg had taken over his body.

“Hurry up and change, I want to go swimming before it rains.” Clay swatted my behind and I giggled as I hurried into the house. My parents were already home and I poked my head into the kitchen to greet them both.

“Clay and I are going swimming at the hole. We’ll be back before dinner,” I said, stealing a carrot stick that Mom had laid out on a platter. She smacked my hand.

“That’s fine. Just remember to take your sunscreen, it’s bright out there today,” she said and I rolled my eyes. It didn’t matter that today I was legally an adult; she would always treat me as though I were four.