Here Comes the Light (Cambrooke #1) (23 page)

“Like I am not nervous already.”
I say.

Declan and Isaac
laugh at me. Delcan rests one hand on my knee and the other is on the steering wheel. Isaac’s in the back. “What are you nervous about, it’s just church.”

“Yeah, really.”
Isaac chimes in.

“I don’t know.” I cross my arms. “I just feel like I am being judged.”

“Mi, God is the only judge. Don’t let others make you feel bad about yourself.” He gently squeezes my knee. I’m suddenly finding his preaching kind of cute.

I sit between Declan and Garrett on a couch in the middle of the youth room. The walls are painted black and there are posters all over them of bands I have never heard of, but they look cool. There are barstools, beanbag chairs and butterfly chairs scattered about the room. There is a crowd though. Some teens are even on the floor it is so packed. Abby and Shay are in front of us on beanbag chairs. I recognize a few kids from school and a petite red head sits in the corner scowling at me. This makes me a little uncomfortable, but not as much as when Lexi introduces me to everyone. I know she is just trying to make me feel welcomed but I don’t want all those eyes on me. After the awkward introduction, Nate begins to speak. He tells us about God’s goodness and about how when we are still sinners, He sent his only son to die for us. The words penetrate my heart. I will myself not to cry. Declan’s hand barely touches mine on the couch in between us, like he can sense I want to cry.

Nate continues by saying. “God does not choose the qualified He qualifies the chosen.”

I feel like that word is for me, accept God didn’t choose me. Nate then asks if anyone wants to receive Jesus. Once again I don’t accept the invite. I look at Declan and wonder why he wants me knowing God doesn’t want me. Red is still scowling at me; this is getting too uncomfortable for me. Nate tells everyone they are free to go and Declan starts to walk away from me. I grab his arm before he can get too far away.

“D, can we go now.” I say quickly noticing Red still staring.

“Yeah.” He says just as quickly before asking Garrett to let Isaac know we left. He leads me out to the truck and as soon as we are inside he asks me with a concerned voice, “What is it?”

“There was this girl in there, she was
mean muggin’ me.”

“The red head?” his voice is irritated. I slowly nod.

He sighs and runs a hand over his head. “That is Jaylynn she has a thing for me. I keep turning her down.”

“But w
hy is she so mean, aren’t people supposed to be nice at church?” I ask.

“
Jaylynn’s mom makes her come, but that is as far as her relationship with God goes. She has a lot of the adults fooled, but she is really wild. Not that I am making excuses or anything, but she has had something tragic happen to her.” Declan’s mind seems to go somewhere else when he says this. “Don’t let her get to you.” He says faintly.

“So why me?
Why choose me over a church girl?” I ask him.

“She may come to church, but she doesn’t live it.” He replies before he smiles at me again. “I love you anyway.”  This
of course gets me to smile again. “And that is what I want to see.” He says.

On our way back to my house he pulls into his driveway. “What are we doing here?” I ask.

“Sunday dinner with my family.” He smiles.

My heart speeds up at the thought. It was one thing coming over when we were friends but now that we’re together, and I know how his parents feel about dating. “Do they know we are together?” He laughs and nods.

“Even if I hadn’t have told them Isaac would have after seeing us kissing.”

My face warms up. “Did he tell them?” I gush. Declan laughs with a nod. “Oh my gosh that is so embarrassing. I know I can’t go in there now.”

He continues to laugh, hooking his arm around my neck. Well I don’t think it is funny. He pulls me towards him and presses his lips against mine. Hypnotizing me, making me forget all about being embarrassed, his hands are in my hair and I reach around his waist getting lost in the kiss until I hear a light rap on his window. Declan pulls away and turns toward the window my heart drops when I see Randy standing there staring in the window.

“Cool it, Declan.” He says gruffly. I want to slide underneath the seat now.

“Okay, Dad.” Declan says before Randy stalks into the house. Robin wa
ves a friendly hello to me as she walks in right behind Randy. Garrett’s pointing and laughing at Declan and Isaac sticks his finger in his mouth like he is gagging. Great the whole family saw us. Declan laughs when he turns back towards me.

“I’m not going in there.”

“Relax; they already gave me the speech last night about keeping my hormones under control and waiting until I’m married.”

I cross my arms over my chest, “Declan, you are so not helping your case any.”

He chuckles like this is a big joke. “Miley, my family loves you. They aren’t
going to think any less of you because we got caught making out a couple of times.”

I reluctantly follow him inside and thankfully nobody says anything about the make out sessions. This surprises me out of Garrett. Robin had food cooking in the slow cooker she threw in before church. I admire Robin and hope to be as good of a mother and wife as she is someday.

Randy walks up behind Robin as she checks the food he pulls his arms around her and kisses her neck. “Cool it, Dad.” Declan jokes with him. Randy holds up his hand with his wedding ring.

“See this boy. I don’t have to cool it.” He laughs back.

“Ah, Dad, that is just sick.” Garrett whines.

I think it is sweet he is still loving with her, just another big contrast to Hudson’s dad who is always belittling to his mom. After we have our fill Declan and I make our way out to the porch swing. Declan pulls my feet up to his lap and he rocks us slowly back and forth. Now I know what people mean when they talk about lazy Sunday afternoons.

“Your mom is always so happy.” I say.

“She gets angry like any other mom when we don’t listen to her.”

“You guys always listen.” I laugh.

“Miley, I am human;
I don’t always listen to my mom.” He says as he rubs his hands up and down my shins.

“Right.”
I lean my head to the side and rest it on the back of the swing. “Tell me one thing you have done that your mom told you not to do.”

He smirks with wide eyes and leans forward. “I am not supposed to pick up strange girls off the street late at night.”

I lean my head back and laugh. “So now I am strange?”

He winks and shrugs one shoulder. “I am not supposed to make out with girls wearing bikini’s in their pools.” His smile widens when he says this.

“Are you saying I am a bad influence?” We laugh together.

“I love you.”
Is his reply.

“Why?” my voice is barely above a whisper.

His hand grazes down my cheek before hooking his finger under my chin and lifting my face towards him. “You don’t see yourself the way I see you.” His eyes have that stare in them like he can see into the depths of my soul. I want to run right now but I can’t move. “You need to quit being so hard on yourself and quit trying to reach such impossibly high standards.” My heart races as he continues to stare into my eyes. I am frozen I don’t know what to say to this a slight smile reaches across his face. “You are beautiful inside and out.  You realize you are going to change the world someday?”

I try to catch my breath. If I was able to move right now I would pinch myself to make sure I am not dreaming, because this can’t possibly be real.  Guys only say this kind of thing in books, movies and dreams. He is not real, there is no way.

Maybe I just imagined him, my imaginary boyfriend and his imaginary church and family. That explains everything.

“Miley.” I hear him laughing, bringing me out of my trance. “You alright?”

I nod.
“I should probably get home now; go see my Aunt Kate some while she is in town.”

“Can I come over later?” he asks and I want to say yes. I do, but I am getting really close to a ledge here and I feel myself slowly slipping away. I know the way things are going right now if
something happens between us I’m already going to be crushed.

“Let’s take a night off, okay.” I pat his knee as I pull my legs off him.

“Alright, but tomorrow night I am taking you on our first official date.” He says all smiley.

“I thought the wedding was our first date.” I say standing as I raise one corner of my mouth.

“You said it wasn’t a date.” He stands up and takes hold of my hips he leans down and presses those hypnotizing lips against mine. This makes me want to tell him he can come over tonight until there is a knocking sound on the window we are standing in front of. He pulls away from me.

“Let me guess cool it?” he says turning his head toward the window. Garrett burst out laughing.

“You thought I was Dad.” He laughs some more covering his mouth.

“Garrett, quit goofing off and finish those dishes.” I hear Robin call out. Now it’s
Declan’s turn to laugh. 

Chapter 21

W
hen I arrive home I am surprised to see a car in the driveway I don’t recognize. I figure it is probably one of Aunt Kate’s friends from high school visiting her while she is in. I don’t mind her friends are always a blast to be around when I walk into the house; I find it oddly quiet for Aunt Kate and her friends, maybe they are by the pool? I turn the corner to the kitchen and squeal when I see a guy with Aunt Kate pressed up against the wall their lips are suctioned together. When they hear me they jump and the guy turns to look at me.  My jaw drops when I see Brody, Penelope’s brother. Their hair is all tousled and faces flushed as they smooth out their clothing.

“Miley.”Aunt Kate says as she pushes her
hair down, “Um I thought you were at your boyfriend’s house.”

“My dad doesn’t like it when the baby
-sitter makes out on the job.” I giggle as I prance towards the refrigerator.

“Uh, I have to go.” Brody says his voice a little scratchy, probably from all the kissing. “Good seeing you again, Miley.” He says as I turn back around with my bottled water. He doesn’t make eye contact as he heads out of the room. I am still giggling it feels good to not be the one being caught making out for a change.

“Bye Uncle Brody.” I singsong right before I hear the front door shut. I look at Aunt Kate and wiggle my eyebrows. “How did that happen?” I motion toward the door with my bottled water.

Aunt Kate clears her throat. “Well,” she says with a big smile, Brody m
ust be a really good kisser. “He just showed up here to take back some of the wedding stuff and we just started talking.”

I laugh at this, “didn’t look like talking to me.” I tease. “Next time find a bedroom, preferably not mine though. I hate to think what I would have witnessed if I was a few minutes later.”

“Miley!” Aunt Kate squeals as she giggles.

“Uncle Brody is really hot.” I say.

“I know right.” Aunt Kate giggles some more. “So what are you doing home so early? Figured you’d be with your own personal hottie.” She says nudging me.

“Well
I wanted to hang out with you, girls night.” I say.

“Girls night it is then.” She says hooking an arm around my neck.

“D, I think you are going to explode.” I gush as I watc
h him shovel the hundredth mini-sandwich in his mouth. He takes a gulp of tea.

“What?” he shrugs. “You said you wanted me to get rid of the leftovers for you.” He laughs.

“I don’t want to you to make yourself sick. Isaac only had like six.” I point to Isaac who is now doing laps in the pool.

“He only cares about swimming.” He waves a hand in front of him, “well swimming and video games.” He laughs. Declan and I
are sitting at the patio table. Declan has a tray of food in front of him and he hasn’t stopped eating since he got here.

“Do you need any more to drink?” My Aunt Kate sits up on the lounger by the pool. She is trying to be hospitable.

“I’m good. Thanks Aunt Kate.” He says. Kate laughs at this. She told me what a wonderful guy he is and how he is so much better than Hudson, who she only met once, but he would barely talk to her. Declan has made her laugh several times just in the short hour he has been here.