I felt so at peace, in fact, that my cleaning lasted well into the night without even meaning to. Eventually, my feet grew sore. I sank down into a chair and laid my head down onto the desk, thinking that if I just closed my eyes for a few moments, I could continue working. But before I knew it, I
Audrey The sensation of something touching my nose caused my dream to shift from one into another. As soon as my eyes fluttered open, I was met with a familiar sight: two gray eyes staring at me from beneath a head of dark hair. A set of full lips framed by stubble. A soft smile graced my lips a
“Sit down,” Edwin said, gesturing to the kitchen table as he strode over to the fridge. I did as he said, my fingers instinctively reaching for the glasses. I put them on and looked around, smirking at how blurry everything suddenly looked. “Your eyesight is really this bad?” I asked. Edwin gl
Audrey My face instantly paled upon hearing Edwin’s proposal. “You can stay with me tonight.” Without meaning to, I took a step back and quickly shook my head. “No!” I blurted out. “I can’t. I—” “Relax, kid.” Edwin finished stirring the pasta and tapped the wooden spoon on the side of the po
I swallowed and cast my gaze back to the floor; the gesture was so sweet and tender that it not only made me blush, but also brought tears to my eyes. “That’s, um… That’s very kind of you,” I said quietly. Edwin shot me a curious look. “Are you sure? You look like you might cry.” Feeling my fa
Audrey “She’s right through here.” The nurse pulled aside the curtain and let Tina and I through. Exchanging glances, we stepped into Avis’s small hospital room—the scent of antiseptic mixed with fresh flowers from a vase on the side table overwhelming us. “You guys came.” Avis grinned at us f
Edwin I felt the sensation of someone leaning close to me as I slept. Cracking my eyes open carefully, I caught a glimpse of long, dark hair and striking blue eyes. Audrey. Just as she was straightening, I threw my arm out and wrapped it around her waist, yanking her close. “What do you think
Audrey “I can’t wait to put the finishing touches on my pantsuit today. It’s gonna look so great!” “Me neither! I just need to make the hat for my top and skirt ensemble, and then I’m all done.” As Tina, Avis and I walked to our studio, the sound of their excited chatter brought a smile to my
“I think you’re going to change so many lives,” I said to Eliza. “Those kids are so lucky to have you.” Eliza looked down, her cheeks pink. “Thank you, Audrey. Really.” Tina piped up next. “And my LGBT counseling department is finally off the ground! ” She paused, leaning into my mother, who was
Audrey After a long flight, we finally touched down in Italy. The sunlight streaming in through the plane window was a promising golden hue, and just the sight of it made me feel like my heart was about to leap out of my chest. “I might need a nap when we get to the villa,” Edwin yawned, shaking
And as I watched, I felt a hand slip into mine. I glanced up, finding Edwin beside me, his gaze focused on the runway but his approval humming through the bond. My mother stood on my other side, wrapping her arm around my shoulders. A lump rose in my throat, and I couldn’t even speak. None of us c
Audrey Edwin and I emerged from the small room, his hand still resting protectively on my back. The hustle and bustle of last-minute preparations immediately hit us, assistants running back and forth, models being ushered into position, and the soft hum of the audience’s chatter drifting through t
“There’s always time,” I whispered, grabbing the wrist of his free hand and pulling it close to peer at his watch. The movement caused him to topple forward, and he caught himself on his other palm, caging me against the hard wood of the vanity. “But maybe not enough time to waste right now.” Edwi
Audrey Before I could even answer his question, Edwin rushed past me and locked the door. When he turned back to me, he was grinning from ear to ear. The sight of that mischievous look on his face made my breath hitch. Once, it had been like pulling teeth to get the man to smile. And now here he
He didn’t need to tell me twice. I tore into the wrapping paper, revealing a soft red scarf. I could tell immediately that it was handmade—there were more than a few uneven stitches, and the outline was lumpy. It was far from perfect. But I loved it all the more for that. “Goddess, Edwin,” I laugh
Audrey The morning of the show was a frenzy. No, more than a frenzy. It was complete and utter chaos. I spent the entire morning from sunup to noon running endlessly from one end of the venue to the other, desperately trying to make sure every last detail was perfect. The racks were lined with c
“Uh… Yeah,” Malakai said. “Coffee would be nice.” A few minutes later, the three of us sat around the table, steaming cups of pitch black coffee in our hands. I kept it bitter, just in case Malakai was here to stir up more shit. It burned a little going down, but I sipped it anyway. Malakai look