“So,” she said, blocking my way with her hands on her hips. “Lost your scholarship too, huh? Right after losing your boyfriend?” I pursed my lips and adjusted my bag on my shoulder. For a moment I opened my mouth to retort, but then shut it again. No, she would get her comeuppance. In fact, she wo
Audrey I stood nervously in front of the full-length mirror in my bedroom, tugging at the hem of my deep burgundy dress. It hugged my curves in all the right places, the sleeveless cut accentuating my arms and shoulders. I had made it myself just last semester, and hadn’t had a chance to wear it o
I felt heat flood my cheeks and quickly busied myself by studying the menu like it was a final exam. Of course, there was nothing on the menu for less than thirty dollars—but maybe I could get away with just ordering a couple of sides, I figured, which were cheaper. I’d have to put it on my credit c
Audrey & Edwin Audrey’s POV Just as the wine was about to splash all over me, a blur of movement caught the corner of my eye. I flinched instinctively, squeezing my eyes shut as I braced for the inevitable drenching of red liquid all over my dress. But it never came. Slowly, I peeled one eye
I watched as Audrey took her seat again, her cheeks flushed pink. She fiddled with the now-reddened napkin she had used to clean up his shirt, her mouth working uselessly for several moments. “Who… who was that woman?” Audrey’s voice was barely above a whisper when she finally met my eyes again.
Audrey & Edwin Audrey’s POV “Thank you again… for dinner,” I said softly as Edwin pulled up to the front of the dorm buildings. “That was really nice of you.” Edwin cut the engine and turned his head to regard me. “How many times do I have to tell you that it’s nothing?” he asked with a shrug
“Don’t mention it,” he replied with a dismissive wave of his hand. “It was nothing, really. That uniform needed to be replaced anyway.” I felt heat creeping up the back of my neck at his frank words, fiddling with the end of my pencil. “Well… Still. That was nice of you.” A rueful grin tugged at
Audrey My phone buzzed in my pocket just as I was finishing up the last of my homework for the evening. Frowning, I dug it out, expecting a text from Avis or Tina about our group project. Instead, it was a new text from a familiar number that had me grinning like an idiot before I could stop mys
“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