“I really do like you, Gavin,” I said softly, regaining my courage. I turned to face him again and touched his knee, causing him to jerk his head up to look at me. “And I never meant to lead you on. I just… I think we’re better off as friends.”Gavin blinked at me for a moment, his soft eyes searchi
Audrey“Alex Wheeler?”“Here.”Striding forward, I handed the graded paper to the young male student with a beanie and a black t-shirt sitting at the back of the class. I flipped to the next page in the pile of papers and called out, “Melissa Williams?”“Over here.”The morning had been a quiet one—
Audrey & EdwinAudrey’s POVBy the time class was over, my skin was practically vibrating with nerves. I took my time packing up my things, waiting until the last student had left the room before I approached the podium where Edwin was waiting.“You wanted to speak with me?” I asked, stopping a resp
AudreyPushing open the front door of the bar, I was met with the scent of smoke and alcohol in the air. The place was positively packed despite the fact that it was a Wednesday night, but my friends and I managed to find a table in the corner once we got our drinks.“Welcome to the team, Betty,” Ti
Finally, with a huff, I pushed my chair back and stood. “Alright, fine, you vultures,” I growled, turning on my heel. “But no promises.”By the time I began to make my way over to Edwin, his eyes had already averted and he was finishing his drink. I saw him grab his jacket off the back of the chair,
Audrey & Third PersonAudrey’s POVI woke up earlier than usual for the announcement ceremony—too excited to sleep any longer. Over the course of the next hour, I painstakingly dressed myself in a sleek black mini dress, curled my hair, and did my makeup.I wanted to look perfect; because today was
EdwinThe lights in the auditorium flickered, indicating that the assembly was about to begin, and the bustling audience began to quiet down. By now, practically every seat was filled—no student at Grayspring Academy wanted to miss this.Because today, the teams who would make it to the next round o
AudreyI collapsed into Edwin’s arms with a sob that shook my entire frame.“There, there,” he murmured. Another sob quaked my body just at the sound of his voice and I pressed my tear-streaked face against his chest, inhaling the scent of his cologne. His strong arms enveloped me, one hand cradling
“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