AudreyI stood in the middle of our cramped studio, surrounded by a whirlwind of fabric scraps, half-finished designs, and the frantic energy of my friends. The fashion show was only days away, and we were all feeling the pressure.“Okay, let’s go over the checklist one more time,” I said, tapping m
Audrey“That was a nasty spill.”I looked up, my heart pounding in my chest, to find myself cradled in Edwin’s strong arms. His stormy gray eyes met mine, and I felt my face flush hot with embarrassment—both from my clumsy fall and the sensation of his hard chest pressed against my side.“You’re oka
Edwin raised an eyebrow at me. “I think I can manage putting one foot in front of the other, Audrey.”I rolled my eyes, fighting back a smile. “You know what I mean. Show me your catwalk.”I hit play on my phone, and the sound of music filled the studio. Edwin took a deep breath, then started walkin
AudreyI jolted awake to the sound of my alarm blaring, my heart racing as I realized I had fallen asleep while working. Blinking groggily, I found myself tangled in a mess of soft, maroon-colored yarn. I groaned, carefully extricating myself from the web of wool that I had accidentally tangled arou
“N-no, you’re right on time,” Betty stammered, her cheeks flushing red as she toyed with the end of her braid.Edwin nodded, maintaining a careful distance from the group. His eyes met mine briefly, and I saw a flicker of amusement in them. I offered him a tiny smile and a nod.“Alright, everyone,”
AudreyI held my breath as the judges raised their scorecards. Time seemed to slow down as I watched the numbers appear, one by one.9... 9.5... 10!A perfect score!For a moment, I couldn't believe my eyes. Then, the reality sank in, and I felt a surge of joy and disbelief wash over me.“Congratula
After a few more questions and congratulations, we were finally sent backstage. As soon as we were out of sight of the audience, my friends erupted into cheers again. I was swarmed by a sea of arms and smiles, practically lost in the middle of a massive group hug.“Audrey, you spoke so well out ther
AudreyI opened the door to find Tina standing in the hallway, leaning against the wall. Grinning, she pushed away from the wall and strode into the room with her clothes in her hand. She shut the door behind herself and walked over to the vanity to get changed.“So, when are you going to tell us wh
“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