Edwin nodded. “You’re going to do fine. Just try to avoid saying ‘um’ and ‘well’ too much, alright?”“Got it.”As I was about to close the door, I paused, glancing back through the car window. Edwin sat calmly, his tweed jacket laying over the back seat and his hair slightly ruffled, with his white
AudreyI blinked, taken aback by Mr. Black’s question. “I... I’m not sure I understand,” I stammered, leaning forward in my chair to peer at my open portfolio. “My portfolio showcases my best work, but I also have other accomplishments. I’ve won several design competitions, including the Brooks Desi
I forced a smile, hoping it didn’t look as fake as it felt. “It was... fine,” I lied. “Just fine.”Edwin’s brow furrowed deeper as he studied my face. “Are you sure? You look a bit shaken up.” He glanced down at my hand, which was gripping the edge of his window. “You’re even shaking,” he said, abru
Audrey & EdwinAudrey’s POVNo matter how much coffee I drank, I could barely keep my eyes open during class. The words on the whiteboard blurred together as Edwin’s voice droned on in the background, the surface of my desk practically swimming in front of my eyes.I hadn’t slept well last night, to
I would just have to find another opportunity on my own.…Edwin’s POVAs I watched Audrey leave the classroom, there was no denying the nagging feeling in my gut. It was telling me that something wasn’t right; there had to be more to this story than she was letting on.“Not qualified?” I muttered t
AudreyThe sound of pen scratching on paper was all that filled the silence of my dorm room. With a red pen in hand, I carefully worked through the enormous stack of papers that Professor Stevens had asked me to grade. Even though it was a lot of work, it kept my mind off of other problems—mainly th
I stared at him for a moment, my mouth hanging open. “What did you say?” I whispered.Edwin shrugged. “I told him that if he didn’t reconsider you, then I would pull my shares out of his company. He admitted to discriminating against you for being a human.”I couldn’t help my reaction. “Dammit, Edwi
Edwin & AudreyEdwin’s POVThe door slammed behind Audrey with such force that the framed certificates on my wall rattled in their frames. For a moment, I just stared at the door, my eyes wide with shock. Then, unable to contain my frustration any longer, I slammed my hand down on the desk.“Dammit!
“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