AudreyDespite my exhaustion, the idea of a date sounded divine. I found myself nodding and allowing Edwin to guide me out of the studio. We walked back to his apartment hand in hand, the cool evening air refreshing against my skin. He carried my things for me, a welcome relief for my sore muscles.
“These are incredible,” I breathed, running my fingers lightly over the placard describing a particularly ornate gown from the 18th century with a massive train and intricate hand-beading across the entire bodice.Edwin watched me with a soft smile on his face. “Can you imagine your own dress being
Audrey“Wait, what?” I dug my heels in, my shoes scraping on the marble floors of the museum, as Edwin ushered me toward the exit. “I don’t want to go.”“I’m sorry, but we have to,” Edwin insisted. “Fiona cannot be trusted. I don’t want to risk you getting hurt by her again.”“But Edwin—”“No buts.
I should have been happy, and on the surface, I was. I put on a smile and sent love and affection down the bond. But deep down, I wasn’t happy at all.We had dinner and watched a movie, snuggled up together beneath a blanket on the couch. As the credits rolled, Edwin leaned in to kiss me, his lips s
AudreyThe cool night air was refreshing against my skin as I hurried down the street to Avis’s apartment. Finally, for the first time in two weeks, I felt as if I could breathe.Blissfully, I could see a light on in Avis’s window. So she was awake after all. When I reached her door, I hesitated for
But the moment we were back inside his apartment, I pulled my hand away and turned on him. “You didn’t have to come running after me like that.”“I had to,” Edwin replied, his voice tight. “I thought Coldclaw had taken you. You should have at least left a note or something.”I felt a pang of guilt a
AudreySaturday night, I found myself in Tina’s dorm room, surrounded by my friends as we prepared for a night out. The air was thick with the scent of hairspray and perfume, laughter echoed off the walls, and music played from the bluetooth speaker on Tina’s bedside table. My head already buzzed sl
We made our way to the bar, squeezing through the crowd. I ordered a vodka cranberry, the tart sweetness a perfect start to the night.“To us,” Betty said, raising her glass. “And to a night of forgetting about all our worries!”We clinked our glasses together, and I felt a warmth spread through me
“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