Chapter 23

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 of one broad shoulder. "Although if you don't mind me asking... are you und My eyes widened ever so slightly at his rather blunt question. How had he known?

"Well, L." I hesitated, chewing my lip as I debated how much to divulge. "My family doesn't have a lot of money, if I'm being honest."

It was true; ever since my first adoptive mother, Maria, had passed away when I was fourteen, I had been adopted by her sister and her sister's husband, Francine and Gary. They had three kids of their own an at-home mother and Gary being a high school science teacher, they weren't exactly loaded.

Edwin remamed silent, his dark eyes trained on me. I couldn't quite read his expression.

"They can't help you out at

out at all?" he suddenly asked,

My face reddened. "No, I. I mean, they would love to, but..

Now that was a lie. They didn't have much of an interest in helping me financially, or helping me

out at all, really, to them, I was the burdensome human in the family. The black sheep, so to speak. The only reason why they took me in as a teen was because Francine didn't want to face scrutiny from the res

There was a long silence after that. Edwin seemed to eye me almost suspiciously for a moment, a knowing look flickering through his gaze.

"Very well. I'll look into securing you some additional funding," he stated matter-of-factly. "Perhaps another scholarship or grant program you qualify for."

"Oh, no!" I protested, shaking my head vehemently. "You don't have to do that, really. I'm making it work. I was actually thinking of getting a part-time job, and—"

cut me off, his tone leaving no room for argument. "I can't have one of my students working themselves to the bone with a part time job

moment there, I had let myself believe that his concern extended past the standard student- teacher relationship. But of course it didn't I needed to not read into this

to my lap. "Well, thank

the door handle and slipped out onto the sidewalk, letting the cool night air wash over

merely nodded, that same vaguely inscrutable look falling over his features once more. With a quiet

hall and pulled out my notebook and pencils, I felt a

pair of jeans rather than his waiter's uniform, with a backpack slung

bright smile of my own. "Thad no idea you were a student here too. What a Small

say that again," Gavin agreed with a low chuckle, shifting his weight almost nervously? "I just transferred here this semester,

my left, which was where Tina normally sat; but she was sick today. With a shake of my head, I gestured to the open chair. "It's all

depositing his backpack on the floor with a

to thank you again for what you did

Chapter 28

dismissive wave of his hand. "It

felt heat creeping up the back of my neck at his frank words, fiddling with the end of

corner of Gavin's mouth as he gave a small shrug. “All I ask in return is that you respond to

eyes widened into saucers. "Sorry, what?" I breathed, genuinely

me a concerned look. "You didn't get my note, did

head, trying in vain to

"No, I

I could have sworn his smile kicked up a notch. "I wrote down number for you. Left you a note

out with trembling fingers. "Oh, um. I guess it did get

my

an excited swoop in my stomach

text came in.

Number: "Now you have

butterflies in my gut at the text, and offered Gavin a nervous smile as I entered his contact into my phone,

Edwin's POV

hall a few minutes early, bracing myself

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