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—"

can't have one of my students working themselves to the bone with a part time job on top of

moment there, I had let myself believe that his concern extended past the standard student- teacher

to my lap. "Well,

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

nodded, that same vaguely inscrutable look falling over his features once more. With a quiet "Goodnight, I swung the door shut and hurried up. the steps

as I settled into my usual seat in Edwin's lecture hall and pulled out my notebook and pencils, I felt a light tap on my shoulder. Frowning. I glanced

his waiter's uniform, with a backpack slung over one shoulder. He

a bright smile of my own. "Thad no idea

chuckle, shifting his weight almost nervously? "I just transferred here this semester, actually. I was going to ask

was sick today. With a shake of my head, I gestured to the open chair.

his backpack on the floor with a dull thud. I

wanted to thank you again for what you did the other night." I said. "That

Chapter 28

hand. "It was nothing, really. That

his frank words, fiddling with the end of my pencil. "Well... Still. That was nice

as he gave a small

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

concerned look. "You didn't get my

trying in vain to recall some sort

"No, I

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

a deep crimson, and I pulled my phone out with trembling

my

in my stomach

text came in.

"Now you have

entered his contact into my phone, but just then, the classroom door banged

Edwin's POV

strode into the lecture hall a few minutes early,

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