One Night With My Alpha Professor by Eve Above Story

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—"

no room for argument. "I can't have one of my students working themselves to the bone with a part time job on top of their studies. It will

my cheeks warm under his intense scrutiny. For a 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

I mumbled, diverting my gaze to my lap. "Well,

sidewalk, letting the cool night air wash over my flushed face. "Thanks again for dinner. I'll see you in

look falling over his features once more. With a quiet "Goodnight, I swung the

pulled out my notebook and pencils, I felt a light tap on my shoulder. Frowning. I glanced up-and did a

faded band tee and a pair of jeans rather than his waiter's uniform, with a backpack slung over one shoulder. He flashed me a warm smile. "Hey," he said.

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

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

where Tina normally sat; but she was sick today. With a shake of my head,

the vacated seat, depositing his backpack on the floor with a dull thud. I chewed my

you again for what you did the other night." I

Chapter 28

with a dismissive wave of his hand. "It was nothing, really. That uniform needed

frank words, fiddling with

he gave a small

into saucers. "Sorry, what?" I breathed,

concerned look. "You didn't get my note, did you?" he asked

head, trying in vain to recall some sort of

"No, I

pulling out his phone. I could have sworn his smile kicked up a notch. "I wrote down number for

my phone out with trembling fingers. "Oh, um. I guess it did get lost." I said.

my

heads bent together, we shared our numbers. I felt an excited swoop in my stomach as I rattled mine off to him, and

text came in.

"Now you have

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

Edwin's POV

the lecture hall a few minutes early, bracing myself for another