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 only serve as a detriment. His ey my

his intense scrutiny. For a moment there, I had let myself believe that his concern extended past the standard student- teacher relationship.

diverting my gaze to my lap. "Well, thank you.

onto the sidewalk, letting the cool night air wash over my flushed face. "Thanks again for dinner.

a quiet "Goodnight, I swung the

usual seat in Edwin's lecture hall and pulled out my notebook and pencils, I felt a light

Gavin, wearing a faded band tee and a pair of jeans rather than his waiter's uniform, with a

my own. "Thad no idea

with a low chuckle, shifting his weight almost nervously? "I just transferred here this semester, actually. I was

where Tina normally sat; but she was sick today. With

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

for what

Chapter 28

hand. "It was nothing, really. That uniform needed to

back of my neck at his frank words, fiddling

rueful grin rugged at one corner of Gavin's mouth as he gave a small shrug. “All I ask in return is that you respond

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

"You didn't get my note, did you?"

my head, trying in vain to recall

"No, I

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

reddened into a deep crimson, and I pulled my phone out with trembling fingers. "Oh, um.

my

in my stomach as I

text came in.

"Now you have

nervous smile as I entered his contact into my phone, but just then, the classroom door banged open-startling both of us as Edwin stalked

Edwin's POV

strode into the lecture hall a few

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