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—"

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

concern extended past the standard student- teacher relationship. But of course it

gaze to

he could respond. I reached for the door handle and slipped out onto the sidewalk, letting the cool night air wash over my flushed face. "Thanks again for dinner.

features once more. With a quiet "Goodnight, I swung the door shut and hurried up. the steps into

morning, 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 up-and did

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

him immediately, my surprise morphed into a bright smile of my own. "Thad no idea you were a student here

chuckle, shifting his weight almost nervously? "I just transferred here

sat; but she was sick today. With a shake of my head, I gestured

depositing his backpack on the floor with a

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

Chapter 28

he replied with a dismissive wave of his hand. "It was nothing, really. That uniform needed to be replaced

my neck at his frank words, fiddling with the end of my pencil.

mouth as he gave a small shrug. “All I ask in

widened into saucers. "Sorry, what?" I

didn't get my note,

head, trying in vain to recall some sort of note

"No, I

it got lost," Gavin interrupted smoothly, already pulling out his phone. I could have sworn his smile kicked up a

trembling fingers. "Oh, um. I guess it did get lost." I said. "Here. My number

my

swoop in my stomach as I rattled mine off to him,

text came in.

Number: "Now

felt a burst of butterflies in my gut at the text, and offered Gavin a nervous smile as I entered his contact into my phone, but just then, the classroom door banged open-startling both of us

Edwin's POV

hall a few minutes

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