Chapter 46 Audrey

Pushing open the front door of the bar, I was met with the scent of smoke and alcohol in the air. The place was positively packed despite the fact that it was a Wednesday night, but my friends and I managed to find a table in the corner once we got our drinks. "Welcome to the team, Betty," Tina said, raising her glass. "We're all looking forward to getting to know you."

Betty grinned and clinked her glass with ours, foamy beer spilling over the top. Taking a sip, she replied, "And I'm glad to be a part of the team that's going to win this fashion show."

I couldn't help but grin. Earlier that day, we had put Betty through a similar hazing to the one that Gavin had to endure-creating a quality piece out of ugly fabric. Only this time, Betty had blown us all out of the water with her quick thinking.

"When you started rifling through the recycling bin, I thought you had gone crazy," Avis laughed, pushing a blonde curl out of her eyes. "But then you started using the bottlecaps to make a bodice, and it all started coming together."

Betty beamed and waved Avis away with her hand. "It was nothing, really. I'd like to showcase what I can do when I have an actual supply of recycled objects."

"You'll get plenty of chances," I assured her. "Really."

Our little group now totaled five: me, Tina, Avis, Gavin, and now Betty. I had been apprehensive at first, but Betty's test today proved that we had made the right decision.

"And," Gavin said, leaning across the table, "now we have a big enough team to qualify for the fashion show."

The table dissolved into excited chatter at that. Tomorrow morning, we would be attending the announcement ceremony for the teams that had been chosen for the fashion show. I had a good feeling that our team would be picked, and I couldn't have been more excited- but also nervous.

Tina, noticing my tight smile, nudged me with her foot under the table. "Hey. Why don't we play a drinking game?" she asked. "Take our minds off of fashion show stuff

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Chapter 46

and just focus on the present."

Avis nodded quickly. "How about truth or dare?"

Tina smiled and turned to me, topping off my beer with the pitcher in the middle of the table. "Audrey, since you're the leader of our team, you should go first. Truth or dare?"

for a moment as I licked the foam off the edge of my glass. Finally settling on a choice,

mischievously as she thought of a dare, and then, grinning, she pointed behind me. "Isn't that

though both my chair and the floor might disappear out from under me. Tina was right; there, sitting at the bar, was none other than Edwin. He had his head bent, his eyes fixed on his drink with a look that could kill. But it was

slowly, swallowing.

was even possible. "You should see if you can convince him

instinctively moving to my glass to drink instead of accepting the dare. But when I met Tina's gaze,

on, Audrey," she said, nudging me under the table again. "We have to

wanted to throttle her; Tina wasn't usually this much of a fire-starter, but I knew her angle here. Despite everything that I had told her, she

refuse, however, Gavin was nudging me with his elbow. He met my gaze, and I felt my stomach twist into a knot-there

do it," he said quietly. "It's just one

cut off abruptly when Edwin's eyes snapped up and met mine. D**t, I thought to

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he would likely be wondering why

was staring.

a huff. I

hair back and stood. "Alright,

no promises."

his jacket off the back of the chair, indicating that he was trying to leave-and quickly. But I caught him in time, clearing my throat as I sidled up to

responding. "Were you and your friends talking about me? I heard my

just wanted to say hello. And I was wondering. Despite myself. I took a shaky step closer. I reached one finger out to touch his arm, leaning across the bar as I did so. "...Would you buy me a drink?" At that moment, it felt as if all the air had been sucked out of the room. Leaning there, with my back arched and my finger touching the sleeve of his jacket, I felt like I was two things at once: an utter m**n and a seductress. Or maybe it was just the way his gray eyes flicked over my waist, my skin slightly exposed beneath my crop top with my low waisted jeans, that

a moment before he tugged his arm away. "Are you

widened.

this, Audrey. Anyone

I thought steam might start coming out of my ears. I quickly straightened and pushed a strand of hair out of my eyes, looking away. "I'm sorry. It's just My friends dared me to do this, and..."I shook my head, clearing my throat.

over. "I'd like a refill," he said, then

Here I was, embarrassing both of us, and yet he was buying me a drink anyway. Rapid

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