Chapter 73

Audrey

"Oh, no! I lost my earring....." 12%7

I sighed as I stared at my haphazard reflection in the vanity mirror. My hair had come undone from its updo, my makeup streaked from tears and my dress rumpled. But most of all, my eyes were fixed on my missing carring.

My fingers traced the empty hole in my left earlobe where my favorite gold hoop used to be. It was such a small thing, but after the night I'd just had, it felt like the final straw.

Tina snorted behind me as she unclasped her necklace. "I think you have more to worry about than your earring tonight, Audrey," she chided, meeting my gaze in the mirror.

I shuddered as memories of the night's events came flooding back once again. Running into Edwin in the club, seeing that woman, being comforted by Jake, and then what Jake had tried to do.

After I had run away from Jake at the club, I had called Tina in a panic. We had rushed back to the rental house, where Betty. Avis, and Gavin were already asleep. I spilled everything to Tina-the encounter with Jake, the scream, and.. Edwin.

"I still can't believe Professor Brooks was there Tina said with a shake of her head. "Talk about bad luck. Or maybe fate?"

I turned to face her where she was sitting on the edge of my bed. "Fate?" I scoffed.

She shrugged as she ran her hairbrush through her red hair. "I just think it's strange that he came here to vacation, out of all places, and then just happened to dance with you at the club. You don't think that's sort of... I don't know, uncanny?"

Pursing my lips, I turned back to the mirror and swiped my makeup remover wipe across my face. "You know humans aren't affected by the whole 'fated mate' thing. It was just a coincidence." "Still," Tina said with a sigh. "Did you enjoy dancing with him, at least?"

"I.. did. Before that woman showed up," I grumbled, tossing the makeup wipe into the nearby waste basket. "His... girlfriend." I shut my eyes for a moment in a feeble attempt to push away the pain. "I just don't understand why he would dance with me if he was in a relationship."

Tina was silent for a moment, although I could tell we were both thinking the same thing: what if this woman had also been in the picture on New Year's Eve, when Edwin and I had slept together? I didn't want to believe he would do such a thing, but...

“Maybe they're in an open relationship?" Tina suggested, although her tone was doubtful.

I shook my head and grit my teeth. Maybe so, but he still should have told me sooner. "Or maybe he's just a cheater. I don't know which is worse."

Tina sighed again. "Look, Audrey, I know you're upset about Professor Brooks, but we need to talk about what happened with that guy. Are you sure you're okay?"

nodded, but I couldn't meet her eyes. "I'm fine. It was scary, but

suspiciously for a moment. "And that scream?" she

I could do was shake my head. The entire memory of that interaction felt so fuzzy,

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21:15 Mon, Sep 16

Chapter 74

couldn't shake the thought that whatever had come out of me was

with me. Something

the alley-Jake's hands on me, the fear, and then

the cafeteria with Linda. The same power, the same fear and frustration.

like something deep inside of me took over whenever I needed the help the

next morning, after finally getting some sleep, my friends and I went to a local cafe for breakfast with the intention of doing some shopping afterwards and then spending the rest of the day at the beach again. I was looking forward to a relaxing day, something

in thought, barely registering the buzz of conversation around me,

gasped as I recognized my lost gold hoop earring. My eyes snapped up,

Edwin

either, his firm biceps stretching the thin fabric of his t-shirt sleeves. It felt

Thanks," I muttered, already turning to

hand on my arm stopped me. "Audrey,

flaring up in me as images of that woman approaching us last night flashed through my

glanced at my friends outside, who were oblivious, then looked back at Edwin. Against

were alone, Edwin leaned against the

happened last night, Audrey? After you ran off?" he

I thought that this would be about his girlfriend. "Nothing," I

He raised an eyebrow. "Because I found a guy with blood coming out of his ears, and your earring on the ground

him to know anything, not when he was telling me he was single while a beautiful woman was on vacation with him. But, knowing that he would be

my voice to a whisper so

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