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?"

fine. It was scary, but I got away. That's what matters,

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

was shake my head. The entire memory of that interaction felt so

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a. Rapid VPN

21:15 Mon, Sep 16

Chapter 74

couldn't shake the thought that whatever had

wrong with me.

lay in bed later that night, sleep eluded me. I kept replaying the moment in the alley-Jake's hands on me, the fear, and then that scream.

The same power, the same fear and frustration. Like a

deep inside of me took over

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,

outside while I waited at the counter for our order. I was lost in thought, barely registering the buzz of conversation around me, when

earring. My eyes snapped up, meeting a familiar gray gaze and a pair of bread shoulders towering over

Edwin

his firm biceps stretching the thin fabric of his t-shirt sleeves.

"Um.. Thanks," I muttered, already turning to leave. I didn't want to look at him, didn't want

stopped me. "Audrey, wait. We

of frustration flaring up in me as images of that woman approaching us last night flashed through my mind. "What's there to talk about?" I asked, feigning ignorance. "Audrey, come on," he said, his

back at Edwin. Against

Once we were alone, Edwin leaned against the

his brow furrowed. "What happened last night, Audrey? After you ran

I thought that this would be

eyebrow. "Because I found a guy with blood coming out of

while a beautiful woman was on vacation with him. But, knowing that

me alone, alright?" I said, keeping my voice to a whisper so as not

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