One Night With My Alpha Professor by Eve Above Story

Chapter 109 Audrey

I trudged into the house late that night, my feet aching as I kicked off my shoes. The sound of laughter and the faint glow of the TV drew me to the living room, where I found my friends sprawled across the couches, video game controllers in hand and half-empty pizza boxes strewn about.

"Well, look who finally decided to grace us with her presence, Tina called out with a grin, pausing the game.

I collapsed into an empty armchair, sinking blissfully into the sol c**hions. "Don't mind me," I mumbled, my eyes already starting to close. "Til just be here, quietly dying"

"Rough day?" Betty asked, offering me a slice of cold pizza.

I waved it away, too exhausted to even consider eating. "Oh, you have no idea."

Avis, munching on one of her famous chocolate chip cookies, said. "This is the second night this week you've come home. late. What's going on?"

"Where do I even start?" I huffed, rubbing my temples as if that would somehow soothe my migraine.

Over the next few minutes, I recounted my day-starting with the mannequin incident, followed by the permanent marker. After that, I had gone on a wild scavenger hunt all over the building in search of some special cleaning solution to get the marker off of the board, which had taken all day.

"That put me behind on my second project," I muttered. "So I had to stay late to get it done."

“That's ridiculous," Betty fumed. "And let me guess, Linda is just skating by?"

The mention of Linda's name made my blood boil, but I forced myself to stay calm. I refused to let her get under my skin, even when she wasn't around to see it. "As far as I can tell, yeah. She hasn't had a single issue since we started. Although. I don't think the design she presented this morning was actually hers."

Tina growled softly. "I wouldn't put it past her. Let's not forget how she stole your cheerleading uniform design."

"Exactly."

"I still can't believe she got that internship," Avis sighed. "After everything she did to you at school? Something about this is fishy."

I shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant even though I was seething inside. "It doesn't matter. Even if I say something, 1711 just be painted as the bad guy in the situation. It's easier to keep my head down and work hard."

I

"But Audrey," Gavin protested, "you can't just let her walk all over you like this."

"What choice do I have?" I asked, burying my face in a nearby pillow.

can think of a few ways to expose Linda's

Like what?"

Tina began, ticking off ideas on her fingers, "we could

we could hire a private investigator to follow her around and catch her doing

her on a fake date and then trap her with her

1/3

Chapter 109

friends continued to brainstorm increasingly outlandish schemes, I couldn't help but laugh. Their enthusiasm was infectious, even if their ideas such as making a giant net and capturing Linda

laughter from my eyes. "As much as I appreciate the creativity, I think I'll stick to my original plan of just working hard and hoping Linda exposes herself." "Boring." Tina

than I am," Gavin admitted, "If I were in your position, I would probably have snapped by

day finally catching up with ine" think I need to call it

friends wished me goodnight as I trudged up the stairs to my attic room. But, despite my exhaustion, sleep eluded me. After tossing and turning for what felt like hours, I gave up and made

lamp, casting an amber glow over the small space that was oddly soothing. I lost myself in the rhythmic hum of the machine, the fabric sliding smoothly under my fingers. I wasn't even sure what I was making,

on the door broke my concentration. "Come in," I called out, not looking

drifted in. "Hey, I thought I heard you up. Can't

see him settle cross-legged onto my bed.

speaking again. "Listen, Audrey, I wanted to apologize for what happened

stilled under the sewing machine. "Gavin,

"No, I do. I

don't blame you," I said softly, finally turning to face him with a small, sad smile.

you think... Do you think we'll ever have

moved to sit beside him on the bed, the springs creaking as I settled in. "Gavin," I began gently, "it's not you. I'm just.." I paused, licking my

was that

left my mouth, but I knew instantly that it was true. I loved Edwin, as impossible and painful as that love might be. Still, the thought made

there was understanding in his voice. "L... I get it," he said softly, flopping backward on my bed with his arms

my heart stutter. Perhaps the way I felt when I thought about Edwin was the same way he felt about me.

sigh, I flopped down beside him and stared

I muttered.

spoke for a long time after that, although we didn't need to. There

2/3

wed, sep

Chapter 109

understanding that we were both in the same difficult