One Night With My Alpha Professor by Eve Above Story

Chapter 260

Audrey

By the time we finished grocery shopping for the impromptu party, the afternoon sun was hanging high in the sky and the air was even hotter than I had anticipated. Edwin and I hefted the grocery bags out of the trunk of the car, Edwin pausing to raise his eyebrows at the sheer amount of food we had bought.

“Did we really need this much?” he asked as he lifted another bag out of the trunk.

I glanced over at the haul that was spread out on the ground–burgers, hot dogs, chips, drinks, and an almost comically large assortment of condiments. “Have you seen how much Gavin eats?” I laughed. “Plus, if Tina gets a hold of the chips, we might not have enough for everyone.”

Edwin chuckled as a smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. “You make a fair point.”

With that, we carried the bags inside and got to work. Edwin fired up the grill and filled the cooler with ice and drinks while I prepared various side dishes, everything from sliced fruit to pasta salad to coleslaw. We laid everything out on a long table on the back porch and turned on the speakers, blasting music.

We barely had time to finish setting up for the party before the familiar sound of gravel crunching under tires echoed up the driveway. Betty’s expensive convertible pulled in first, with Tina sitting shotgun and Gavin and Avis crammed into the back, all of them looking far too cheerful for what was supposed to be a lazy Sunday afternoon barbecue.

I quickly realized why.

“We brought booze!” Tina called out as she lifted several bottles of alcohol above her head like a trophy.

Edwin shook his head bemusedly. “Betty, I hope you’re planning on being Tina’s designated driver tonight.”

Betty just smirked. “What, no sleepover tonight?” she teased before beelining for the snacks.

Edwin and I just looked at each other with matching expressions; we’d already laid out piles upon piles of pillows and blankets, knowing fully well that half the people here would try to weasel their way into staying for the night.

Charles and Peter rolled up in Charles’s pickup truck not long after, followed by Eliza’s car. I felt a slight pang when I spotted Joseph peeking out from the backseat. He was half–hidden behind Eliza’s legs as they approached, his wide eyes looking around curiously.

he saw me,

heart break just a bit more, despite the nudge of reassurance that Edwin sent down the bond. “He’s a kid,” he said gently. “They hold onto things

smile on my face, turning to the lake instead. Maybe the best thing to do was to just give Joseph

perfect!” I called, waving over to the guests as I pulled off

didn’t take long for everyone to change and gather by the water’s edge. Laughter and chatter filled the air as they waded into the water, and I was halfway through filling up water guns when I felt

before he could react, I whirled around and sprayed him directly in

priceless. He stood there, frozen for a second, before grabbing me

I resurfaced, only to find myself immediately being pelted with water

shouted before jumping in himself. I nearly had to dive out of the

slammed.

away into easy laughter, music, and conversation as we swam and enjoyed the sun. Edwin lounged on the

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Chapter 260

and Peter, Betty, Avis and I swam circles

carefully nudged Peter and Betty closer together without them even realizing it, and soon they were talking a little. But only a little–and Peter’s look of chagrin when he’d realized what I had done wasn’t

my eyes kept drifting over to Joseph. He stayed dose to Eliza on the dock, watching from her

Tina’s splashes, flailing backward like he had just been hit with a cannonball And when Aaris, in her usual clumsy glory, dunked Gavin by accident, I saw Joseph

said softly, and I glanced over just in time to see her crouching beside him, prewing a bright green water

toy. He glanced up at Eliza, then back at the lake where we all splashed and played, still unsure. But something must have clicked in him, because with a quiet determination, he lifted the water gun, aimed carefully

And squeezed the trigger.

was nothing short of theatrical. He clutched his chest as if he had just been mortally wounded. “I’ve been hit!” he

magical sound filled the air–Joseph’s laugh.

heart stutter in my chest, and when my gaze flicked to Edwin, I saw him watching Joseph with the same expression on his face. Through our bond, I felt the joy swelling inside of him at seeing the little boy finally emerge from his