One Night

Chapter 25

Audrey

I couldn’t believe my eyes when Edwin’s tall, imposing frame emerged from the shadows across the street. Of all people to interrupt the moment. I had been anticipating, or maybe dreading?

My nerves were so haywire, I couldn’t decide if Gavin’s impending kiss filled me with clation or sheer pant

panic.

“Edwi–Professor Brooks!” I squeaked out my voice embarrassingly high–pitched. I straightened and quickly put some distance between Gavin and myself. “What are you doing here?”

“I could ask you the same thing. Edwin replied coolly as he stopped in front of us.

“We were just… that is, we went to see a play. Romeo and Juliet,” I replied, gesturing to the play advertisement hanging on the theater’s front doors.

Edwin’s steel–gray eyes flicked between the two of us, his expression severe and unreadable as always. “Is that so” he asked flatly

Gavin shifted awkwardly beside me. “It’s nice to see you, Professor Brooks. Nice night, isn’t i

For a long dreadful moment, Edwin said nothing in response to Gavin’s question. Then, turning his penetrating gaze back to me, he stated impassively. “Audrey, you’re TA’ing my moming lecture at eight AM sharp tomorrow. I trust you’ll be well–rested and punctual. I won’t tolerate a repeat of Tuesday”

I bristled, my cheeks flushing hody. Tuesday this week, I had foolishly pulled an all–nighter to finish up a project and ended up dozing off in the back row of his lecture hall when I was supposed to be passing out papers.

Highly unprofessional, sure, but he didn’t need to be such an as about it; especially not in front of others. “Of course I’ll be there,” I bit out through gritted teeth. “Don’t worry about me”

“I’m your professor and your employer. Edwin replied coldly. “Worrying is my job.”

My frown deepened “Actually, Grayspring Academy is technically my employer-”

Before I could finish, Gavin cleared his throat “Professor Brooks is right, Audrey,” he said. “It’s lace”

I opened my mouth to protest, but Gavin was already turning back to Edwin. “Again, it was nice seeing you. I’ll take Audrey home—”

“No.

you go on ahead. I’ll walk Miss Thatcher home,” Edwin cut him off.

Once again, I began to protest–but Gavin was already shooting me an apologetic look and taking a few steps backwards, clearly not wanting to argue with the stony Professor Brooks. “Very well. I’ll go ahead and take off, then. See you in class, Audrey.“With a small smile and a wave in my direction, he pivoted on his heel and began striding away down the sidewalk.

I watched him go, my stomach sinking. So much for Whatever was about to happen.

Once Gavin had disappeared around the comer, I whirled back to face Edwin with an accusatory glare. “Was that really necessary? You’re my professor, not my father.”

Edwin arched one dark eyebrow. “I was looking out for you, Audrey. Surely you didn’t intend to be out gallivanting all night when you have responsibilities in the morning!”

1 scoffed loudly. Gallivanting. As if he actually cared whether or not I showed up on time. He just loved having an excuse to dress me down in front of Cavin, the arrogant jerk. “We were just going to see a play,” I said through my teeth. “That’s hardly gallivanting”

“If you insist.” He held my gaze for a moment, clearly not believing me. “Come on, I’ll walk you back to your dorm. I was just headed back to campus myself”

“I’ll walk myself home, thanks” 1 but our “I’m a big girl, Edwin. I don’t need—”

“It’s not a request” His eyes glinted in the dim glow of the streetlights. “I won’t have a young lady walking by herself at night. Let’s go.”

“Whatever Grinding my teeth, I pivoted and started stomping back toward campus, trying my best to ignore the echo of Edwin’s footsteps right behind me. The nerve of that arrogant, infuriating –

“So” His smooth voice cut through the air after a few silent moments. “This.. Gavin. Is he the reason you seemed so distracted in my lectures this past week?” When I didn’t respond, he continued in that insufferably patronizing tone, “You’re an exceptional student, Audrey, when you apply yourself. I’d hate to see you throw away your potential over some… boy.”“”

I stopped dead in my tracks, anger and embarrassment rolling in my gut. Slowly, haltingly, I turned to face him again. “You think I have feelings for Gavin!”

Chapter 23

Something flickered across his striking features–something that looked an awful lot like indignance. But it was gone in an instant, replaced by his usual unruffled demeanor. “Don’t you?”

We stared at each other for a long, heated moment before the words came tumbling our of my mouth. “I don’t see what that has to do with my business who I see in my spare time.”

His chiseled jaw ticked faintly. “So Gavin is the one you have feelings for, then? No one else?”

you

“No. II frowned, fighting off a sudden flare of dizziness. I wasn’t about to confess having feelings for Edwin, because I didn’t. Honestly, I could barely even stand him half the time.

But deep down, I couldn’t help but wonder how much of that was true. After all, from the moment I had glimpsed Edwin’s familiar silhouette across the street… a part of me had felt almost relieved. Relieved that my moment with Gavin hadn’t progressed any further.

And maybe, just maybe… I was relieved because some traitorous part of me wondered what might happen if Edwin was the one trying to kiss me instead.

Silence stretched between us once again, so thick and heavy 1 could hardly breathe. Abruptly, Edwin wrenched his gaze away, raking one hand through his thick dark hair. “I just find it interesting that you’ve moved on so quickly when you only just left me that… love letter.”

“Love letter?” I breathed.

Reaching into his jacket pocket with a sigh, Edwin produced a slightly crumpled piece of paper. It was stained with dark black ink, and the unmistakable words of a confession were scrawled across it.

“Yes,” he said, thrusting the paper into my hands. “Love letter.”

“What the…” I trailed off as I read the intimate words on the page, the realization suddenly hitting me. My head whipped back up, my eyes widening into saucers. “You thought this letter was… it’s not frog me, Edwin!”

Edwin furrowed his brow. “What do you-

Laughter bubbled up in my chest at the absurdity. “This must be the letter that Professor Richards asked me to deliver,” I said, my eyes scanning the page. “I completely forgot about it. Oh my gosh, she’s so in love with you.”

A dusting of pink colored Edwin’s sharp cheekbones. In a jerky movement, he snatched the letter back from me and promptly crumpled it beyond repair before tossing it into a nearby trash can.

“Wait,” I said, “Edwin, did you think…?”

“No, of course not,” he muttered, refusing to meet my gaze as he marched past me toward the mouth of the alleyway, leaving me to gape after him. “I was going to reject you, but now I see there’s no need. Now if you’re finished giggling. I’d appreciate it if you picked up the pace. You may not care about tardiness, but I expect better from my teacher’s assistants.”

Shaking my head in disbelief, I hurried after him, easily keeping pace with his long, irritated strides. “You thought I wrote you a love letter?” I prodded gleefully, delighting in the way his jaw ticked. “Is that why Professor Richards was so mad at me? Because she thought I had hidden her love note from you?”

“Enough.” The tips of his ears had gone bright red

We walked in silence for a minute or two. Then, unable to resist one last jab, I teased, “You know, Professor, if you were hoping I wrote you a secret. love letter, you could’ve just asked me out yourself instead of ”

“That’s enough from you tonight” Edwin suddenly stopped, turning to face me with flaring nostrils.

For several long moments, I just blinked up at him in surprise–taking in the stern set of his jaw, the flicker in his angry eyes. I was so used to the professor having a perfect mask of indifference that seeing him like this, so angry and hurt, actually made me feel bad for teasing him.

“Edwin, I didn’t mean to…”

“Come on,” Edwin said abruptly, turning on his heel. “Let’s get you home.”