One Night

Chapter 115

Audrey

I stormed into the house that night, slamming the door behind me with a force that reverberated through the walls. My mind was still reeling from that unexpected encounter with Edwin, the scent of him still lingering on my skin. All I could think about was washing it off, scrubbing away every part of him-

“Whoa, what’s got you all worked up?” Tina’s voice cut through my haze, and I looked up to see her peering over the back of the couch with wide eyes.

I shook my head, not ready to delve into what had just happened-not even with her. “Nothing. Just… work stuff, I lied, trying to keep the bitter edge out of my voice but failing miserably.

Gavin emerged from the kitchen next with a slice of half-eaten pizza in hand. “You okay, Audrey?”

“I’m fine,” I snapped, the words more abrupt than I intended. Instantly, I regretted my tone. “Sorry, I just.. I need to unwind.

Betty and Avis exchanged a glance, and Betty’s face lit up. “I know just the thing. Midnight swim, anyone?”

The suggestion took me by surprise. “A swim!” I asked.

Betty nodded. “There’s a lake not far from here. We can walk there, bring some booze…”

Phit my lip, considering for a moment. It was late on Wednesday night, and I had work in the morning, but the idea of going for a dip and getting tipsy under the stars sounded appealing.

“F**k it,” I said, throwing my hands up in the air. “A swim sounds f**king fantastic.

“Yes!” Avis cheered, leaping up from the couch. “I’ll grab the wine!”

Within minutes, we were making our way out of the house, armed with bottles of wine and towels. The night air was thick with the scent of summer-blooming flowers and freshly mowed grass-as we scurried through the woods behind the

house.

“Here it is,” Betty said, pulling aside a fern frond to reveal a small, glimmering lake sitting in the middle of the woods.

I couldn’t help but gasp softly as I stepped onto the rocky shore.

The moon hung low and full in the sky, casting a silvery glow over the tranquil water. The entire lake was surrounded by trees aside from one cottage sitting at the far end, entirely secluded. It was like something out of a dream: peaceful and idyllic, exactly what I needed after the day I’d had.

As we set our things down, Gavin didn’t waste any time. There was a rope hanging from a nearby tree branch, and he grabbed it with a grin, his laughter ringing out into the air as he launched himself into the water with a wh**p.

“Come on in, the water’s great!” he called out when he emerged, soaking wet, a few moments later.

Tina giggled, already uncorking a bottle of wine. “Last one in is a rotten egg!”

We all rushed in together, our excited shrieks mingling with the splash of the water. The initial shock of the cool water was startling, but as I surfaced, pushing my wet hair back from my face, I already felt better. I couldn’t help but laugh as Tina tried to dunk Avis under the water, Avis screaming and kicking her legs wildly.

“Here,” Betty said, swimming over to me with the wine bottle in one hand. “You look like you could use this.”

I took a long swig, relishing the warmth that spread through my chest, the alcohol providing a pleasant contrast to the

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Wed, Sep 18

Chapter 115

coolness of the lake. “Thanks,” I said, handing the bottle back. “Irally needed this.”

Betty grinned. “I used to come here all the time as a teenager whenever I needed to get away from my parents.”

“This is the second secret place you’ve shared with me, you know I teased.

“Third, technically” When I raised an eyebrow, Betty added, “The attic bedroom used to be my hideout as well.”

“Betty, you didn’t have to-”

69%a

“I wanted to.” Betty lowered her voice so only I could hear while the others splashed around in the background. “Look, I… I know you’re going through some stuff. I don’t know who it is exactly, but I can guess. And I know how it feels, to want someone who you can’t have, so…”

Her voice trailed off, and she shook her head, taking a swig from the wine bottle. She handed it to me, and I did the same.

“Thank you. Betty,” was all I could manage around the sudden liep in my throat.

Betty simply nodded, smiled, and began to backstroke away-a silent offer of some much-needed space to clear my head.

I decided to take a quiet swim by myself along the rocky shore. The wine had loosened my muscles, and the gentle lapping

from. of the water against my skin was soothing, like a balm for my f***zled nerves. For a moment, I could escape everything.

I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn’t notice the large rock jutting out from the shore until it was too late. My foot struck it hard, and I let out a yelp of pain, the sharp sting jolting up my leg.

“S**t,” I muttered, treading water with little grace due to the pain in my foot.

I looked back toward the shore to call for help, but my friends were too far away to hear me. I was close enough to the cottage, though, so gritting my teeth, I swam toward the small dock, the effort making my injured foot throb even more.

I managed to pull myself up onto the weathered wood, wincing as I examined my foot in the dim moonlight. The sight of the blood made me feel light-headed. It looked worse than it felt, but the sharp pain was undeniable.

Suddenly, a light flicked on in the cottage behind me. My heart leapt into my throat. Great, I thought. Now I was going to get in trouble for tre**ing on top of everything else. The last thing I needed was more trouble; tonight was supposed to be relaxing.

I heard footsteps approaching, and then a familiar voice called out, “Audrey?”

My eyes widened in disbelief. Slowly, I turned to see Edwin standing there, a glass of whiskey in his hand and a look of surprise written across his face. His presence was the last thing I expected, and it took me a moment to process the situation. “What the hell are you doing here?” I blurted out, momentarily forgetting about my throbbing fool

Edwin raised an eyebrow, his expression a mixture of confusion and concern. “I could ask you the same thing,” he said, slowly sipping his whiskey. This is my private cottage. I come here in the summer to get away

I let out a bitter laugh, feeling entirely as if I was having another nightmare. “Of course it is. Because apparently, I can’t escape you anywhere.”

Edwin’s gaze fell to my foot, and his expression shifted to one of genuine concern. “You’re bleeding. Come inside, let me take a look at that-

“No thanks,” I said, trying to stand but wobbling as pain shot through my foot. The prospect of swimming back to my friends seemed suddenly overwhelming, but as I looked around, I could see a dirt path snaking out from Edwin’s cottage and around the lake. “I’ll walk back to my

friends.”

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Chapter 115

Edwin sighed, running hard through his hair in frustration as he followed my limping gait toward the path. “Audrey, don’t be stubborn. You don’t have to forgive me, but at least let me put a band-aid on it.”

I wanted to refuse, to tell him to go to hell. But my steps faltered and although I attributed it to the pain in my foot, there was another part of me nagging me to stay. Finally, after a long, painful moment, I begrudgingly turned

“Fine.” I muttered, not meeting his gaze. “But this doesn’t change anything!

“Of course not. Come on.

Edwin helped me inside, the warmth of his hand on my arm sending an unwelcome shiver down my spine. He led me to the bathroom, gesturing for me to sit on the edge of the tubs, I shivered, still wet from the lake.

“Here,” he said, handing me one of his button-down shirts. “Put this on while I get the first aid kit.”

Gritting my teeth, I slipped his shirt on over my wet bikini, trying not to think about how it smelled like him or how, no matter how hard I tried not to, a filthy part of my mind purposely kept the first few buttons undone to expose my cleavage. I couldn’t help myself.

When Edwin returned, his eyes flicked over those few buttons, but he said nothing, not even as my face reddened. Wordlessly, he knelt in front of me and began gently examining my foot

“It’s just a cut,” he said, reaching for the disinfectant. “The water made it look worse than it is. This might sting a bit.”

As he cleaned the wound, I winced at the sting of the disinfectant, Edwin glanced up at me, his jaw set hard. He handed me his glass of whiskey. “Here, this might help with the pain.”

I took a sip, the smooth burn of the alcohol a welcome distraction from the sting of the disinfectant. “Thanks”

As Edwin worked, I found myself studying his face. He looked more tired than he had during our tryst in the woods all those weeks ago, new lines creasing his forehead and dark circles ringing his eyes as though he hadn’t been sleeping well.

“Why were you out so late at the office?” I found myself asking, breaking the tense silence.

Edwin’s hands stilled for a moment. “I told you, I was worried about you. After what happened with the luna moth.”

“So you knew about that,” I said, although not as bitterly as I felt.

He shrugged. “If I told you that I asked your mentor to keep me updated, would you accuse me of spying?”

I didn’t know what to say to that, so I took another sip of whiskey and looked away and tried to ignore the sensation of my cheeks heating up.

“Audrey,” Edwin said after a few moments, his voice low and intense, “I know you’re angry with me, and you have every right to be. But please believe me when I say that I do care about you. More than I should.”

I opened my mouth to respond, but before I could, there was a sharp knock on the glass door. I jumped, nearly kicking Edwin in the face. He seemed equally startled, quickly rising to his feet.

“Stay here,” he said, his voice tense. “Ill see who it is.”

As Edwin moved toward the door, I could hear familiar voices outside. My heart sank as I realized my friends must have come looking for me. The thought of them finding me in this situation was mortifying.

Edwin opened the door, and I heard Tina’s shocked voice ring out: “Professor Brooks?”