One Night
One Night 57

Chapter 56

Audrey

I opened the door to replace Tina standing in the hallway, leaning against the wall. Grinning, she pushed away from the wall and strode into the room with her clothes in her hand. She shut the door behind herself and walked over to the vanity to get changed.

“So, when are you going to tell us who that mystery model was?” she asked pointedly, wiggling her eyebrows at me as she slipped her shirt off.

I felt my face flush, and I quickly waved my hand in an attempt to look nonchalant. “Oh, just… no one. Someone who responded to my flyers.”

Tina’s grin widened, causing my face to redden even more. “Uh-huh. Sure. Well, anyway, we’re all heading out for drinks while we wait for the final results.” She paused, jumping a bit as she hiked up her pants. “You’re coming with us, right?”

I hesitated for a moment, glancing back toward the door that Edwin had just disappeared through. Part of me wanted to stay, to see if he would come back and we could finish what we had started. But he was gone, and besides..

That would never happen. Not again. Bad idea.

“Yeah, sure,” I said finally. “Drinks sound great.

With that, we gathered the rest of the team and headed to the academy bar. The place was buzzing with energy, filled with other teams and models who were also celebrating after the show. The air smelled like cigarettes and whiskey, and the music was pumping so loud that the bartender could barely even hear us as we ordered a round of drinks

Once we had our drinks in hand, we found a table in the corner where it was a bit quieter, although it was still pretty deafening.

“To Team Audrey!” Avis cheered over the din, raising her glass.

“To kicking a** and taking names!” Betty added with a giggle.

We all clinked our glasses together, laughing and grinning. As I took a sip of my c**ail, I felt the tension from the show slowly starting to melt away-although it was quickly replaced with anxiety over what the final results might turn out to be.

“I still can’t believe those scores, Tina said, shaking her head in disbelief and causing a frizzy red lock to fall into her eyes. “We even got a perfect ten from the last judge.”

“It’s all thanks to Audrey,” Betty said, nudging me with her elbow “Your designs were amazing. Audrey, really.”

“And we couldn’t have had a better, more proactive team leader, Gavin added.

I felt my cheeks grow warm beneath their praise. “It was a team effort. I couldn’t have done it without all of you.”

We continued to chat and laugh, ordering another round of drinks. I was starting to feel pleasantly buzzed when suddenly, someone bumped into our table hard, causing our drinks to slosh everywhere.

“Hey, watch it!” Avis called out, but the flash of blonde hair was already disappearing into the crowd.

“Was that… Linda Tina asked, craning her neck to try and spot the culprit.

wasn’t sure, but it wouldn’t have surprised me if it was. She had been disqualified from the competition, after all, and was

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Chapter 56

likely seething. But right now, I was too focused on my bag, which had taken the brunt of the spill, to worry about that.

Gasping. I rummaged through my bag, relieved to replace that my new phone and tablet were unharmed. But then my heart sank as I pulled out a soaking wet bundle of red fabric.

“Oh no,” I whispered, my eyes widening as I unfolded the scarf had made for Edwin. The wool was now stained with dark red wine, the intricate pattern I had spent days working on barely visible beneath the dark splotches.

“What’s that?” Betty asked, leaning in to look.

1 quickly stuffed the scarf back into my bag, tears misting over my eyes. “Nothing.” I lied. “I… I need to go to the bathroom.”

my

I rushed to the ladies’ room without waiting for a response, quickly rushing over to the sink. With shaking hands, I pulled

the scarf again, desperately trying to rinse it under the water But it was no use. The stain had already set, and clumsy, drunken attempts were only making it worse

I felt tears welling up in my eyes as I stared at the ruined scarf. I had spent two days and nearly all of last night making it, pouring all my gratitude and… other feelings… into every stitch. And now it was ruined before I had even gotten the chance to give it to Edwin.

“S***pi**o myself, angrily wiping at my eyes. “So s**d.”

I took a few deep breaths, trying to compose myself. It was just scarf, I told myself. I could make another one. But it felt

like so much more than that

Finally, I stepped out of the bathroom, the damp scarf clutched in my hand. I was so focused on trying to hide my tears that I didn’t notice the figure approaching until a familiar hand reached out, gently brushing a tear from my cheek.

I gasped and looked up, startled… only to replace that it was Edwin who was standing there. He had removed his disguise, now wearing his usual sweater and tweed jacket. His hair was slightly mussed and he was wavering in his spot ever so slightly, a nearly-finished drink glass in one hand.

“Audrey? What’s wrong?” he asked, leaning closer to get a better look at me. “Are you alright?”

I quickly tried to hide the scarf behind my back, the scent of alcohol on his breath only adding to my own sense of drunkenness. “Nothing is wrong. I’m fine,” I said, forcing a smile

Edwin’s eyes narrowed. “What are you hiding behind your back?”

“It’s nothing, really-

Before I could finish, Edwin reached around and gently took the scarf from my hand. He held it up in the dim light, closely examining the stained fabric..

“What happened to this lovely scarf?” he asked.

I felt my face burning with embarrassment. “It… it was supposed to be for you,” I admitted. “As a thank you for everything. But someone spilled wine all over it and ruined it.”

Edwin’s expression softened. “You made this? For me?”

I nodded. I was unable to meet his eyes, so I stared at my feet instead. “I spent days knitting it, I wanted it to be perfect. And now it’s ruined before I could even give it to you. I’ll make you a new one, though. I promise

There was a brief silence. But then, to my surprise, Edwin suddenly wrapped the scarf around his neck, wine stains and all.

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Chapter 56

“What are you doing?” asked, bewildered.

Edwin smiled, adjusting the scarf. “I think it looks great.”

“But.. But it’s ruined,” I protested.

“It’s not ruined,” Edwin said firmly. “I don’t mind a couple of stains, and besides, I can get them out. It’s too special for you t make another.”

I felt a warmth spreading through my chest that had nothing to do with the alcohol. “You don’t have to wear it. I really don’t mind making you a new one…”

Edwin cut me off with a shake of his head. “Audrey,” he said softly, leaning in a little closer, “I love it.”