Page 101 of Even Exchange

“Will we see you two at the gala next week?” Knox asks.

My brows furrow, and I look up to Noah. “Gala?”

“It’s this fancy thing for work,” Noah says, glancing at Knox, then back at me. “I hadn’t gotten the chance to invite you yet.”

“But you wanted to?” I ask, holding his eye contact.

“Of course. Wouldn’t it make sense for mygirlfriendto be there?”

“Right.” I nod. That would make sense.

“Come on,” Andi chimes in. “It’ll be fun!”

Noah grins at me, eyes hopeful.

“I don’t have anything to wear here,” I say. “My cheer uniform is about the fanciest thing I brought.”

“Don’t worry.” Noah smirks, eyes lit with mischief. “I’ll take care of it.”

“I do lookgreatin pink,” I tell him.

“Yes!” Andi says, throwing an arm around my shoulders and dragging me away. “Then let’s talk details.”

“I said I’ll take care of the wardrobe,” Noah shouts from behind me.

Glancing over my shoulder, I give him a wink. “Then we’ve got to take care of what’s underneath.”

* * *

“This selection is garbage,” I tell Andi as we sift through racks of lingerie at a discount shopping center. Camp Dickson is in the middle of nowhere, so our options are limited. And I’ve found nothing, which is very bad news considering the gala is tomorrow.

There’s a nightgown that definitely won’t work, but I rub the silk between my fingertips anyways, imagining Noah’s hands sliding it up and off my body. When I flip over the price tag, my eyes bulge.$39.99.

And that’s a discount?

I groan internally.

This is the problem. Lingerie costs an arm and a leg, just for it to get ripped off after thirty seconds anyways. Total waste.

Especially since my parents have frozen my cards and I’m using the money from my very limited savings for this. My mind wanders back to the daydream of Noah’s gaze searing into me as he takes in the little nightgown, undressing me with his eyes.

Fine. Worth it.

“Oh my gosh,” Andi says, pulling me back to the present. She holds out a black lacy set. “Noah would die if you wore this.”

“I don’t want to kill the poor man,” I say with a smirk.

She shoves it towards me, and I peek at the price tag. $19.99 for the tiny bra and panties. That I could definitely swing.

“Fine,” I concede, grabbing the same set in a lighter color since I don’t know what dress Noah’s getting me yet.

“Yes, girl!” Andi says as we head towards the register. “Make that man drool.”

“Did you find anything?” I ask her.

“A few little sets,” she says, arms full.

“Knox is going tolovethose.”

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