Page 107 of Even Exchange

Another rookie focused on pussy instead of playing.

Andi plucks the phone from my hand.

“Hey!” I protest.

“Nope.” She shakes her head. “We are not doing this tonight.”

“Doing what?”

“The social media sabotage.”

“Why are people so mean on the internet?” I say, sighing and sitting on the bed.

“Because they’re salty.”

“There should be a rule that if you wouldn’t say it to someone’s face, don’t type it.”

Andi sits beside me, throwing an arm around my shoulder. “But then how would the haters get their hate-orade fix?”

“I’m used to attention from the press.” I rest my head on her shoulder. “But this feels different.”

“Yeah,” she says, rubbing my arm. “Because people aren’t focused on your mom like usual. They’re focused on you. They’rejealousof you.”

My mouth twists. “Little old me?”

“Girl, you are a smoke show, come on,” she says, standing and dragging me with her.

Releasing a heavy breath, I look in the mirror, frowning. Tiny baby hairs stick out of my scalp, and I pat them down. Turning side to side, even in my comfy clothes, I note my bloated stomach and suck it in. I shouldn’t have eaten the extra portion of rice at lunch today.

Visions of Noah’s appreciative gaze on my naked body come to mind. He said I should never view myself as anything less than perfect.

I shove the insecurities away in a tiny box as a knock comes on the cabin door.

“Finally!” Andi says, hopping off the bed, and a handsome, familiar face walks in with a bouquet in one hand and two garment bags in the other.

“Special delivery,” Theo says, beaming proudly.

Andi grabs the vase of wildflowers with dandelions sticking out of the top. “I think these are for you,” she tells me, and I take them, placing them on my dresser.

Noah is so thoughtful.

“First of all, you ladies already lookhot,” Theo says. “But wait till you see what I’ve brought you.”

Andi extends grabby hands. “Show us the goods.”

* * *

My palms rub against the silk of the fitted baby pink gown as I stand outside the door to Noah’s hotel room. It’s tight around my core—was almost too tight to zip, but I won’t be telling him that—and flares slightly at the knees to the floor.

Hopefully he likes it. My arm wraps around my tummy, as the snug fit of the dress doesn’t hide that little insecurity like I hoped.

‘You just needed to practice your confidence.’

Noah’s words echo in my mind, and I blow out a shaky breath. I can’t change what I look like, but I can show him how much the practice is helping.

Bringing up a hand, I rap my knuckles against the door.

Within seconds, it flies open, Noah’s smiling face falling to a dropped jaw in a millisecond. He’s clad in a black suit with a bow tie matching the color of my dress, and I have to stop my own jaw from unhinging because it should be illegal to look that good.

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