Page 118 of Even Exchange

She gasps, snatching it out of my hands, voice cracking. “I’m so sorry.”

“What are you sorry for?”

“You got me this gorgeous dress, and it’s ruined,” she says, tone laced with sadness.

“Taking it off you was worthwaymore than having it on,” I say, smiling at her.Way. More.

“Noah.” She slaps my chest. “I can’t go out there like this! With this tie-dye fail?”

“Just put it on, and we’ll head straight for our room to clean you up,” I offer with images of her in the walk-in shower, my hands in her hair—and other places—flashing in my mind.

“And how will I explain this?” she asks, gesturing towards the sticky black liquid.

I set my phone down, the low light still illuminating the room, and shrug my suit jacket off my shoulders. “You can put this over it.”

“Thenyoursuit will get ruined too.”

“But you won’t feel self-conscious the entire way upstairs.”

“It’s fine.” She sighs, stepping into the stained satin. “It’ll be fine.”

When she has the dress secure, I place the jacket on her shoulders and she shrugs it off.This woman.“Just wear it, baby. Please?”

“I already ruined what I imagine is a very expensive dress, and your suit is Armani.”

“I couldn’t care less about the suit.”

She concedes, surely knowing she’s not winning this fight. I help put her arms through and tug the sides of the jacket, pulling her towards me. Our lips are inches apart, and I smile down at her.

“What?” she asks, her own smile breaking through.

“You look…” I slide my fingers into her hair, angling her mouth towards my own.

“A mess? Ridiculous? So embarrassing you want to leave me in this closet and never come back?”

Like mine.

“Perfect.” I press my lips to hers, slipping my tongue into her mouth to deepen the kiss. Pulling away, I release the dress, and it drops to her ankles. “Let’s go.” I listen at the door before popping my head outside. “Coast is clear.”

We hurry out of the room, shutting the door behind us, and rush down the hallway. I slide my arm around her waist, pulling her close. “What should the next lesson be tonight? Safe shower sex techniques? The multi uses for a detachable shower head? How many orgasms are possible until you pass out?”

“You’re insatiable.” Charlotte giggles as we round the corner to the elevators. I place a kiss in her hair, my hand gripping her waist.

“Well, I take my professor in Sexology role very seriously,” I tell her, eliciting another giggle as we near the elevators.

“Caruso,” I hear and fight the urge to groan.

“Coach Bexley,” I say, turning to him with a smile as he appears to be on his way out the door.

His eyes wander over Charlotte and me, and if he minds our disheveled appearance, he certainly doesn’t let on.

“Hope you both had a nice evening,” he says.

“You too.”

“See you at training Monday,” he says to me, and my stomach sinks.I wanted to break the news to Charlotte myself.I know how much she hated sleeping alone last night. But Porter was right. It’s important to take this job seriously. “I’m glad you’ll be joining us.”

“Looking forward to the extra practice,” I tell him, the picture of poise, while inside I’m reeling. I’ve never dated anyone—or fake dated—while having to worry about football. I have no clue what that’s going to look like or how I’ll balance it. And I definitely can’t risk fucking up my rookie year.

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