Page 129 of Even Exchange

My eyes wander to the twins playing in the yard, and I know how much Charlotte’s missed them. I shake my head. “Nah. I’ll be fine.” I take her chin between my fingers. “As long as you’re by my side.”

“Consider me your personal bodyguard,” she says, shoulders pulled back, wide grin on her face.

Leaning down, I press a quick kiss to her lips. “I’ve never felt safer.”

The rest of the day goes by in a blur, no more awkward run-ins with ghosts from my past, and before we know it, we’re finally in my truck, heading to Crystal Bay. Camp’s over, and Charlotte’s stuff is secure in my back seat.Where will we go from here?

“Do you wanna talk about what happened in the study with your mom?” I ask hesitantly, remembering how she flinched in my arms.

“Nah.” She stares out the dark window, watching fireworks bursting in the distance. “She’s been deep in political shit my whole life. And to be honest, I’ve stopped trying to figure it out.”

It didn’t sound like normal political stuff, but the last thing I want to do is upset her. I’m hoping she’ll stay at my place tonight and we can talk about what we’re doing now that the dating doesn’t really feel fake anymore. I tried to keep my head down and focus on football the past two weeks, but that clearly made Charlotte feel overlooked, and I amnotokay with that.

“Do you remember where I put my phone?” Charlotte asks as I pull onto the dark highway. “I told Andi I’d text her when we were heading to CBU.”

“I think it’s in your tote behind my seat.”

She digs it out and brings the phone to her ear. A muffled message comes through, and Charlotte gasps, my eyes pulling to her.

“No,” she says, her voice firm.

“What’s wrong?” I ask when she puts the phone back in her lap.

She doesn’t speak.

“Char, what’s wrong?” I ask again, and she clears her throat.

“Nothing.”

My brows furrow. “Are you sure?”

“Yeah.” She smiles, but it doesn’t quite reach her eyes. “Noah, could you focus on the road?” Her tone is teasing, but my Charlotte radar tells me she’s hiding something.

She turns up the radio, face buried in her phone, and when we finally get into Crystal Bay, I ask, “Wanna come to my place tonight?”

She stares out the window. “I can’t. Andi and I have plans.”

“It’s midnight,” I say, brows pulled tight.

“Yeah, she…” Her voice trails off. “She needs some girl time.”

“Okay,” I say, trying to mask my disappointment. “Can I see you tomorrow?” I readjust my grip on the steering wheel. “Was hoping we could hang out before my official training starts Monday.”

“Sorry, tomorrow I have plans with Sophia and Sage,” she says.

“Isn’t Sophia leaving for Georgia with Elijah?”

“Oh, right.” She waves me off. “Just Sage then.”

Why’s she being so squirrely?

I abide by her wishes, and a few minutes later, I’m pulling in front of her apartment building, putting the truck in park, and turning it off.I don’t like this.

“What are you doing?” she asks.

“Helping you bring your stuff up,” I say, gesturing to my packed back seat.What the hell is going on with her?

“Oh.” She smiles, but it feels forced. “Thanks.”

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