Page 145 of Even Exchange

After hydrating and a quick bathroom break, I settle back into the couch, tugging a soft cozy blanket over my legs. I pull my shirt up and stare at my stomach, poking it with a finger.Maybe it’s a little firmer than usual?Although I exercise pretty regularly, so I’m used to having a harder stomach.

I tap on it. “How you doing in there, little blueberry?” I pause, as if actually waiting for a reply, then have vividFinding Nemoflashbacks. “Oh, shit. I probably shouldn’t tap on your fish bowl, baby.” I rub soft circles around it. “Mommy’s sorry.”

The word feels foreign, but that’s what I am now. A mom. And I knew it from the second the first test turned positive on the bathroom counter. And especially after the second, third, and fourth.

The motion-censored doorbell sounds, alerting me someone pulled into the driveway, and yanks me out of my pity fest. I jump off the couch and pad over to the window, attempting to hide myself as Noah’s not home.

We need a dog.

A gorgeous powder-blue, four door Bronco Heritage is in the driveway, and I wait for the person to leave, but instead, my brows draw together at the sight of Noah stepping out of the SUV.

“What the…” I say to myself, rushing outside.

He smiles wide. “Hey,soffione.”

“Don’t you ‘hey, soffi-whatever’ me. What is this?” I walk around the brand-new Bronco that has a Tampa Barracudas sticker on the back windshield directly next to another that says Baby On Board. “Did you trade your truck in?”

“Nah,” he says casually. “I’ll pick it up later. This is yours.”

My mouth falls to the floor. No, scratch that. It falls to the center of the actual earth because what in the ever flabbergasting fuck is he talking about?

“Noah, you can’t buy me a car.”

“It’s not a car. It’s an SUV.”

“Okay,” I say, narrowing my eyes at him. “Then you can’t buy me an SUV.”

“Fine, then I bought a second vehicle, and I’m letting my girl use it.”

I sigh heavily, staring at his grinning face. It’s so hard to stand firm when he looks at me like this. Like all the answers to the universe reside behind my eyes.

“Why?” I ask.

He takes a few long strides, quickly eating up the space between us. “We’re gonna need something to drive the kids around in, Charlotte.”

“Kids?”

“Sorry.” He beams, cheeks flushed. “Kid.”

“Are you already planning our football team?” I ask, my own smile widening.

“Semantics,” he says, waving a hand, brushing off the subject.

“Can’t we use your truck?”

He blows out a frustrated breath. “I need it to get to and from the stadium. How did you plan to get to school or appointments?”

I gnaw on my cheek. “I don’t know, the bus?”

“As if I’m going to let you rely on the bus. We live in Florida, not a big city. In case you forgot, public transportation isn’t exactly in abundance here. Youneeda vehicle.”

“Evenifso, it didn’t have to be brand freaking new.”

“It’s safe, kid friendly, and you’ll look sexy in the driver’s seat.” Noah grins, and I roll my eyes, stomach flipping.

My gaze trails the beautiful blue paint, and I sigh. I’m trying to hold my ground, but damn is it pretty.

“Noah, this is too much,” I say, guilt settling in my chest. This particular problem is one I could solve if I put my passions aside. “Maybe I should change my major back to pre-law and my parents will give me my old car back.”

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