Page 171 of Even Exchange

“That isn’t what I meant,” she says with a look that would usually hush me in a moment.

“Isn’t it though?” I ask with a sigh, all the energy leaving my fight.

“Of course not.”

“The only thing you care about is yourself, and your precious image, and this pointless election,” I say, waving a hand toward the stupid party on the other side of the door.

“You’re wrong,” she says, and Ialmostsee her crack. Ialmostfeel a shred of caring from her.

“I’m keeping the baby.”

“Okay.” She swallows hard. “Given the way that man can’t take his eyes off you, I’m assuming Noah already knows.”

Her description of him pleases me. “He does.”

“How far along are you?”

I take slow, steady breaths. “Five months.”

Her lips part. “Charlotte.”

Here it comes.“Yes?”

“Who is the father of this baby?”

A silence stretches between us. “Jonathan.”

She sucks in a sharp breath. “And why isJonathannot the one here by your side?”

“He’s not in the picture.”

“Not in the picture?” She laughs, but there’s no humor in it. “So you’re pretending Noah’s the father?”

“No, I?—”

“I’ll speak to Jonathan.” She waves a hand. “We’ll sort this out.”

She thinks I can’t handle this myself?

“There’s nothing to sort out.” I shake my head. “He doesn’t want to be involved.”

“Well, he doesn’t have a choice.”

“If I listened tohischoice, I’d be at Planned Parenthood,” I say, and her furious eyes go wide.

“That still doesn’t clear him of his responsibility. You’re going to need child support.”

“I don’t want his money,” I shriek. The last thing I need is another thing tying me to him. Giving him control over me. Would he use our baby—mybaby—as a weapon?

After his reaction today, nothing would surprise me.

“So, what?” she scoffs, her eyes dropping to my stomach in disgust. “You expect me to give your trust fund back because you got pregnant?”

A pang of sadness hits in my chest.Is this how she thinks of me?“Don’t worry. I don’t want your money either.”

“Then what the hell are you going to do? You can hardly afford tuition this semester. How will you afford a baby?”

“I’ll figure it out.”

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