Page 18 of Even Exchange

“The right person will love your flaws. They’ll see them as quirks, not try to make you hide them. And they definitely won’t degrade you for your mistakes.” She sighs and purses her lips together as heat bubbles under my skin. “Don’t you remember how shitty he was to you on Halloween?”

“I know, but maybe I shouldn’t have drank so much,” she says, picking at her nails.

Typical victim-blaming bullshit.

I shift my body closer. “Look at me.” Her head tilts upward, and I instantly realize it was a mistake as her warm breath hits my lips. I swallow hard. “He did you a favor.”

“By boning another girl?” she deadpans.

“By proving he doesn’t deserve you so you’d finally leave his ass.”Took her long enough.

She looks away, resting against the headboard. “Shit.” She drags a hand over her face. “This really fucks up my five-year plan.”

The corners of my mouth twitch upward. “You have a five-year plan?” I ask with a bit too much enthusiasm.

“Apparently not anymore,” she grumbles. “The plan was basically to graduate, marry Jonathan, start teaching at the local elementary school, and a few other things. But obviously it’s all gone to shit.”

“You can still do the teacher thing,” I point out.

“Yeah.” She sighs. “Until my mom finds out.”

“What do you mean?”

“We had to confirm our majors last week to schedule pre-rec classes for sophomore year,” she explains. “She expects me to major in pre-law, but I selected early childhood education.”

“You don’t think she’ll be okay with you being a teacher?”

“No chance,” Charlotte scoffs. “She’s made it clear since I was twelve she expects me to go to law school like she did.”

“That’s bull,” I say, sadness settling in my chest for her. My mom has encouraged me to chase my dreams over stability for as long as I can remember. Constantly saying,Chi non risica non rosica.

No risk, no reward.

“Like I said, five-year plan’s fucked,” Charlotte huffs, and my lips quirk upwards again at the mention. She narrows her eyes, zoning in on my amusement. “What has Noah Gabriel Caruso so giddy right now? Is my life falling apart funny to you?”

“Of course not,” I say, the grin not leaving my lips. “I just thought I was the only person who made one in real life.”

“Youhave a five-year plan?” she asks, sitting up, a wide grin spreading across her own face, bringing me relief.

“Damn straight.”

“Care to share with the class?” Her eyes light up, easing some of my worry.

“Yes, Ms. Benson,” I tease, grabbing my phone off the nightstand, pulling the tiny piece of paper out of the case.

She snatches it from my fingers. “You have it written down?”

“More titties, more touchdowns?” She holds the paper out. “Really?”

“That was Theo.” I snatch the paper back from her, our fingers grazing in the process.Ignore the electricity, Caruso.

“Mm-hmm,” she hums. “I also noticed the relationship spot is blank. What gives?”

I shrug. “It’s not a priority right now.”

“So, what? No pussy until the five-year plan is up?” she asks, and my jaw ticks.

“The list didn’t saypussy, it saidrelationship.”

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