Page 186 of Even Exchange

“Lottie took us to see the football stadium.” He smiles, turning to face me and placing his hand under his head.

“Awesome,” I say, and we bump fists. “Did you meet some of our friends?”

“Yeah, they played catch with me.” He frowns. “But I wasn’t very good.”

“Wanna practice tomorrow? We can throw the ball around in the backyard.”

“Yeah.” He smiles wide. “I’d like that a lot.”

“Good,” I say, standing to leave.

“Noah,” he says, sitting up.

“Yeah, buddy?”

“Can you help me with something?” My chest squeezes that he’s comfortable asking me.

“What is it?”

He reaches under his pillow and pulls out a debit card. My brows furrow. “Lottie cried today because this card is broken,” he says, handing it to me, and I glance down at the name: Charlotte Benson. “I don’t think crying is good for the baby… and was hoping you can help me get her a new one.”

“First of all,” I say, cocking a brow, “don’t ever take anything fromLottie’spurse without asking. Understand?” He nods sheepishly. “Second of all, what happened?”

He fills me in on their entire trip to the store, including the “nice lady who brought out the groceries Lottie forgot,” and my shoulders tense with each new piece of information.

After leaving his room, I pull out my phone and solve Charlotte’s problem with the tap of a few buttons. And damn, does it feel good, alleviating all her stress with the simple swipe of my finger.

41

CHARLOTTE

“Ma’am, I can assure you, it’s not a mistake,” the bank teller from the 24/7 hotline repeats on the phone for the umpteenth time as I pace the floor of our bedroom.

“Well, it must be because I’m not sure where this money came from.” I stare at my banking app, displaying the deposit of $25,000 from NGC Trust. I was having a very relaxing bath until I received a notification for a transfer that made my eyes bulge out of my skull.

“Are you sure there’s no one who could have sent you this money?”

NGC Trust.

N “G” C Trust…

Noah Gabriel Caruso Trust.

“You’ve gotta be kidding me,” I say, my mouth slack jawed. “Thanks, I gotta go.”

“Is there anyt?—”

I hang up the phone as Noah walks into the room, shutting the door behind him.

“Kids are down,” he tells me, a glass of water in his hand.

“Did you just transfer me $25,000?” I ask, the cup pausing halfway to his lips. His pleased eyes meet mine, and he sets the drink on the dresser.

“Instant transfer really does mean instant, doesn’t it?” he says casually, as if he bought me flowers or a fucking cup of coffee.

My mind swirls in circles. “Why?”

“Nash told me about your ‘card being broken.’” He shrugs. “You needed money, and I have plenty of it.”

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