Page 191 of Even Exchange

“I can make your life hell,” she threatens, pointing a finger at me. “Ruin your reputation. Make sure you don’t so much as coach a youth football team. Every news outlet in the country will be aware of exactly where NoahLewiscame from.” Every muscle in my body tenses at her use of my father’s last name. “Are we clear?”

Straightening my spine, I stare directly in Georgia’s icy eyes. “Take my career. Take my name and drag it through the mud for all I care. Hell, take every single dollar I have. But letmemake something crystal fucking clear. You willnevertake her.”

“Don’t underestimate me.” She doubles down. “Jonathan and Charlie are getting back together. They will get married. Have this baby. And you’re not going to do a damn thing about it.”

I open my truck door, grinning ear to ear. “Watch me.”

43

CHARLOTTE

I fold another burp cloth and place it in the dresser of the nursery. Nesting is in full swing, and at this rate, the baby’s room should be completed next week. After pulling a pink sheet out of the basket, I hang it over the side of the crib to make the bed later.

A pounding knock comes from the front door, and I rush towards it. Throwing it open, I say, “Stop forgetting your house key! I really do—” The words fall off my tongue as a face I hoped I’d never see again stands on the porch. “What the hell are you doing here?”

Jonathan hurries inside, not waiting for an invitation, and I consider leaving the door open for a quick escape. Peeking outside, I check I’m not being punked or set up for some bullshit paparazzi blitz, and after deeming it’s safe, I shut us inside.

How does he know where I live?

Jonathan turns toward me in the living room, scratching at his jaw. “We should get back together.”

I blink at him. “What?”

“We should get back together,” he repeats, tone void of emotion, reigniting the ember of anger I’d nearly reduced to ashes.

“You want…” My face scrunches, fingers pressed to my temples. “Let me get this straight. You show up at the home I share with my boyfriend, andthat’show you start the conversation?”

“Come on, Charlie.” He releases a heavy breath. “Don’t you think we made a mistake?”

The furious fire erupts. “According to you, the only mistake you made was fucking this cunt without a condom,” I shriek, pointing at myself. “And now you’re, what, asking for me back?”

“I want to be a part of this baby’s life. I…” He shifts in place. “I need to be.”

The fumes fog my mind, and my eyes narrow on him. “Why?”

“Because I do.”

“What about all your big NFL dreams?” I ask mockingly.

“Charlie,” he says with a sigh. “I’m trying to do the right thing here.”

Theright thing.

Red flags pop up like devil horns on Jonathan’s stupid little head.

“Did mymotherspeak to you?” I roar, the flames scorching through me and decimating every shred of resolve in their path. He doesn’t have to answer. I already know.That meddling bitch.

“It doesn’t matter.” He dismisses me with a flick of his wrist. The way he always did to say the conversation’s over.

“Actually, it does.”

His gaze holds mine. Crystal blue eyes that used to calm turbulent seas, now darker than the depths of the Mariana Trench. “Weneedto, Charlie.”

“How much is she offering you?” The one thing about being mega uber rich is there is an endless supply of bribe money. And my motherlovesusing it.

“What?” he asks, brows pulled together.

“How much money did she pay you to come here?”

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