Page 193 of Even Exchange

“You wanted me to break up with you,” I say, huffing a laugh, “because you were too much of a pussy to do it yourself.”

“Charlie…”

“So you slept with me the day before as a farewell fuck?” I shriek. “I’m pregnant because you, what, wanted to fuck me over? Literally?”

“No, I just?—”

“Save it.” I shake my head and release a sigh. I’m so angry, but I’m also… glad? It’s one more confirmation this isnotthe man I want in my life.Notthe man I want raising my children. He could’ve just been a civilized human and dumped me.What a piece of shit.

“Is this why you don’t want to be a part of her life?” I pause, placing a hand on my stomach, still needing clarification. Closure. “Because my mother blackmailed you?”

“When you showed up, I knew she must not have told you or you’d have used it to get me involved.”

“I’m not my mother,” I snap, the insinuation unwelcome.

“I know.” He grits his teeth. “Just… We had already gone our separate ways. I’ve moved on, and it seems you have too,” he says, glancing around. “I know I should say I want to be involved, but I—” He curses at himself under his breath before returning his gaze to mine. “I don’t want to be a part of this. And I know that makes me selfish. But it’s the truth.”

“I believe you,” I say, and somehow his admission lifts a weight off my shoulders. Because I don’t want him to be a part of this either.

“But thanks to your mom, we don’t really have a choice.” He bites his cheek. ‘We have to get back together.”

A disgusted laugh leaves me. “There’s always a choice.”

“If you won’t do it for me,” Jonathan says, “you should at least do it for Noah.”

“Noah?” I ask, guard flying up. “How could us faking a relationship possibly protect him?”

“Do you really think I’m the only one she has shit on?” he asks, and my heart sputters.

“You’re lying.”

“That’s fine,” he says, throwing up his hands. “Don’t believe me.”

“I don’t.” My tone is firm, but there’s one thing the world doesn’t know about Noah. And I’m sure my mother has the whole goddamn file.

“What does she have on him?” I ask, curious if Jonathan has any inside knowledge.

“No clue,” he says, and I narrow my eyes at him. “I swear.” Something about his tone makes me believe him.

“Well, either way, my answer is still no. We’re not getting back together. My mom’s bluffing.”

“You may be willing to take that risk, but I’m not.”

“Well, it’s not your choice! In the wise words of Taylor Swift, we are never getting back together. Like, ever.”

“Please, Char?—”

The front door flies open, and our heads swivel toward it.

Noah glances between the two of us, a furious expression on his face.

“Get thefuckout of our house,” Noah says, his tone dripping with a venom I’ve never heard before. His face is red, chest heaving as his glare burns laser beams into Jonathan.

“It’s not what you think,” I say, wanting to laugh at how often that phrase seems to come up in my life.

“He’s here trying to get you back?” Noah says, walking towards me. “Don’t fall for it. It’s all your mom’s idea.”

“She knows,” Jonathan says at the same time I say, “I know.”

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