Page 194 of Even Exchange

“You know?” Noah says, brows furrowed.

“Yes,” I say with a soft smile. “Don’t worry. I didn’t fall for it.”

Noah glances between us, his forehead creased with worry lines. I take his hand in mine, and our eyes connect. He smiles softly, splaying his fingers protectively on my stomach.

Jonathan clears his throat. “This is cute and everything, but we still have a fucking problem.”

I look to him. “I’ll figure it out with the blackmail. Okay? Give me a few days to think about it. Maybe I can find the pictures and erase them.”

“The blackmail?” Noah says.

“That’s how Mom convinced Jonathan to come talk to me.”

Noah nods. “Couldn’t possibly be because he got you pregnant.”

“Just let me know when you figure it out,” Jonathan says, and he’s out the door.

Noah takes my face in his hands and claims my lips with a searing kiss. Reminding me that while anger can feel like fire, passion also burns white hot. I slide my hands into his hair, and he picks me up, carries me to the kitchen, and sets my ass on the counter. Our hands explore, tongues tangling until we’re both panting and coming up for air.

“What was that for?” I ask when he pulls away, green eyes boring into mine. While Jonathan’s are the turbulence of the sea, Noah’s are a calm, rolling meadow, keeping me grounded.

“Just needed to get lost in you for a few minutes,” he says.

I brush my thumb against his cheek. “I’m sorry seeing Jonathan upset you so much.”

“It wasn’t him.” He places his hands on both sides of me. “Your mom paid me a visit after practice.”

“She what?” I shriek.Could she get any crazier?

“I’m not sure if she was trying to stall me so Jonathan had time here or what. But yeah, she threatened my career.”

My stomach sinks. “And what did you say?”

His face scrunches up. “I told her to get fucked. That I’m never leaving.”

Relief washes through me, dousing the raging inferno engulfing me just moments before.

“I don’t want to be the reason your career tanks.” My chest tightens. “The media would have a field day if they found out about your dad.”

He shakes his head. “I don’t care anymore. It was self-defense. The press can do what they want with it. And if the world finds out I was raised by an abusive prick, so be it.”

“I’ll find whatever she has and get rid of it,” I promise.My mother will not be the reason Noah’s story is shared.If it ever is, that should behischoice.

“You will not go to that house without me, do you understand?” His tone is firm.

“Noah,” I say, tilting my head. “What do you think is going to happen?”

“I don’t trust Georgia.”

“She wouldn’t hurt me.”I don’t think.

“She won’t get the chance to. Because you arenotgoing alone.”

“It’ll be harder to explain if you come,” I say pointedly.

“So you admit there’s a possibility you’ll get caught.” He places a hand on my thigh.

“A verysmallpossibility,” I assure him.

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