Page 30 of Even Exchange

“I’ll keep it in mind,” I say with a smile, leaving the room for the last time as team captain.

IT:Buongiorno,sole mio -EN: Good morning, my sun

IT:Buongiorno,mamma- EN: Good morning, Mamma

6

CHARLOTTE

Cars zoom past us on a highway that is far too busy for a sunny Sunday afternoon. “Circles” by Post Malone plays low in the background, and I try to keep my mind from wandering back to the chaos ripping apart my life.

“What’s up, Charlie?” Sophia asks, glancing over from the driver’s seat, worry etched all over her face.

“Huh?” I say, trying to play dumb.

“We’ve been in the car for thirty minutes, and you’ve barely spoken a word.”

I’m too exhausted to share what’s really going on in my head. Too tired from thinking about how the hell I’m going to afford everything next semester. Or how my boyfriend—ex-boyfriend—ripped my heart out and threw it in a blender.

Besides, I don’t want her pity. I don’t deserve it after all the stress I caused her last year.

“It’s nothing,” I finally reply, picking at my nails.

“Really? We’re best friends,” she says, adding to the guilt. “I can tell something’s bothering you.”

This is the hard part about being friends with Sophia. She’s known me too long. Like, since doing hopscotch in third grade too long. Our moms were even close friends before hers moved away when we were nine.

I go with the half-truth. “Jonathan and I broke up.”

She sucks in a sharp breath, glancing at me with wide eyes before returning her attention to the road. “Really?”

“Yep,” I say, popping the “p.”

“When? Why?”

“Last week.” My eyes wander out the window, a sickening feeling in my stomach. “Because I caught him fucking some blonde bitch.”

“What?” she screeches, hand gripping my arm. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I wasn’t ready to talk about it.”I’m still not, yet here we are.

“So youcaughthim cheating?” she asks, removing her hand.

“Yep. Walked in. He was moaning her name.” Bile rises in my throat at the memory. “When they noticed me, he pulled out, and his dick flung around like one of the dancing men in front of a car dealership.”

“Lord havemercy.” She cringes while gripping the steering wheel. “Maybe the girl would be willing toJohn Tucker Must Diehis ass.”

“Unlikely.” Visions of flying food shrapnel come to mind. “She was covered in egg roll guts when I left.”

Sophia side-eyes me. “I’m going to need more context.”

“I may have brought Jonathan’s favorite takeout. And I may have tried to beat the cheater out of him with it after finding them.” I press my lips together. “And I may have left the room looking like the trash can outside of Panda Express.”

“Charlie!” Sophia howls a laugh. “Wish I was a fly on the wall for that.”

Resting my head against the seat, I feel a weight settle in me. “You really don’t.”

“So what happened next?”

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