Page 31 of Even Exchange

“I told him to go fuck himself.” My gaze turns out the window. “And then I left.”

Sophia reaches over and pats my head like a child. “Good girl.”

“Stop,” I groan, dodging away from her. “You read too much smut.”

“You canneverread too much smut.” She glares at me in disgust. “And a wise person once told me, ‘The best way to get over someone is to get under someone else.’”

“That was before I had my heart stomped all over like grapes at a wine festival!”

Also, tried that, got rejected…

Noah turning down my request as I stood half-naked before him will forever be burned into my brain as the most embarrassing moment of my life.

“Oh, so you’re a hypocrite now?” she teases.

“No.” I sigh. “But I don’t think I’ll be ready to put myself out there any time soon.”

If ever.

After an exhausting hour-long rant on why Jonathan is a shithead—which, okay, fair—Sophia finally drops me off at my building.

Shaking off the negative thoughts, I open the door to my apartment and am instantly surrounded by laughter and “Red Wine Supernova” by Chappell Roan blaring from a speaker. Andi and Stella, my roommates, belt the lyrics like they’re front row at a concert in the living room, their smiles only growing when they notice me. Everything iseasy. I’m so glad we moved in together after winter break.

“Baby cakes!” Andi runs over and jumps on me so fast I stumble.

I catch my balance and melt into her embrace. “Nice to see you too.”

“What about me?” Stella pouts, putting her hands on her hips, and I hug her too.

“Missed you too, Stel.” I smile as she squeezes the air out of me. “Jeez, you two are needy little things. It hasn’t even been that long.”

“I know,” Stella says dramatically, releasing me, and I walk toward my room. “I had to watch two seasons ofThe Great British Baking Showall by myself.”

I freeze and spin back around. “Excuse me?”

“You heard me.” She cocks a brow.

“You continued it without me?” I throw a hand over my heart.

“Sorry, baby cakes.” Stella shrugs, giving me a devilish smile. “It’s been lonely round this neck of the woods.”

I chuckle, already feeling tons lighter than on the car ride here.

“You look tired as hell,” Andi says, returning to the living room. “And that only calls for one thing.”

“Sushi and shit-talking?”

“Sushi and shit-talking.” She winks, and I laugh all the way to my room.

Their presence is a breath of fresh air. I can be someone totally different than who I am back in Longwood. While I ache to spend time with my siblings so they don’t feel the gaping hole in their lives where our parents should be, the other part of me savors being in Crystal Bay and actually having my own life.

I’m not weighed down by being Georgia Benson’s daughter, the one who has to remain perfectly polished and put together at all times. The one who couldn’t possibly be allowed to pursue a career that doesn’t fit the predetermined path Mother planned for me.

I’m just… me.

* * *

Freshly brewed coffee and blueberry scones awaken my senses as I wait impatiently in line at Crystal Coffee. The on-campus java shop is unsurprisingly packed, given every student is still readjusting to eight a.m. classes after the break.

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