Page 47 of Even Exchange

We freshen up in the bathrooms, and Charlotte ushers the kids to their tent, forcing them to bed despite Nash’s protests. Taking a seat by the fire, I wait in the hope we can continue talking without little ones interrupting us. Twenty minutes pass, and the low light from their tent fades to darkness.

Guess Charlotte went to sleep too.

I grab a bucket of water near the cooler and dump it on the fire, extinguishing the remaining embers, and my optimism. Entering my tent, I kick off my shoes, tug my shirt overhead, and toss it in the corner. I’m far from tired, so I pull out theFlorida Timesand flip through it. My attention catches on an article from the Opinion section.

Georgia Benson is the only child of the infamous Benson family, who first grew their fortune through real estate during the early 1800s, making her no stranger to the world of high society. One would assume she’d focus her time on tax breaks for the rich and rezoning to expand her family’s real estate empire; however, the impacts of her time in office are intriguing.

Benson has spent the last six years as the mayor of Longwood, a small Florida town. During her time in office, she successfully implemented multiple government-funded programs that benefit the constituents of the town, including Longwood’s Rehabilitation House, which assists those who are overcoming drug and alcohol addictions.

Benson’s program was inspired by a close friend who almost succumbed to opioid addiction, but thanks to a rehabilitation program in another state, was able to receive help. Benson wanted to develop the same assistance for her local community.

After inheriting the Benson fortune, which is an estimated $350 million, it’s clear Benson has set her sights on higher political aspirations. She’s even been rumored to have interest in running for president should the opp?—

“Knock, knock,” Charlotte says, her voice clear given the thin tent. My attention is yanked from the article, and my heart rate skyrockets.

“Password?” I whisper, folding the paper and tossing it to the side so her mood isn’t ruined.

“Let me in before I get eaten by a bear!”She wants to come in?

I crawl through the tent and unzip it. “Didn’t Nash already scare them all away?”

She slides off her shoes and steps inside. “Not taking any chances.” She glances around before settling onto my full-sized air mattress.Charlotte’s on my bed. Again.

“Make yourself at home,” I tease, sliding the zipper shut as the mattress squeaks under her while she gets comfortable.

“What are you, a hundred?” she asks, grabbing the paper, and my stomach sinks. “People seriously still read the newspaper?”

“Hey.” I snatch it from her fingers, the crinkling sound echoing through the tent. “Some of us need to get our news from more reliable sources thanTMZ.”

“I’m impressed you even know what that is.”

I narrow my eyes, rolling up the newspaper and hitting her hip with it.

“Hey!” she squeals, then quickly lowers her voice. “Shh, I don’t want to wake the kids.”

“You’re the one being loud,” I whisper, hitting her softly again, and she releases another quiet giggle.

“Fine.” She puts her hands in the air. “I surrender.”

I crawl up the bed, and she bounces as I make my way to sit beside her.Damn air mattresses.“They both asleep?” I’m assuming so, considering the silence from the tent beside us.

“Yes, they tookforever,” she huffs. “I blame the fourteenth marshmallow.”

“Thought it might be an issue.” I chuckle. “Is that why you’re still up?”

“Yeah,” she says, readjusting herself so we sit facing one another. “And I noticed your light was on. Is it okay I came over?”

“Of course. I couldn’t sleep either, hence the archaic reading.” Rolling away, I drag my backpack closer. “I did bring something in case we got bored.”

“Yeah?” She perks up, resting her arms on her knees. “What’s that?” After unzipping the front pocket, I pull out the hard card box and hand it to her. “‘365 Fun Facts,’” she reads out loud. “‘A fact a day keeps the doctor away.’ Cute.”

“I thought you’d like it.” Satisfied, I lie down against my pillow, placing my hands under my head. “Now read them to me so we can pick our favorite ones.”

She sorts through the cards, then says, “Fun fact number one: Scotland’s national animal is a unicorn.”

“How is that even legal? It’s not real.”

Charlotte cocks a brow. “Donotlet Denny hear you say that.”

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