Page 59 of Even Exchange

Crystal Bay is a quick drive from Tampa, so I opted to stay in the nice little beach town. Since Desmond was drafted to Vegas, Elijah and Theo are now renting the old house from me. The first of my rental properties—all part of the five-year plan.

“End of an era,” Desmond says, eyes glued to the pool table where many,manygames were played over long conversations about life and football.

“Beginning of a new one,” I reply, smiling down at it.

“Still can’t believe Vegas drafted me.” He was a second-round pick, which is bull considering he’s one of the top receivers in college football. But he got drafted nonetheless.

“You’re going to crush it,” I tell him.

“And we’re going to crush you in the fall.”

“Bullshit.” I shove him.

He smirks. “You don’t have your favorite roommate to make you look good anymore.”

I laugh, pulling him in for a hug. “We’re still gonna kick your ass.”

He slaps my back, then releases. “Guess we’ll see about that.”

“What time are you leaving?”

“I actually gotta head out. Wanna get on the road before rush hour.”

“Well, text me when you get there,” I tell him.

“You got it,” he says, shooting me a wave and walking out the door.It really is the end of an era.

Ignoring the pang of sadness, I grab a broom, sweep up the fallen drywall from screwing in the cue stick holder, and head towards the kitchen to dump it in the trash.

Elijah enters carrying a plastic box, Charlotte and Sophia in tow, and I set the broom on the counter to greet them.She’s here.

“That’s the last of it,” Elijah tells me.

“This place is sweet,” Charlotte says, heading to the kitchen. “Vaulted ceilings, are you kidding me?”

“An outdoor kitchen?” Sophia says, ripping the tape off a small box of dishes. “This isfor surethe new party house.”

“The old house cankeepthe parties,” I say firmly, my muscles seizing at the thought of Theo doing a keg stand in my new kitchen.

“Soph, can you help me?” Elijah shouts from the guest room where he’s setting up the bed frame.

“Coming,” Sophia calls back, walking away.

“Please don’t christen the house before I have,” I tell Sophia.

She turns around, shooting finger guns and a devilish smirk at me. “No promises.”

“God, they are just…”

Charlotte laughs. “I know.”

“So you like the place?”

“Hell yes,” she says, her response pleasing me as she sets another glass in the cabinet. “Can I sneak in and use your giant bathtub when you’re at away games? I’m so sick of only having a shower.”

“You don’t need to sneak in,” I say, reaching in my pocket and glancing down at the shiny piece of metal.You’ve got this, Caruso.Releasing a shaky breath, I say, “Just use your key.”

Her head snaps to me. “My what?”

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