Page 7 of Even Exchange

Another pound is paired with a muffled, “Charlie, it’s me.”

“Porca troia,?1” I mutter under my breath. The perfect addition to this conversation has arrived.

“Great,” Charlotte grumbles, walking to the door and swinging it open.

Jonathan rushes inside. His eyes meet mine, and he halts in place. “What thefuckare you doing here?” he snaps.

“Apparently, your job,” I reply, arms folded over my chest, trying to suppress the hatred inside me.

“Excuse me?” he asks, coming closer.

“Jonathan!” Charlotte snaps as he stands right before me, seething. “Calm down.”

“Calm down?” Jonathan asks, turning his attention to her. “I drove across the state to spend a night with you, only for you to spend it with”—his gaze finds mine again, and he pokes my sternum—“this guy?” He’s quick to anger.Is he worse to Charlotte when no one’s around?

“This guy”—I nudge him away from me—“wasn’t going to leave a drunk woman on the bathroom floor of a bar. She needed someone to help her.”

“She’s not yours to take care of.” His face flushes, and he shoves my shoulders.“She’s mine.”

“That’s funny. BecauseIwas the one who carried her home last night.”

“I bet you were thrilled to swoop right in, weren’t you?” Jonathan snaps, starting towards me again, and my body courses with heat.

“I see a fumble, I take possession.”

“Stop it!” Charlotte shouts, pulling him back by his shoulder.

“Why?” he barks at her. “So you two cheating motherfuckers can return to whatever the hell you were doing before I showed up?”

He better watch his damn tone.

“Cheating?!” Charlotte shrieks and grabs her head, wincing. “Nothing happened between us,” she says quieter, with a sigh.

“Bullshit,” Jonathan mutters.

“Think whatever you want,” I say, shaking my head. “She was puking all night, and I stayed to make sure she didn’t suffocate in her own vomit. You’re welcome.”

“Well, I’ll take it from here,” he says with a smug smile, putting an arm around my shoulders and dragging me towards the door. Rage rolls off me in waves, and I shake him off, my attention turning to Charlotte, our eyes meeting.

“Do you want me to leave?” I ask her.

“Get. Out,” Jonathan snarls, the door creaking open behind me.

My gaze doesn’t leave Charlotte as my pulse pounds in my ears. “Are you okay with him?”

“The fuck’s that supposed to mean?” Jonathan demands. “Of course she is.” He looks to Charlotte. “Tell him, babe.”

She shifts from one foot to the other. “I’ll be fine, Noah.” My eyes bounce between them, and she softly adds, “You should go.”

Bile rises in my throat at the idea of leaving her alone with this guy. I don’t know him. What he’s capable of. All I know is he’s a prick and has a temper. But Charlotte needs to see when she speaks, I listen. Even if I don’t agree.

Reluctantly, I slide on my shoes, grab my phone and keys off the counter where I left them last night, and turn to her.

“If you need me, you know where to find me,” I say, hoping my eyes express everything I can’t.That conversation wouldn’t go very well right now.

“She won’t,” Jonathan says as he shoves me out, and slams the door in my face. Within seconds, yelling begins on the other side. I lean my forehead against the door, blowing out a breath.

Is she safe with him?

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