Page 75 of Even Exchange

“Because I was sweaty.”

“I know that.” I give her a reassuring smile. “But if I touch you and you jerk away, it looks suspicious.”

“I didn’t jerk away after dinner,” she says, pleased with herself.

“And you weresucha good girl for that.”

She rolls her eyes, a blush creeping up her cheeks. “Whatever.”

“So like I said, I want to know what you’re comfortable with so you don’t recoil in front of other people.”

“Can you give examples?” she asks, toying with her necklace.

“Hand-holding?”

“I don’t know.” She taps a finger to her mouth. “Seems pretty risqué.”

“Wouldn’t want to cause a scandal,” I say, nudging her foot with mine, and she returns the gesture, our legs entangling. “But seriously, Charlotte. This is important. I want us to set boundaries we’re both comfortable with.”

“Fine.” She releases a breath, rubbing her toes against my calf, and I struggle to focus. “Hand-holdingisallowed.”

Permission to hold her hand. Check.

“What about hugging or holding you against me?”

She pauses, nibbling on her lower lip. “Also fine.”

I grip her chin and pull her close, dragging my lips along her jaw, and my heart pounds. “Me kissing your forehead or cheek?”

She shivers and clears her throat. “Fine.” I angle her face until we’re nose to nose, then drag my thumb along her bottom lip. My eyes bounce between hers and her pretty mouth, which reminds me of my very strict set of rules.

One: don’t touch Charlotte.

Two: don’t think about Charlotte.

Three: don’t text Charlotte.

And four: definitely don’t, under any circumstance, kiss Charlotte.

One through three are blown to shit, but breaking four? I’ll never recover.

“Will you be kissing my lips?” she murmurs, and my lungs cease to function. My palm rests on her neck, her pulse pounding against it. The temperature in the room is hotter than Death Valley, and I lack the basic oxygen to formulate a reply. “Just whenever Jonathan is watching,” she clarifies. As if my hesitancy has anything to do with not actually wanting her lips on me. “But we definitely don’t have to. I was just ask?—”

“Yes.”

Fuck.

15

CHARLOTTE

“Want me to wait?” Andi asks as she stands in the doorway of our cabin.

“That’s okay,” I say, filling my water bottle at the sink. “Noah’s walking me to practice.”

“Yeah, he is.” She waggles her brows, and I roll my eyes. Her attention is pulled outside. “And speaking of, god’s gift to women is here.”

“You’re too nice to me,” Noah tells her.

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