Page 8 of Even Exchange

Would he raise his hand to her?

Would she tell anyone if he did?

I remind myself not everyone is like my father.

And as Jonathan said, she’s not mine.

So why do I care this fucking much?

IT:Porca troia- EN: Holy shit

2

CHARLOTTE

Spring Break - Five Months Later

Eleven football players belting boozy karaoke is definitely better than one.

The entire offensive line from Crystal Bay University occupies the spacious stage of the Miami bar. Their screeching voices are drowned out by the crowd singing along from the dance floor, myself included. Because let’s be honest, anyone who doesn’t know the words to Taylor Swift’s “Love Story” is a walking red flag.

And I like to keep mine safely out of sight.

The place is packed, which is no surprise considering spring break is the busiest—craziest—time of the year. When we arrived, the line was down the street, and I was skeptical they’d let us all in. Then Theo Schroeder—running back, pretty boy, self-proclaimed sex god, and for lack of better judgment, my friend—made a call. Two minutes later, the velvet rope dropped and we made our way inside.

It’s notably nicer than our shitty, sticky bars at home. There’s a private lounge where we spent most of the night before karaoke started, a huge dance floor with strobe lights, and a long bar along the wall. My throat is dry, and I make my way over to grab another drink.

“Merlot,” I tell the bartender after settling on a bar stool. A quick show of my fake ID, and thirty seconds later, I’m taking my first sip.

The bridge of the song begins, pulling my attention back to the stage to see all the guys drop to a knee, holding an invisible ring box up at Noah Caruso, their team captain and CBU’s star quarterback. I can’t help the laugh bubbling out of me at the sight of him throwing a hand across his chest, playing along with the “proposal.” He is never living this down. I’ll make sure of it.

A buzzing in my lap pulls my attention to a new notification.

Jonathan

Still at Ken’s Karaoke?

Me

Yeah, thinking of giving my rendition of “My Heart Will Go On”

Jonathan

You’ll put Celine to shame

Me

Word on the street is she’s already looking for a new career path

You sure you won’t make it out tonight?

Jonathan

Yeah, I gotta study for this test

I groan down at my phone. The university my boyfriend goes to already had their spring break, so we couldn’t spend it together. Fortunately, my friends wanted to party like it’s Coachella within a thirty-minute drive from his apartment, so I’ve seen him a few times.

Me

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