Page 96 of Even Exchange

Slap him?

Shake him?

I don’t want to startle him or make it worse.

“Please,” Noah begs, his shoulders shaking. “Please stop.”

My pulse pounds. I’ve never seen this side of him. Never seen him be anything other than Superman.

It’s almost a relief.

Guilt settles in my stomach.

Wishing night terrors on someone to prove they have flaws is fucked up.

“Noah,” I say gently, nudging his arm. “Please, wake up.”

His head switches sides.I think we’re getting somewhere.“You’re okay,” I assure him, rubbing his hair. “I’m here.” His shoulders tighten. “It’s just a dream.”

He gasps, bolting up, and I flinch, heart racing in surprise. He takes loud, ragged breaths, eyes finding mine as I do the same.

“Charlotte?” he says, voice trembling, gaze distant.

“Yeah, it’s me. I’m here.” I rub his back, releasing a sigh of relief.He’s awake.“You’re okay. Everything’s okay.”

His eyes are filled with sadness as he flattens a palm over his chest, blowing out a shaky exhale. “I’m so sorry you had to see that.”

I attempt to return my heart rate to a safe level.That scared the shit out of me.“Does it happen often?”

“No.” He rolls onto his back, staring up at the ceiling.

“I didn’t know how to wake you.” My lips roll together.I felt so helpless.“I just kept talking to you till you woke up. I was worried I’d scare you worse.”

“You did perfect,” he assures me.

I place a palm on his shoulder. He rolls his head to face me, our eyes locking, his expression tormented. “What were you dreaming about?”

He sighs. “Soffione, I don’t want to pull you into this.”

“Remember what we talked about by the lake? I said if you wanted to talk about anything in the dark with the windows closed, I’m here.” I take his hand and squeeze it. “There’s no sunshine or football.”

“But there is you,” he says with a weak smile.

“Well, yeah, because I’m always here.” My heart constricts at the admission, aching for him to be vulnerable. “Do youwantto talk about it?” He nods, a single tear rolling down his cheek.

“I’ve wanted to tell you,” he promises me. “I just never knew the right time. And it’s not exactly something I go around broadcasting. You never know who you can trust.”

Swallowing hard, I ask, “And you trust me?”

Noah smiles weakly. “Yeah, baby. I trust you.”

He trusts me.

Relief settles in my chest, and I return a gentle smile, rubbing my thumb against his hand in reassurance. “What was your nightmare about?”

His eyes bore into mine, indecision flickering over his features. “The night I shot my father.”

My eyes widen, and I suck in a breath.That is not what I was expecting.“What?” I sit up, turning to face him, and he does the same. “You…what?”

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