Page 3 of Hostile Exchange
Evan shoves away from the seat and approaches the stage with a swagger I didn’t even know my body was capable of. I hop down to meet him on his level. “Look,” he starts, “why don’t you just tell me how you got us into this mess? Then at least we’ll know where to start.”
“Me? You think I got us into this? Why would I want to switch places with some broke ass dude with an attitude problem? You’re the only one benefitting from this. This is clearly your fault. Just own up to it so we can go back to normal.”
Evan steps into my space so we’re practically nose to nose. “There you go again. Assuming I’d actually want to be you. I may not have money like you, but I wouldn’t give up my life. Not when my sisters need me.”
I jerk back. That’s not even close to what I expected him to say. I’ve seen the trailer he lives in. It’s falling apart, and don’t get me started on the beater he calls a car. I thought for sure he’d be jumping at the opportunity to live a different life. Would he really stay in his life, just for his sisters? The thought of being loved that much makes my chest hurt.Focus Reese! Don’t let him see any cracks.
I decide to offer an olive branch. Tugging on the longer hair that I’m not used to, I say, “Look, what I said earlier about leaving your sister was a dick move, even for me. I’d never actually leave a kid stranded somewhere. I promise to leave them out of this thing between us.”
It looks like it causes him physical pain, but Evan manages to grate out, “Thank you. They’ve been through enough. I’m all they have, they can’t lose me, too.”
I nod as I hop up to sit on the stage, swinging my feet. “What’s the last thing you remember, before the switch?”
“I went to sleep last night, in my own shitty bed, and woke up this morning in a cloud.”
That causes me to chuckle; I cut it off quickly though. “Yeah, your bed is the worst. Same situation for me though. Ididn’t go out or anything last night. We have a big practice today. No way I’d drink the night before. You haven’t been to any shady Chinese restaurants lately have you?”
“Do I look like the kind of guy that can afford to eat out?” he asks as he joins me on the stage.
“Fair.”
“I don’t know how we ended up in this situation. All I know is we need to figure out how to get out of it, and quick.”
“Well in the movie, they had to understand each other better, before they could switch back.”
“This isn’t a fucking movie, Reese! This is my real fucking life!”
I’m taken aback by his sudden outburst. He’s been the one that seems to be taking this all in stride. Why is he suddenly so adamant about getting out of my body?
Grabbing at his hair, he lets out a growl and surges to his feet. “Look, just figure it out, and not some fake ass movie solution. I gotta go.” He storms out, leaving me staring and my jaw basically on the floor.What just happened? For a minute, it seemed like maybe we could be civil.
Chapter Four
Evan
“Fuck!!” I shout as I punch the wall closest to me. I hate Reese. I felt myself softening towards him when he promised to keep my sisters out of this, but I can’t afford that. I hate him, and I need to remember that. I need to ruin him, and I can’t do that if I’m feeling appreciative. I stalk towards his next class, in need of a distraction.
?????
Pulling up to the actual fucking mansion Reese lives in, I can’t help but gawk.Seriously, who needs a house like this for two people? It’s so wasteful.I slam the Jeep door, not bothering to lock it. It’d serve him right if it was stolen, but let’s be honest… in this neighborhood, it’ll be just fine.
I burst through the front door but something slamming into my gut sends me to my knees. I land on my side in the fetal position. William Kensington stands over me, the sleeves of his crisp white button down rolled up to his elbows. When he kicks me, I realize it was his fist that I felt. He lands two more blows, before stooping down to grab the collar of my shirt.
“Would you like to tell me why you’re home and not at the most important practice of the year?” he asks in a voice so calm it sends chills down my spine.Who the fuck can sound like they’re discussing the weather as they beat the shit out of their own kid?
“I… I wasn’t feeling well.” The lie is evident in my voice.
Mr. Kensington tuts. “How are you still this pathetic? Have I taught you nothing? Go to your room. I do not want to see you for the rest of the night. There will be no dinner. If you can’t do the one thing I ask of you, then I have no reason to provide for you.”
I scramble to my feet and rush toward the stairs. Mr. Kensington’s cold voice stops me in my tracks. “I do not wish to have this conversation again, Reese. Ensure that you do not miss practice again, hmm?”
“Yes sir,” I say in a quiet voice. Once he’s left me alone in the foyer, I hobble up the steps. It takes me a few tries to find the room that I woke up in this morning. I desperately want to collapse into the heavenly bed and cry, but I know I’ll regret it later if I don’t address these bruises now.
Slowly, painfully, I pull my shirt over my head and trudge into the en suite. Looking in the mirror, I see the bruises that mottle Reese’s chest in a new light. When I first saw them this morning, I assumed they were from football. Learning they were given to him by his own father has me questioning what I thought I knew about his behavior. What if everyone thought I had it so great because I came from money? What if I was hated by the one person that was meant to love me unconditionally? What if I didn’t have Natalie and Sarah at home to fill the holes that Mom left behind? Would I feel the need to find loveand acceptance wherever I could? Would I be overly loud and obnoxious in my search for it?
Well, shit. What am I supposed to do now that I have this new understanding of Reese Fuckface Kensington?
Reese
