Page 75 of Exchange of Heart

‘We’re screwed,’ Nora finally spoke. ‘We’re actually, finally, screwed. He’s going to tell everyone, and I’m going to get fired for being crazy, and your dad’s going to send you to the most expensive therapist in the city.’

‘Paddy’s not going to remember a single thing that happened.’ I smiled. ‘That’s why I let him drink so much.’

‘What?’ she asked.

‘Vodka’s his kryptonite. Every time he drinks enough, he passes out and doesn’t remember a single thing.’

‘So, we could tell him we had an orgy?’ Nora eyes gleamed with mischief.

I missed a step and clutched the rail. ‘Sure, I guess.’ My cheeks warmed at the idea of being intimate with Nora.

The small grin on her face made me want to press her against the wall. But the real her. I wanted her personality in this body.

‘You know, he left you a note thanking you for some money you lent him.’ Nora tried to keep her tone light, but I knew my voice too well. Curiosity was eating away at her.

I blinked at her, realising Nora had been discovering bits and pieces about me for longer than I’d known. I didn’t know whether to be relieved or concerned at how much she knew. ‘Well, I think it’s clear he doesn’t have much.’

‘Which I find incredibly relatable. I’m surprised you enjoy slumming it so much. Me… Paddy…’

Her words were a knife to my chest. ‘Is that what you think of me? That I only care about money?’

I stopped on the second landing, my narrowed gaze waiting for her response.

‘Wow, you’re touchy about this.’ She stopped next to me.

‘I lent him money because his laptop died, and he needs it for a business course he’s doing. I don’t want him to be my assistant forever. He’s smart, Nora, and he deserves the chance to show the world. He didn’t get a head start in life, just like you. His parents got sick, and he spent all his savings on their medical bills.’ I turned from her and moved down the steps two at a time.

This body had no weight, and I flew down like a fairy as Nora’s elephant feet pounded the stairs behind me trying to keep up.

‘Corey, wait.’ She stumbled and knocked into me at the bottom of the stairs.

I stretched out my arms to catch her, but her weight pushed me back and she pinned me against the wall. Her breath reached my cheek and goosebumps raced up my neck. Her heart pounded hard enough that each thrum pulsed against my chest.

‘You still think I’m an asshole,’ I whispered angrily. I thought she’d gotten past her judgement.

‘Actually, I’ve been coming to terms with the fact I seem to like all these unknown parts about you lately,’ she whispered back.

Her face was inches from mine, and I hated that she looked like me. She’s the first person to see through me – the real me – and she liked it. I wanted to bite her lip and spin her against this wall and show her how much money didn’t matter. Except, I couldn’t.

‘I like the unknown parts about you, too.’ I sighed and took a step back. ‘Come on, let’s head home.’

If I didn’t, my lips would be pressed against hers before you could say the word ‘umbrella’.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Corey

Nora emerged from the bathroom in my grey pyjama pants and a black shirt. ‘I’m going to check my work emails and make sure no one has recognised anything weird about us there either.’

I didn’t respond, unsure of whether to give her a heads up about my conversation with Mark on Friday. With any luck, her new contract was already in her inbox.

Her teeth sank into her lip, the nervous habit I’d noticed when she raised her hand in class. The little heart in my body raced as her gaze bounced around the screen. She gasped. ‘Oh my god.’

I pressed my lips together to stop them from rising.

‘An email from Mark. He never emails me. What did you do? We’re screwed.’

My fingers twitched for a pencil and paper. I verged on passing out from the dizzying excitement and needed to channel everything into my sketchpad.