Page 41 of Count On Me

“Maybe. Do you like them?” I place the shoe back onto my foot and notice his eyes sneak a look at my leg. Thank you Angie for suggesting the massive thigh split I almost had a bitch fit in the shop about wearing.

“I like everything about you, Edie. Um, your shoes are nice. Really nice,” he corrects himself, but he can’t erase the emotionthat was in his voice. Lust mixed with admiration. I heard it. Maybe Angie was right after all.

“Hey, Marcello. Who are you supposed to be?” Jaxson asks Antony, who is clearly dressed as Antony from Shakespeare’s play. But instead of telling him, I just smile. Jaxson has his arm wrapped around my waist, and the mixture of the alcohol and the smell of his aftershave is making me a little lightheaded.

“Little Red Riding Hood? Nice. I’m glad the wolf hasn't eaten you, Red.” Antony blushes as he realises the double entendre in his words.

And I can’t keep my eyes off Jaxson as I reply, “Nope, he hasn’t. Not yet anyway.” I wink at him and laugh as he splutters the drink he just sipped, giggling louder at the shock on both his and Marcello's face. “Sorry, Jax, I couldn’t resist.” I run my hand up and down his arm, the feel of his muscled bicep setting my body on fire. I bite my lip and lock eyes with him as his breath comes out in short little pants.

I don’t know where Antony is anymore, or how long we’ve been standing in this spot, but I do know if he doesn't kiss me tonight, I’m done. I can’t keep playing this cat and mouse game with him.

“Dance. Me and you?” he manages to bite out, and I nod at him, my eyes still penetrating his with my stare. He leads me out onto the dance floor where ‘Call Out My Name’ by The Weeknd is playing. The slow and sexy beat is perfect to be held in his arms, and I relish the feel of his hard body pressed against mine.

His hands snake around my middle and end up resting on my bum. A frisson of excitement filters through me as he presses himself into me. I wrap my arms around his neck and rest mycheek into the crook of it. His mouth is resting by my ear, singing the words of the song, quietly and only for me. With every breath he takes, it tickles me and every word he sings, I fall a little more in lust with my best friend.

My lips brush over his skin and he hisses out a breath and moans, “Edie.” I lift my head slightly so that my lips are a millimetre from his, my eyes begging him to take the final step. And as his head lowers, I brace myself to finally feel his lips against mine.

“Yo Brady, I thought you were bringing your bestie? Whoa! Edie got hot!” Jaxson jumps back from our near kiss and manoeuvres my body behind him as his friend Jordan stands in front of him.

“What do you want, Jordan?” he asks through his gritted teeth. I hold his hand that's wrapped in a fist behind his back, but instead of letting me, he snatches it away and drags it through his hair.

“I just wanted to see who you were dancing with. Why you hiding her? You embarrassed or something?” Jordan’s words make my head snap up and I wrap my arms around my middle, worried about Jaxson’s reaction.

“Nah, just don’t want you hitting on my best friend, that’s all. She’s too good for you.”

Best friend. Those two words are enough to tell me everything. I’ll never be more to him. I hold my head up high and walk around him.

“Hey, Jordan. How you doing? Long time no see.” I school the nerves in my voice and add a little exaggerated warmth to it. I don’t like Jordan, he’s a major player and a dick, especially with women, but right now I want to get away from Jaxson for a little bit.

“Damn, Edie, you look amazing. Wanna dance?” he asks me with a twinkle in his eye.

I turn my head back to Jaxson. “Any objections?” I ask, my eyes telling him to claim me. But instead, he shrugs his shoulders and lets his jaw tick instead of opening it to tell me what he really wants.

Well, screw him. I’m done.

I just watched a couple get engaged. A couple who weren’t afraid to declare their love in front of everyone. I want that. Not a ‘best friend’ too scared to take the plunge.

“Let’s go, Jordan.” I grab his arm and lead him a little away from Jaxson, but not too far, because as much as the alcohol flowing has helped me lower my inhibitions, it’s not made me completely crazy enough to trust Jordan to behave himself.

“Bad Habits” by Ed Sheeran blasts around us, and as I start to dance, I look over my shoulder and notice that Jaxson has positioned himself by the bar directly behind me, watching me. Well if he wants to watch, I’ll give him a fucking show. I step closer to Jordan and he takes the hint and wraps his arms around my body. I don’t want his hands on me, but I can’t have what I want so… I wiggle my hips in time to the beat and he joins me beat for wiggle.

Jordan dips his head to my ear and tells me, “I think Brady’s gonna erupt in a minute.”

I stiffen in his arms, his breath on my ear making me want to flinch away. Nothing like Jaxson’s. ‘No. He doesn’t care. I’m just a friend to him.”

He smirks at me and nods his head. He steps closer to me. His body is pressed against mine and nausea whirls in my stomach. I put my hand on his chest and push him away a fraction but he doesn’t move as far as I’d have liked. He dips his mouth to my ear again and whispers something about Jaxson looking constipated, and I laugh stiffly.

I’m so far out of my depth here I’m worried about drowning, but I just keep channelling my inner Angie. I don’t want toquestion why I’m in Jordan’s arms and not Jaxson’s. I just want to have fun.

As the song slows down I hesitate slightly, but his mouth tightens in a line, his eyes glint in the overhead lights and he takes my hand and wraps it around his neck. He puts his leg between mine and starts to move in time with the song and my hips. He licks his lips and bile rises in my throat. I don’t want to be in his arms. I don’t want his thigh between mine. I want Jaxson.

But he doesn’t want me. Not like that. So instead of breaking away, I let Jordan dance with me like we're a couple fromDirty Dancing.

“Eddie. Enough.” I turn to find Jaxson standing next to me, eyes glaring but also pleading with me.

“Yo, bro, stop cock blocking me. I’m gonna fuck Little Red tonight. She’s eager and waiting,” Jordan shouts over the music.

My head lowers in shame and whilst I miss the words they exchange, there’s no way to miss Jaxson’s growl.

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