Page 45 of Count On Me

Whatever Penny

Jameson

Hmmmmmmm. Exactly, Pen, exactly.

Jenson

Whatever, you two. Jaxson, you’re a dumbass.

Jameson

Easy. He’s drunk and fragile right now. He just needs to be straight with Edie. About everything.

Jameson

Jaxson, you still there?

Jenson

I think we lost him.

Penny

Hopefully he’s fallen asleep and isn’t drunk texting or calling anyone he shouldn’t.

Jameson

I’m kinda hoping he is. If he texted Edie right now he wouldn’t be able to hide his feelings.

Jenson

Jaxson, GO TEXT EDIE.

Jenson

Hehehe

27

EDIE

Slamming the laptop lid down, I stomp into the kitchen to make a cup of tea and mutter about ‘stupid, pig headed American douchebags.’ As I slam the fridge door closed, Angie chuckles from the hallway.

“You know you just cussed out an American using an American insult he taught you, right?” I shoot daggers at her through my narrowed eyes and she holds her hands up in surrender. “Jeez, alright. I won’t say anything.”

I wait for the tea to steep just long enough before tossing the tea bag and flopping next to Angie at the kitchen table. “He hasn’t called me. He got a two match suspension for fighting with Jordan and he hasn’t called me. It’s three pm. He isn’t allowed to train, so where is he? This is all my fault. I should never have danced with Jordan.”

“Hold up. You so should have danced with Jordan. You should have gone home and rode that guy's dick just to prove a point to Brady. But that’s just my humble opinion. Said more than once, I might add, to you and Jaxson,” Angie states and heads toward the coffee machine.

I shake my head at her, “Angie, that was never in the cards. And wait. What do you mean, ‘and Jaxson’?”

“He texted me to see if you got home okay. I told him he was an absolute dickhead and you should’ve fucked his friend to make him see what an idiot he was.”

I lower my head to the table and groan. “Angie, you shouldn’t have. I mean, I love you for having my back, always, but you shouldn’t have.” I pause for a brief second, debating whether to admit what I’m thinking to her. “I feel guilty.” I let the words fall from my mouth even though I know she’s going to give me a lecture about it.

She sighs and spins on her heel. “I was waiting for this. Edie, please remember that this guy is a grown up. He’s responsible for his own actions. He lashed out because he was upset that he fucked up with you again. Hear that word right.Hefucked up with you, not the other way around. He knew where you were heading in the car. He could’ve grabbed another one and followed you, declared his love for you and spent the night getting down anddirtaaywith you. But he didn’t. He chose to go back into the party and hit his teammate. He chose to lash out and he’s choosing not to phone you right now. You need to make him accountable for his actions. Two years ago he promised you different, and you’re still waiting. A change has to happen, girl. And he isn’t the one who’s going to make it happen.”

I nod my head slightly as she walks back to her chair. She takes a sip of coffee and sighs loudly.

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