Page 73 of Count On Me

As expected, we open the door and her scent floods my nostrils. I inhale deeply, filling my lungs with Edie.

“Fucking loser,” Angie calls out. “It’s so good to be home. I can’t wait to finally sleep in my own bed. Where are you gonna put the dress?”

“I was thinking of laying it out on her bed with the note on top of it. That way she’ll see it as soon as she comes in. I also want to leave this here.” I reach into my pocket and pull out a small square photo. I show Angie and she smiles brightly at it. “We were about eleven at the time. It was the second time she came to Syracuse and we went to the Dome to watch the college team play. My pops kept saying his sons were gonna be footballplayers and I leaned over to her and told her I was gonna be a soccer player instead. She gave me a big smile and that’s when her mom took the picture. I always told Edie everything before I told anyone else.”

”You’ve loved each other forever. Man, you have got to make this work, Jaxson. You need to restore my faith in love and Americans.”

I frown at her and she quickly avoids eye contact with me and clears her throat. “What’s going on with you, Angie?”

“Nothing. Go do your thing whilst I give the house a little once over. I want it smelling fresh and clean for when our girl comes home tomorrow.”

She shoos me out of the way and I head to Edie’s bedroom. I hesitate before entering, worried she’ll hate this idea and it’ll take me further away from her, but I swallow down the doubt and open the door. A smile dances over my face when I look at all things Edie in here. Book shelves filled to the rim with her favourite books. I scan the authors and notice there’s a lot of Lucy Score, Pippa Grant, Samantha Cole, and Annie Dyer.

I grab one titledPenalty Kissoff the shelf, the word penalty calling to me. Flicking through the pages, I stop at the red tab she’s placed and start to read. My eyes widen and a smirk forms on my face. Well who knew romance books were so fucking good. I bring the book with me and place it on the nightstand along with my phone so I don’t forget them, because I want to read that book, and get to setting her dress out just right.

Once I’m satisfied with how it looks, I grab her shoes from her wardrobe where she’d neatly placed them in the box again and put them on top of the shoebox so they’re not on the comforter. I grab my note from my wallet and read it over again. With everything set, I place the photo on top of the note and head out of her room.

The smell of bleach assaults my nostrils and I frown at Angie because I can’t smell coconuts and tropical beaches anymore.

“It smelled better before,” I grumble and she flips me the bird and takes her rubber gloves off.

“I’m done. I did a quick clean of the kitchen and the hallway, but the bedrooms will have to be done tomorrow. What’s that you’ve got?” She motions with her head to the book I’m carrying and I grin at her.

“I’m borrowing one of Edie’s books.”

Her face is frozen in horror and the grin falls from my face. “What?”

“You’re a braver man than me. Edie cares more about those books than anything. Just for the love of God, don’t break the spine, don’t dogear the pages, and don’t drink any liquids around it.” Genuine concern crosses her face and I suddenly want to drop the book like a hot potato, but don’t want to risk it getting hurt.

“How do I not break its spine? And what’s dogearing?” I’m suddenly scared for my well being.

She sighs and rolls her eyes. “Use a bookmark, a piece of paper, anything. But do not fold the paper over at the corner of the page and don’t open it so wide this part cracks.” She runs her hand over what I take to be the spine and a fine sweat breaks out on my upper lip.

“Okay. If I do, I can get her a replacement, right?”

She swipes the book from me, scans the first few pages and nods her head. “Yeah, you can. This isn’t one of her signed ones.”

I breathe out a sigh of relief and make a mental note to order a copy of ‘Penalty Kiss’ just in case I damage this one in any way. I’d hate to get Edie mad over one of her books. And if Angie’s reaction is anything to go by, I have everything to worry about.

45

GROUP TEXTS BETWEEN THE BRADY BROTHERS AND PENNY

Jenson

Let’s do this baby.

Jameson

Can we help in any way, brother?

Penny

I’m so excited.

Jameson

How’s Edie?

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