Page 83 of Count On Me

I’m letting that sink in when my phone pings, alerting me of a new follower on TikTok. That’s odd. I bring my attention back to a now smirking Angie.

“Why are you smirking?” I ask as another ping ricochets through the kitchen. I scowl at my phone again but snap my eyes to Angie when she giggles into her coffee cup. “What?”

She shakes her head innocently. “Nothing. It’s amusing seeing you glaring at your phone like that. You’re normally Little Miss Sunshine in the mornings.”

A third ping rings out and I blow out a frustrated breath. “Because the last time I had an influx of followers on bloody TikTok was when I was being spammed by sexbots telling me they were bored and lonely. And none of them are ever ginger. Have you noticed that? I have the boobs to be a sexbot, but sadly not the hair.” As I’ve been talking another four pings have come through and I raise my eyebrow to her to prove my point.

“I have the boobs and the hair, believe me it’s not all it’s cracked up to be. And you never know. Maybe a load of booktokkers have stumbled across your page and want to see what you’re reading.”

Another five pings come through and I’ve had enough. I grab my phone and open the app to see I have thousands of follow requests, a number I can’t even begin to understand as there’s too many zeros, and so many reposts I can’t believe it. I throw the phone onto the table like it scalded me and push my chair back.

“What’s the matter?” The lack of concern in Angie’s voice and on her face is confusing. And a little disconcerting.

“There’s so many people,” I whisper. Like if I say it too loud they’ll know it’s me they’ve followed and all go away.

“Look at it properly, Edie.” She grins and pushes the phone toward me.

I wrap my fingers around the device and open the app again. I scroll through the messages, likes, and mentions and then my eyes land on a video Jaxson’s tagged me in. My eyes fill with tears as I click on the post, and as our song plays, the tears slide down my cheeks.

An image of young Edie and Jaxson fills my screen, followed by another and another. Both of us beaming from ear to ear. Climbing a tree in his garden. Wearing Mickey and Minnie ears at the most magical place on earth. Images assault me of us through the ages, finishing with one of us kissing on the red carpet. We look like a fairytale couple and I struggle to catch my breath at just how beautiful this video is.

It starts to replay and I notice the words flying across the screen:best friends forever. Hawaii. Loved her from first sight. Meant to be. Doing more. Always mine. Jaxy + Eddie 4Eva. Count on me. In it for life.

The last slide says:check your texts.

I close the app and bring up my messages, finding one from Jaxson that’s just an address.

I look up at Angie who frowns back. “I don’t know what that is. I knew about the video, but not that.”

I blink several times and open TikTok again to scroll the comments. All are positive, asking for part two and what was in the message. I close it again and head into my bedroom, Angie following closely behind me, to grab some clothes and see what the hell is going on at this unknown address.

My poor bottom lip is taking the brunt of my nerves as I drive my little red mini up the long winding road in the posh suburb of Hampstead. I have no idea where I’m going, but I know Jaxson will be waiting for me at the other end. I’m still completely overwhelmed by the amazing video he made and shared with his five million followers, some of whom are now my followers. Strangers who want to know how our fairytale story ends.

‘You have reached your destination,’ my sat nav tells me and I look up at a huge mansion with a gated entrance. Assuming this must be Lockheart’s place, I press the buzzer and jump when the gates clank open to let me through. I stare in awe at the sheer decadence this place screams and feel a little sorrow for my old mini having to face such grandeur when I haven’t washed her for the last month.

As I pull up outside the house, the door opens and he appears on the front step. I all but run to him, jumping into his arms and crashing myself against him. “Jaxson, I love you so much. That video… those pictures… You’re just… I love you.” I grip the back of his head and bring his mouth down to mine and melt our lips together. I can feel his smile and I smile in reply.

He places his forehead on mine and breathes deeply. “I love you, Eddie. And now there’s no going back because the whole damn world knows it too. I should’ve made it clear to everyone a long time ago, but I have now. You’re mine and I’m yours. Always and forever.” He kisses my head as I stare up at him with glassy eyes filled with tears. “Do you like this place?”

His question throws me off track, but I look around and nod my head. “Sure, Lockheart’s got a nice place.”

He grins and shakes his head. “It’s not Lockheart’s. His house is next door. This place is ours.”

My breath catches in my throat and I stare with my mouth open, gaping like a fish out of water.

“I told you I wasn't homeless because I had you. You’re my home, Edie. You make me happy and I want to make you happy. I want you to fill this place with everything you love, anyway you like. My only rule is that you make it as Eddie as possible. I want to smell you when I come home, feel you in every room. I want your touch to be everywhere. But more than that, I want you here with me. To start our lives together properly. I want you living here with me. I want you to be my wife.”

He lowers himself to one knee and holds out a ring box. And when I stare into his eyes, I see no hesitation, no fear, just love.

“Yes! Jaxson. Yes.” I wrap myself around him, knocking him to the ground and landing on top of him. I shower him with kisses. Every inch of his face is peppered with my lips, and he chuckles and my insides turn to mush.

“You didn’t even look at the ring, Eddie.”

I take the box and close the lid, still looking into his eyes. “I don’t care about the ring. I care about the man giving it to me.”

“Let me take you upstairs and I’ll really give it to you.” He winks and I laugh as I stand and hold out my hand. I’m not refusing an offer like that from my fiancé. Shit,my fiancé. We’re getting married. I’ll be Mrs. Brady.

I stop on the threshold of our new place, feeling overwhelmed and worried. Are we ready for this? Are we rushing things? Moving too quickly?