Page 10 of Count On Me

Jaxy

Don’t jinx me like that again.

Angie as Me

You ignored me first. After everything that happened last night, you just left. Didn’t even tell me. We're supposed to be friends before anything else.

Jaxy

We are. You know you’ll always be my bestie, Eddie.

Angie as Me

And that’s it?

Jaxy

What do you mean?

Angie as Me

It doesn’t matter, Jaxson.

Jaxy

You never call me Jaxson. What happened to Jaxy? Shit, even Brady’s better than Jaxson.

Angie as Me

You don’t deserve familiarity right now, Jaxson.

Jaxy

I never wanted to hurt your feelings, Edie. It’s what I was trying to avoid by moving out. I screwed up, but it was for the right reasons. Hawaii.

Angie as Me

That’s almost as bad as ‘it’s not you, it’s me.’ Be honest with me.

Jaxy

I’ve always been honest with you. Nothing I said to you last night was a lie. You might not believe me, but you’re the most important thing in my life. Always have been. HAWAII!

Jaxy

You’re amazing. Intelligent. Beautiful. Strong and perfect in every way. But, Edie, I have to focus on my career. I can’t fail at this. You know how it is with Pops.

Jaxy

I promise, in the next few years, everything will be different. You’ll be done with college and I’ll be an established pro. But one thing won’t change, Edie. Me and you. We’re the constant in all of this. You can always count on me. I promise you that! Hawaii.

Tears stream down my face as I read his words. I have no idea how to respond. I’m still mad, but I’m not as mad as I was. He’s right, and I understand his need to prove to his dad that he was right to pursue his dream.

His dad came down on him like a tonne of bricks when he announced he was leaving college to become a professional footballer. Flipped his lid at the very concept of one of his sons moving overseas to playsoccerrather than staying home and playing in the NFL.

I should never have doubted our friendship. It’ll always be there. I just need to give all the other things I want with him time. Or give them up.

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