My Girlfriends Brother || Reddie

Chapter Twenty Three

The tension between Eddie and Lexi had been simmering ever since Richie and Lexi's breakup. Eddie wasn't sure why, but Lexi's mood swings seemed sharper, her silences heavier. It was starting to get to him, even though he tried not to let it show.

One afternoon, Eddie sat at the kitchen table, idly flipping through a magazine he wasn't really reading. Lexi walked in, her footsteps hesitant. She glanced at him, then quickly busied herself with the kettle, as if trying to decide whether or not to say something.

Finally, she sighed and sat down across from him, her expression softening. "Eddie," she started, her voice tentative. "We need to talk."

Eddie put the magazine down, watching her carefully. "What about?"

Lexi bit her lip, looking almost guilty. "I've been acting... weird, I know. And it's not fair to you."

Eddie shrugged, though he was relieved she was addressing it. "You've been upset. I get it."

"I know you get it," Lexi said, her tone softer. "But that doesn't mean it's okay for me to take it out on you. I'm sorry, Eddie."

Eddie blinked, caught off guard by the apology. "It's fine, Lex. I just figured you needed space."

Lexi leaned her elbows on the table, resting her chin in her hands. "It's not just space. It's... everything. Richie and I breaking up, seeing him at school, knowing he's still around you and the Losers. It's a lot."

Eddie hesitated, unsure what to say. "You know, the Losers were asking me about Richie's birthday," he ventured, testing the waters. "They want me to come, but... I don't know."

Lexi's brows furrowed, and for a moment, Eddie thought she might snap at him. But then she sighed, shaking her head. "You should go," she said quietly.

Eddie raised an eyebrow. "Really?"

"Yeah," Lexi said firmly. "They're your friends. Just because Richie and I... didn't work out doesn't mean you shouldn't be there for them."

Eddie leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. "You sure? I don't want to make things worse."

Lexi offered a faint smile, though there was still sadness in her eyes. "I'm sure. I'm not going to stop you from hanging out with your friends, Eddie. Just... be careful, okay?"

Eddie frowned. "Careful how?"

Lexi hesitated, as if weighing her words. "Richie's in a weird place right now. And I know you... care about him." Her gaze locked on Eddie's, searching for something unspoken. "Just don't get caught up in his mess."

Eddie's heart skipped, but he quickly shook his head. "I won't," he said, though the weight of her words lingered.

Lexi nodded, standing and heading toward the living room. "Good," she said over her shoulder. "Have fun, Eddie. And don't let Richie get under your skin."

Eddie watched her leave, a mixture of relief and unease swirling in his chest. Her permission to go felt like a step forward, but her warning about Richie left him feeling strangely off balance. For now, he pushed the thoughts aside. He'd deal with it when the time came.

Later, Eddie was up in his room. Eddie's diary lay on his desk, its pages filled with the thoughts he couldn't voice to anyone. His pen hovered over the page, the words coming slower than usual. He scribbled a line, then scratched it out, frustration bubbling to the surface.

"Luke says he understands me, but sometimes it feels like he's not even trying. Or maybe it's me. Maybe I'm the problem."

Eddie exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. The quiet of his room was comforting, but his chest felt heavy, like the words he wrote were anchoring him down instead of helping him process. He set the pen down for a moment, staring at the page.