Brightside | ✓

49 | you'll always find your way back home

"I don't think I've been this nervous since..."

"You lost your virginity?"

"What the actual hell is wrong with you?"

"So much." Axel laughed when Eddie flicked him in the ear. "I'm sorry."

"God forbid a girl try to be vulnerable," Eddie said, "in front of her boyfriend."

"I'm so sorry."

"Parker, your dad's a fucking loser." She tossed her hand wraps in the air. Anything was a distraction at that point.

Parker barked in response.

"Hey." Axel put a finger to his lips. "We said no being loud, you two."

It likely didn't help that in the entirely empty gym, Axel and Eddie were in the ring, laying on the dirty floor, and the dogs got free range of everywhere else. Considering it was a private gym, and Eddie was counting her lucky stars that Coach agreed to let her practice in there under the table, the dogs being left to their own devices wasn't the worst thing while Eddie aired out her anxiety about the day.

"I just..." Eddie stopped herself. Caught the wrap. "What if I don't like this new coach?"

"Were you really that big a fan of your other one?" Axel asked.

"I mean, we had our arguments," Eddie said. She pulled at a lose thread on her wraps. "I'm not denying that. But he's all I know. He's always pushed me to be the best even if I didn't deliver. What if the new one celebrates, I don't know, me just being mediocre? What if we don't have the same line of thought? What if we're not on the same page?"

"What if you are?" Axel asked. "You don't even know who's coming and you're already anxious you guys won't work well together."

"Newsflash, I'm not good at working well with others."

"I know," Axel said. "I watched you try to walk those two by yourself."

"Sorry, Mr. Hangover."

"It was ugly, Eds." To be fair, he was well aware his hangover was ugly too. The drinking had been lowered on his part to only when out with friends. He was still finding the ways she wanted to be supported. Eddie loved him for it.

"Interesting how you were too sick to walk the dogs with me, but you were more than okay to get up and make fun of me for it. I almost called Moxie to yell at you about it. She would've loved it."

"So, about your nerves."

"Oh, now he wants to talk about my feelings."

Axel turned onto his side and kissed her quickly. "I always want to talk about your feelings."

Eddie rolled her eyes. "I'm allowed to be anxious."

"Absolutely," Axel said. He rested his head on his fist so he could continue looking at Eddie instead of the ceiling. "But you're also allowed to be excited. This is a new chapter."

"Axel, I love you," Eddie said, "but I'm gonna have a panic attack and if you can't support me in that, you might have to leave the gym and take the dogs with you."

Axel didn't speak for a moment. "There's no way that I'm winning this, is there?"

Eddie laughed. "Atta boy."