Brightside | ✓

50 | homesick

"My friend thinks you're cute and wants to know if he can have your number."

            The statement would've made Eddie's skin crawl if she hadn't immediately clocked that it was Rush Tua standing beside her.

            "Tell him I have a boyfriend so he's shit out of luck," Eddie said. She took a sip of California Sunrise, a delicious mix of amaro, orgeat, lemon, and strawberry. 

            "I'll be sure to pass that on."

            Eddie turned back to the bartender once she'd spotted where Axel was sitting, they handed Rush a couple of takeout pizza boxes. Clearly the man had ordered before he got there. A perk of being Rush Tua, former light heavyweight champ. She pointed up to the menu and then to where Axel was sitting. "Could I please get a Pin-Up Girl sent to that table over there?"

            They nodded and started making it when Eddie put a bill down for the drink.

            "I don't want to be part of this roleplay anymore," Rush said. "Your apartment's good. Anything worth keeping is at Axel's."

            It took Eddie too long to admit that Brendon had been on the right track with her never wanting to step foot in her apartment ever again. But that didn't mean she didn't want the photos or her stupid collection of Rocky DVDs or Peter's bed. It just meant she had to talk to Axel about her fears of going back, and magically he'd recruited Rush on a Thursday to get it done. Wouldn't let her say no, wouldn't let her help. (Wouldn't even let her text Brendon Ellis to see if he felt like helping or if he wanted company doing Formula One racer bullshit.) Told her to meet him at Tony's in Little Italy and he'd hear nothing else on the matter. Even buried himself in Princess Leia couch pillows to avoid her protests. 

            Eddie gave him a hug. "Thank you for doing that. I'm sorry—"

            "Don't be," Rush said. "It was important and nice to feel useful."

            Eddie punched him in the shoulder. "I wouldn't be seeing you at practice tomorrow if you weren't useful."

            "Remind me to lower your strength training, that fucking hurt."

            "Drive safe," Eddie said. "Text me when you get home."

            "Don't keep him out too late," Rush said. "He gets crabby when he doesn't get enough sleep."

            "Promise," Eddie said.

            Rush gave her a quick knuckle bump and headed out the door. Eddie walked over from the bar counter and sat across from Axel. The bartender arrived right behind her, dropping the cocktail on a coaster and leaving them.

            "How'd it go?" Eddie asked.

            Axel smiled after he took a sip of his drink. "We got everything you wanted out. Nobody protested in the streets because of it. Didn't see any cameramen. We cleaned whatever needed some love. It looks like a brand new apartment. I took pictures for your listing. It looks nice. You're welcome to see them, but I understand if you don't want to."

            "Thank you," Eddie said. She hadn't realized her shoulders were raised until she felt them fall with relief. Now, all she had to do was give it a final sale. "I don't want to see them."

            "Wish you'd told me earlier, Eds," Axel said. "I'm sorry you felt like you couldn't. I would've listened even when I was mad."

            "That's not on you," Eddie said. "Did you find—"