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"Whatever you think"

"All things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and s sweetly and I stood up and watched her as she sang I joined her in the chorus and we held hands as we sang

"He’s got the whole world in his hands, he’s got the whole orld in his hands" I continued with the next song and Lexi sang along withand I cleared er anxious Lexi had distracted me from my panic and I felt my heart sith love for her It seeht in my life

"God, I want to know that Eddie is okay" I started slowly and I looked up at the sky It was a clear day and the open expanse of bluedown on e, please I want hiuessed Tell hiain, but now all I hope for is to see him turn up at my door or to call me with some new kooky idea I never had a friend like Eddie before, God I never had someone who had my back no matter what, who knew all of me and loved me I never had anyone love me like Eddie, God I want you to tell him that I loved him, too Not in the way that he wanted, but I loved hi I heard, I don’t know if it’s froive them for they don’t knohat they do"

"Jesus said that" Lexi sently, and I tried to smile back at her, but I was too overco, what I was saying Please tell Eddie that I regret the words I used I would never say that to anyone again I should have been there for hiain, with tears strea down my face "I fked up I fked up!" I shouted into the air and I felt Lexi juive ive me, man I love you And you are my brother I was in a bad place, man I miss you" I fell forward and cried into the dirt

Lexi stepped towards me and rubbed my shoulder "Eddie, if you’re out there I want you to know that I forgive you Bryce told uys had I can’t say that I fully understand, but I forgive you I always thought you were a nice guy And I knohat it’s like to have dark days"

My breath caught as Lexi spoke How could one person be soo wonderful? It wasn’t possible for soelic I didn’t really believe in God and in heaven and in Jesus Iand treachery and heartache and believe? But I wanted to And when I met people like Lexi I believed I truly believed

"Eddie I’ht this was the only way I hope you are watching over Bryce I know you are watching over hirabbed her hand and kissed her on the cheek "Thanks, Lexi Thanks" We stood there in silence for a few rave and whistled I stared at the bird and felt an overwhelht as alked through the ce her around in the parking lot "I love you, Lexi Lord I love you sooto hed as I kissed her

"You are the cutest, irl I’ve ever had the fortune to meet"

"I’m a woirl," I laughed as she hit me on the shoulder I took a deep breath and realized that, for the first ti could ever ruin uess I kinda like that"

"What do you want to do now?"

"I thought ere going to Harpers Creek?"

"Let’s do so crazy"

"Crazy?" She raised an eyebrow at h school, we h Eddie’s death, I ether We need to live life We need to enjoy it to the o and as?"

"Or fly Or take a hot air balloon We can do whatever ant We can go rent a penthouse in a hotel and pretend we’re on our honeyne in the bathtub;We can do whatever ant"

"Well, hed "But I have work on Monday"

"Skip Or call in sick"

"I can’t, Bryce," she sighed

"No pressure, Lexi"

"Thanks" I saw her check her phone and I feltfor someone to call?"

"No" She looked up with a quick s to do?"

"Well, you said no to Vegas and I’o skinny dipping" I grinned at her shocked expression

"What? I didn’t bring "

"I can’t believe I’ain and swung her around

"Let’s go"

"Harpers Creek?"

"No" I opened the door for her and then walked around to the driver’s side "It’s a surprise"

"Ooh"

"So, Lexi, where do you see yourself in five years?"

"Huh?"

"I’et the attention, soldier"

"I’ht that far ahead before I guess I always assumed that Luke and I would rent a house or apart Luke would have his business Anna would visit with her dad"