Chapter 22
Chapter Twenty-Two
Randi had noticed how uncomfortable Eden had become as the conversation turned to sparks. Maybe she was afraid Tennie would say something about sparks between her and Eden. Randi knew Eden only felt friendship towards Tennie right now so that could be awkward.
She glanced at Eden several times when she wasn’t looking and could see her cheeks turning red.
Randi had a suspicion Cari was talking about sparks just to make her squirm with Eden sitting right next to her.
Cari had shown she had a devilish streak today, but surely she wasn’t trying to cause problems for Randi with Eden.
Or was Eden thinking back to when she and Randi met?
She still remembered the first time she laid eyes on Eden Andrews.
Randi knew immediately that they would become friends.
When she wasn’t sure she’d stay in Texas and had thought moving there might have been a mistake, something inside of her shifted the moment she met Eden.
She knew everything was going to be all right.
Thank goodness Eden had changed the conversation to food. They’d ordered and were now enjoying more beer and a variety of appetizers.
“Mmm, you’ve got to try this,” Eden said, serving a cream cheese-filled date drizzled with honey onto Randi’s plate.
“Oh, wow,” Randi mumbled, swallowing a bite. “This is not your typical bar food.”
Eden shook her head. “I heard they were getting a new chef.”
“How did you hear that?” Randi asked. Eden was not tuned into the bar scene. It was Randi who usually found out about new bars and menus from her connections on social media.
“Kelly,” Eden said.
“Oh, right. Your music venue connection,” Randi said quietly.
“It’s okay,” Tennie said. “I know about Eden’s other dates.”
Eden smiled. “Tennie and Kelly are acquaintances.”
“She’s provided the music and venue for events my company has done for builders in the area,” Tennie explained.
“But you’re not dating Kelly any longer, right?” Cari asked.
Eden shook her head. “She is traveling a lot right now and our schedules didn’t match up.”
“Uh huh.” Cari narrowed her gaze.
Randi could see the wheels turning and was afraid of what Cari might say next.
“Does that mean if someone else was interested in Kelly, or let’s say Gabi, then it would be okay?” Cari asked, staring at Eden.
“Uh, yeah,” Eden replied, meeting her gaze. “I guess so. Why? Are you interested in Kelly?”
Cari shrugged. “I don’t know. I was thinking about me or Randi or Analise.”
“Me!” Analise exclaimed. “Oh no, I’m not interested.”
“Why not? Because she’s a woman?”
“No,” Analise replied firmly. “I’m too old for the dating game. Period.”
Randi raised her brows and gave Cari a warning look as Analise reached for her drink, not making eye contact with anyone.
“Understood,” Cari said.
“Wait a minute,” Paige said. “Gabi was at game night last night.”
“Wasn’t she supposed to come to the bookstore today?” Cari asked.
“She texted me earlier and said she couldn’t make it,” Eden explained.
Randi wasn’t sure why but this conversation was making her uncomfortable.
“Wasn’t Gabi your date last night?” Paige asked. “I’m confused.”
Randi could see Eden recrossing her legs and knew that was a sign she was uncomfortable. She had to think of something to steer the conversation away from Eden’s dates.
“Yeah, I don’t see that going anywhere,” Cari said.
Randi whipped her head around and widened her eyes at Cari.
“What! I’m just being honest.”
“Sorry y’all, my sister tends to stick her nose where it doesn’t belong,” Paige said.
“I do,” Cari admitted. “You’d be surprised by the observations you can make by simply watching people’s body language. I think—”
“That this is Eden’s business and it’s not our place to talk about it unless she asks our opinions,” Randi said.
“Right, Cari?” She pinned her with a look.
It was one thing talking to her about Eden, but it was another to involve Eden when Tennie was sitting right next to her.
Randi took a big sip of her beer and silently wished she’d never heard the word spark or date.
“Tennie, do you like roller coasters?” Paige asked.
Randi let out a sigh of relief and could’ve kissed Paige for changing the subject.
“Uh…actually I do,” she replied, confusion on her face.
“Eden told a story last night about Randi and roller coasters,” Analise explained. “I’m assuming that’s what you’re referring to, Paige?”
“Yes.” Paige nodded. “My husband and I planned to take our girls to Six Flags next weekend, but he has to go out of town for work. I’ve convinced Cari to go with us and I thought it would be fun for the whole group to go.”
“The more the merrier,” Cari said. “You don’t have to ride any roller coasters, Randi.”
“You don’t like roller coasters?” Tennie asked Randi.
She shook her head and moved her fingers in a cut-throat position. “They make me sick.”
“Ah, I see,” Tennie said. “Let me guess. Eden saved you or rode the roller coaster in your place?”
Randi chuckled and gazed at Eden. “Something like that.”
“You may not be able to ride a roller coaster, but you can give a pitch,” Eden said.
“That’s right,” Analise agreed.
Randi smiled at Eden. Always her champion. Always making her feel better.
“Well, what do you say? Who’s in? Six Flags on Saturday?”
Randi, Eden, and their friends used to go to Six Flags every summer, but they hadn’t been in several years. “Sure, I’ll go if I don’t have to ride a coaster.”
“I’ll go, too,” Eden said. “I’ll hold your purse while you’re riding the roller coaster with your nieces, Cari.”
Cari laughed. “What about you, Analise?”
“Oh, I’m in,” she said. “I can’t remember when I’ve been to Six Flags or the last time I rode a roller coaster.”
“That leaves you, Tennie,” Paige said. “Can you come?”
Tennie nodded. “I’d love to be included.”
“Okay, it’s a friends date!” Cari exclaimed.
“Do you think they still have the cave ride?” Eden said, leaning towards Randi.
“Surely they do.”
“Ride with me?”
Randi smiled. “Always. You saved me from years of teasing.”
Eden chuckled. “You’ve done the same for me.”
“They have a new roller coaster,” Tennie said. “I’ve seen it advertised.”
“Hmm, I love a good roller coaster,” Analise said. “Want to ride with me?”
“Gladly.” Tennie grinned.
Randi watched their exchange and couldn’t help but wonder about Analise. She was pretty sure she’d never been out with a woman, but…
“Okay friends, I have to take the famous author home,” Paige said. “I promised the kids a movie night.” She glanced at Cari. “Unless y’all are staying?”
“I’m not,” Analise said. “It may be early to y’all but doing these events zaps me by the end of the day.”
“I promised the kids I’d talk their parents into a PG-13 rated movie,” Cari said.
“Oh! Aunt Cari for the win!” Randi exclaimed.
Cari laughed. “You know it.”
They finished their drinks and Analise paid, declaring it a business celebration. As they said goodnight and left the bar Eden touched Randi’s elbow. “Tennie is going to give me a ride home.”
“Oh, okay.” Randi smiled.
“I’m going to stop at the restroom on the way out,” Tennie said.
“I’ll wait for you at the door,” Eden replied.
Randi walked to the front of the bar with Eden and stopped to wait with her.
“Thanks for helping with the author event today,” Randi said. “I know it’s not in your job description, but it meant a lot to me.”
Eden tilted her head. “Of course I’m going to be there for you. Plus, I like that bookstore and Ginger. They are good partners for HLR.”
Randi nodded and gazed at Eden for a moment.
“Honestly, I love to watch you charm others,” Eden said softly.
Randi raised her brows. “Oh yeah? Others? Does that mean I can’t still charm you?”
Eden chuckled. “You can always charm me. You’ve been doing it for years.”
Randi smiled and held Eden’s gaze. Something softened in Eden’s eyes and Randi felt a flutter in her stomach. “What if we were wrong all those years ago?” she whispered.
Eden swallowed and clenched her jaw.
“Sorry for the wait,” Tennie said, walking up.
Randi took a step back as the moment passed.
“No problem,” Eden said.
“Hey, I apologize for Cari’s questions about dates and such,” Randi said, opening the door for them to leave. “It made me uncomfortable and I hope it didn’t offend you.”
“You don’t have to apologize for Cari,” Tennie replied. “It was a little awkward, but we were all there the night of the pitch a friend event. Well, except for Paige, but I’m sure she knows all about it.”
“Yeah, I don’t know what was going on with Cari.” Eden shrugged.
“Maybe it was the author event,” Randi said. “She talked to a lot of people.”
“It’s okay.” Tennie smiled.
“Good,” Randi said. “We have Six Flags to look forward to.”
“I think it will be fun,” Tennie said.
“We can only hope.” Eden chuckled. “See you at brunch tomorrow?”
Randi nodded. “Have a nice night.”
She walked to her car, releasing a shaky breath. Her body was trembling like she’d just run a sprint. She couldn’t keep from thinking about what she’d whispered while staring into Eden's eyes. Thank goodness it didn’t appear that Eden had heard her.
She had no idea what would happen at brunch tomorrow. Randi groaned as she pulled into her parking space at the apartment.
Once inside her apartment Randi kicked off her shoes and started undressing on the way to her bedroom. She threw her clothes on a chair in the corner and reached for her favorite pair of shorts and comfy T-shirt.
Randi decided one more beer couldn’t hurt and walked to the kitchen. She grabbed a bottle from the refrigerator and settled on her couch. Her head flopped back against the couch and she closed her eyes.
Her phone began to ring and her heart leapt in her chest as she expected it to be Eden, but when she picked it up she saw Cari’s face on the screen.
“Oh, great,” Randi moaned. “What could she want now?” She connected the call. “Hi, Cari. Got any more wise words about sparks?”
“I’m sorry,” Cari said. “I know I made you uncomfortable, but I was trying to help you.”
“Help me? How?”
Cari sighed. “When I met you and Eden then saw your pitch telling that room full of single women how wonderful Eden Andrews is, I knew.”
“Knew what?”
“That you and Eden were in love.”
“What!”
“The way you looked at each other,” Cari said. “It was obvious to me. Maybe it’s because I didn’t know you, but now I do. You and Eden are in love, but too afraid to do anything about it. When I brought up the conversation about sparks I thought it might help Eden to admit her feelings for you.”
“Did you have to do that in front of everyone else and make it awkward for Tennie too?”
Cari sighed. “Having it all out in the open is a good thing. Tennie didn’t mind.”
“Having what out in the open?”
“Sparks,” Cari said. “We defined them. They can come at the first look or they can build or smolder. Believe me, if Eden wasn’t thinking about them before she is now.”
“Yeah, did you consider that she may be thinking about them as far as Tennie is concerned?”
Cari shook her head. “No, she and Tennie are in the friend zone. That’s it.”
“Whatever,” Randi murmured.
“Look, I’m sorry, Randi,” Cari said. “I like you and Eden and I want you to be happy. I was just trying to help. There have been times when I know she was jealous. I notice things, remember?”
Randi shook her head. “Wait a minute. Were you doing things on purpose to make Eden jealous?”
“I’m telling you, she has feelings for you. Don’t let fear keep you from what could be a lifetime of happiness.”
“This isn’t one of your romance novels, Cari,” Randi said. “It’s real life!”
“Honey, don’t think my novels couldn’t happen in real life,” Cari said. “Let me ask you, Randi. Why do you think you’re not good enough for Eden?”
Randi sighed. “We want different things?”
“Oh yeah, like what?”
“Look at her,” Randi said. “She’s been with HLR for nearly a decade. She owns her own home. I jump from job to job and live in an apartment.”
“So?”
“That doesn’t make me the best choice for partner material.”
“Who says? You pay your bills, take care of your responsibilities, and are looking for a challenge. No one says you have to stay in the same job forever, Randi.”
“I know.” She sighed. “We’re thirty-five years old. Eden is deliberate, earnest, responsible, and I’m, I’m…”
“Spontaneous, fun-loving, and charming,” Cari said. “Don’t you see?”
“See what?”
“Eden needs you to be exactly who you are,” Cari said. “How boring if we ended up with someone just like us.”
“I never thought of it like that,” Randi mumbled.
“Because you’re too busy trying to find ways you two don’t work together. Maybe you should be thinking of all the ways you do.”
“You don’t know that Eden feels the same way I do,” Randi said.
“I haven’t talked to her the way I have you, but I can tell,” Cari said. “Today was the icing on the cake. You know what she’s going to do and what she’s thinking most of the time. And she knows the same about you.”
Randi blew out a frustrated breath.
“Are you having brunch with Eden tomorrow?”
“Yes.”
“Be brave. Be bold.”
Did Randi want to tell Eden how she felt? What good would it do if she didn’t feel the same way?
“I’ll think about it, Cari.”
“Yay! That’s a step in the right direction.”
Randi smiled and took a sip of her beer.
“Good luck. You’ve got this,” Cari said.
“Good night.” Randi chuckled at her enthusiasm as a sick feeling spread through her stomach.