Chapter 26
Chapter Twenty-Six
Randi took one more of Eden’s fries and popped it into her mouth. She grinned at Eden and raised her brows knowing she didn’t care. They’d shared just about everything two people could share in the past decade, except…
“What next?” Alice asked.
“I was wondering if you and Maggie would like to ride the Mini Mine Train again with Eden and me,” Randi replied.
“Yes!” Alice exclaimed.
“Me too!” Maggie squealed.
“Would it be okay if your mom and Aunt Cari rode some of the bigger rides while you two come with us?” Eden asked.
Both girls nodded their approval.
“Okay, let’s throw our trash away,” Randi said. “Mini Mine Train, here we come!”
“Are you sure?” Paige asked.
Eden nodded. “We want to do this. Y’all go with Analise and Tennie. They are now the roller coaster queens.”
Tennie laughed. “I don’t know about me, but Analise certainly is!”
“I’m having such a good time,” Analise said. “I don’t know how I’ll feel about it later, but who cares!”
Randi raised her brows at Eden and laughed. “I don’t think I’ve seen her this joyful. She’s usually so even-keeled.”
“I know,” Eden replied. “It looks good on her.”
“Ready to go?” Randi asked the girls. She held out her hand and Alice gladly took it. She watched as Maggie smiled up at Eden and reached for her hand as well.
Randi’s heart felt like the melted ice cream in the bowl she threw into the trash. It was all ooey-gooey and sweet. She had big plans for her and Eden tonight and tried not to think about it while enjoying the day.
They didn’t have to stand in line long and boarded the train with Randi and Alice sitting behind Eden and Maggie. They took off and could hear squeals and screams all around them. Randi felt the smile widening on her face. This was fun!
When they got back to the station, left the train, and walked away from the ride Maggie jumped in front of them. “I want to ride the big Mine Train,” she stated.
“You do!” Alice exclaimed. “I know you can do it!”
“Are you sure?” Eden asked her as they walked over to the bigger roller coaster. “Let’s see if you’re tall enough first.”
Maggie walked up to the sign and widened her eyes. “Am I?”
“Yes!” Alice exclaimed.
“Are you up for this?” Eden quietly asked Randi.
“Oh yeah,” Randi said. “It’s not that much bigger. If Maggie can do it, so can I!”
“Okay,” Eden said.
As the line moved closer to the coaster Randi kept asking Maggie if she was sure. She knew how it felt to want to do something, but to be scared, too. It was a lot like tonight. She wanted to tell Eden her true feelings, but she was scared to death.
Randi felt Eden’s hand rubbing circles on her back. The calming motion was appreciated, but she wanted to ride this roller coaster. For herself, for Eden, and for Maggie.
“Can we go to Looney Tunes Land after we ride this?” Maggie asked.
Randi looked at Alice and raised her brows.
“It’s okay with me,” Alice said.
“Yes, we can,” Randi replied.
“I want to ride with Maggie,” Alice said. “I’ll hold your hand so you don’t have to be scared.”
“Okay,” Randi replied. “Eden and I will be right behind you.”
They took their seats in the car and Randi felt Eden’s fingers slip into her hand.
“I don’t want you to be scared either,” Eden whispered.
Randi smiled and the roller coaster took off.
They sped away, turned this way and that, then flew up a hill.
This was definitely faster and rougher than the smaller roller coaster they’d just ridden.
Once up the hill they zoomed back down through several curves then back up into the station. The ride was over.
“That was so much fun!” Randi exclaimed.
“I did it!” Maggie yelled. “Can we do it again?”
They got out of the car and walked down the exit.
“Please, please, please,” Maggie begged. “One more time.”
“It’s okay with me,” Randi said, looking at Alice then Eden.
They got back in line, rode the bigger roller coaster again then went back to Looney Tunes Land. As the girls rode the smaller rides, Randi and Eden sat on a bench watching them. They would get off one ride and run over to get in line for the next then repeat this for each of the rides.
“They’ll sleep well tonight,” Eden said.
Randi chuckled. “There’s one more ride I want to do before we leave.”
“The carousel,” Eden said with a smile. “We always have to end with it.”
Afternoon turned into evening and the little group walked towards the big merry-go-round.
“Mommy!” Maggie screamed, running towards Paige. “I rode the big roller coaster two times!”
Everyone congratulated her show of bravery as they made their way onto the carousel.
“Did y’all have fun?” Randi asked.
“Yes, but I feel like I barely saw you today,” Analise said.
“That’s okay, you’ll see us at the office,” Eden said. “I’m glad you’re having such a good time.”
“We have,” Tennie said.
Randi walked between the rows of horses and carriages with Eden right behind her. Alice and Maggie came rushing by them.
“Can you help me get on this horse?” Alice asked.
Randi nodded and settled her on the horse while Eden helped Maggie onto the horse next to her.
They both got on the horses behind the girls knowing they might need help getting off.
“I think my horse is giving your horse the eye,” Eden said.
“Oh yeah?” Randi looked at both their horses' faces. “I think they’re flirting. Just imagine going around here all day long with the prettiest horse running right next to you.”
Eden chuckled. “Well, it seems fitting we’re riding these horses then because I’m riding next to the prettiest girl.”
Randi laughed. “Are you flirting with me?”
Eden raised a brow and pursed her lips in a demure look.
Randi felt her heart do a flip in her chest as the carousel began to move. She smiled at Eden and leaned back on her horse. “Let’s go, girl!”
She and Eden leaned forward like their horses were racing then laughed. It felt good to be happy and carefree.
Alice reached her hand over so Maggie could hold it. She turned around and smiled. “Everybody hold hands!”
Randi offered her hand to Eden and once she took it they swung their arms back and forth. She didn’t know how many times Eden had held her hand that day, and part of her hoped she’d never let go.
When the ride ended they helped the girls off their horses and started towards the exit.
Cari walked up next to Randi. “Thanks for taking the girls for a while. Paige and I had fun.”
“So did we,” Randi replied.
“I know you have something planned for tonight,” Cari said softly. “Care to share?”
Randi shook her head.
“Are you nervous?”
“Terrified.” Randi’s heart sped up in her chest just thinking of how she could tell Eden her true feelings. The last thing she wanted to do was harm their friendship, but honestly, she didn’t think she could keep these feelings inside any longer.
“Just remember it’s Eden,” Cari said. “I’m telling you, she loves you, too.”
Randi sighed. She certainly hoped so because if she didn’t this could go very wrong.
“Hey.” Analise stopped at Randi’s car. “I’m going to ride back with Tennie.”
“Oh, okay.” Randi smiled.
“Thank y’all for coming with us today,” Paige said. “It was so much fun.”
They said their goodbyes and Randi drove herself and Eden back to Dallas.
“So Analise and Tennie spent most of the day together,” Eden said. “Do you think something might be happening with them?”
“Do you mean more than friends?” Randi asked. “They haven’t known each other long.”
“Maybe we need to talk to Analise about the joys of being a lesbian.”
Randi chuckled. “You make it sound like you have a TED talk prepared.”
“Oh, no,” Eden replied. “That would be you. You are the master at pitches.”
Randi didn’t have a pitch prepared for tonight, but maybe that’s what this was all about. Did she need to convince Eden that taking a chance on love with her would be worth it?
They drove along in silence for a few miles.
“Are you going to tell me what this surprise is?”
“Do you remember last year when Cory and Brandi rented that lake house for the weekend?”
“Oh yeah.” Eden chuckled. “Javi and Shane were very tipsy.”
Randi laughed. “Yeah, they were. Anyway, we watched that meteor shower.”
“It was amazing,” Eden said.
“Tonight is supposed to be the peak of the June Bootids. That’s what we saw last year. I remember how much you loved it and put a reminder in my phone.”
“Randi,” Eden said tenderly.
“Don’t Randi just yet,” she said, glancing over at Eden. She could see the affectionate look on Eden’s face. “I’m hoping we can see them from your backyard. It starts after dusk and your neighborhood isn’t necessarily bright, so maybe we’ll have a chance to catch a few streaking across the sky.”
“We can put blankets and pillows on the grass,” Eden said excitedly.
“Get your wishes ready.”
“Oh, that’s right,” Eden said. “I remember Brandi talking about wishes on shooting stars.”
Randi took a deep breath as she turned on Eden’s street. For over ten years she’d been able to talk to Eden about anything. Why did this have to be so hard?
When she pulled into Eden’s driveway and stopped the car Eden turned to her with a big smile. “I’ve missed nights like this,” she said. “Just you and me. I’m so glad you remembered the meteor shower.”
“We haven’t seen one yet,” Randi said.
“We will.”
They went inside and Eden quickly grabbed a couple of blankets while Randi gathered pillows.
Randi nearly tripped over Letty while walking towards the back door. “Easy girl,” she said.
“Letty’s missed you, too,” Eden said.
Randi set the pillows down and picked the cat up. She immediately began to purr while Randi scratched behind her ears. “Hopefully I’ll be around a lot more,” she whispered to the cat.
“Are you telling her secrets?” Eden asked, opening the back door.
“Maybe.” Randi grinned. “Okay, we’re going outside, Letty. You stay here and enjoy an evening nap.”
Eden held the door open while Randi picked up the pillows and walked onto the patio. She looked up into the sky and saw a few stars twinkling.
“Over here,” Eden said. She spread out the blankets, one on top of the other. “What do you think?”
“Perfect.” Randi scattered the pillows at one end of the blanket and sat down.
“Do we need drinks or snacks?”
“A beer would be so good right now.”
Eden chuckled. “I’ll be right back.”
Randi tried to calm her pounding heart and was grateful when Eden came back with an opened beer for each of them. She took a deep drink. “Ah, that’s good.”
“Six Flags with kids can make you want a beer at the end of the day.” Eden sat down on the blanket next to Randi.
“I think we’d be great parents someday.” As the words left her mouth Randi’s eyes widened in horror. Did she just tell Eden she wanted to have kids with her someday?
“I remember when you weren’t sure you wanted kids,” Eden said.
Randi sighed. “Because I was scared I’d screw them up.”
“And now?”
“Oh, I’m still scared, but I wouldn’t be doing it alone.” She cut her eyes towards Eden then took another sip of her beer.
“Do you have a secret girlfriend you haven’t told me about?”
Randi smiled. “You know I don’t, but are we keeping secrets from each other?” She gazed into Eden’s eyes and could see hesitation and uneasiness.
“The other night at the brewery after Cari’s author signing,” Eden began, “as everyone left, we were waiting at the exit. Do you remember?”
Randi nodded. “You mentioned something about me and charm.”
A small smile curled on Eden’s lips. “We shared a very intense look then you whispered something, but Tennie walked up and the moment was gone.”
Randi swallowed a lump in her throat.
“I didn’t hear it all, but you said something about being wrong,” Eden said.
“I said…” Randi took a steadying breath. “Were we wrong all those years ago.”
Eden’s brows crept up her forehead and Randi saw her inhale a shaky breath. “I’m not sure exactly when you’re referring to, but Randi…” Eden sighed and Randi could see the indecision and torment flash behind her eyes.
Randi wanted to reach over, grab her hand, and tell her it was okay. But instead Eden took the bottle out of Randi’s hand and set it aside, next to hers.
She took Randi’s hand between both of hers and inhaled once again. Randi waited for Eden to look at her and when she did Eden rubbed her lips together.
“I lied to you,” Eden said.
Randi’s brows flew up her forehead and she squeezed Eden’s hand. They never lied to each other. One thing they could count on was honesty.
“When?”