Chapter 3
Chapter Three
Eden handed the phone back just as Randi walked up. “Hey, I’d like you to meet Lindsey, Kelly, and Gabi.”
“Hi,” Randi said, looking each woman in the eye.
“You said that y’all like to play games,” Lindsey said. “My friends and I get together occasionally to play all kinds of games.”
“And I’m a big reader,” Kelly said.
Randi smiled as each woman commented on parts of her pitch.
“You mentioned that you sometimes drag Eden to try new things with you,” Gabi said. “What are some of the things y’all have done?”
“Oh gosh.” Eden looked at Randi. “Let’s see, we’ve tried pilates, pickleball, kickboxing, and then there was the time we did fitness dancing. I think that’s what they called it.”
Randi chuckled.
“So you like sports,” Lindsey said.
Eden scrunched up her face and tilted her head.
“Not necessarily. I do like watching women’s sports.
Oh wait, Randi once convinced me to go to a watercolor class.
Now that was soul crushing.” She chuckled.
“I may know numbers, but I have no artistic ability, which I knew! But I let her drag me there anyway.”
“That’s not true,” Randi said. “Her painting was a little abstract, but I loved it.”
“You have to say that because I gave it to you.” Eden laughed.
Randi smiled. “Don’t forget that cooking class.”
“How can I! It took me over a month to lose the weight I gained from all the bread and cookies we made.”
“It sounds like you two have story after story to tell,” Kelly said.
Eden looked at Randi affectionately. “We’ve known each other a long time and we’re still best friends. I guess all these things Randi makes me try keeps our friendship refreshing. We’re definitely not boring.”
“Well, we’ll have to try something new for our first date,” Lindsey said with a smile.
Eden widened her eyes at Lindsey’s boldness. “Um, okay. You have my number.”
“Hey, neither of you have a drink,” Kelly said. “What can I get you?”
“Margarita,” Eden and Randi said at the same time.
They all laughed. “Tequila it is,” Kelly said.
“I’ll go with you,” Lindsey said and walked away with Kelly.
“Hello,” a woman tentatively said as she joined Eden, Randi, and Gabi.
“Oh, excuse me,” Gabi said, “I see a friend of mine over there. I’ll be in touch, Eden.”
Eden smiled. “It was nice to meet you.” She couldn’t say she didn’t love the attention, but knowing they were all standing around mingling in order to eventually go on a date with her was a little unsettling. However, that’s what this event was all about.
“I’m Eden,” she said to the woman, extending her hand.
“It’s nice to meet you. I’m Tennie.”
“Hi, Tennie. I’m Randi.”
“Oh, I know. I saw your pitch and I have to say the friendship you share is remarkable. You two are friendship goals.”
Eden smiled at Randi. “Wow, that’s a nice thing to say.”
“Yeah, but tell us about your name. I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone named Tennie,” Randi said.
The woman shrugged. “I typically tell people it’s like Penny, only with a T.
It is unusual. My grandmother had an Aunt Tennie and while I was growing up she’d tell me stories about her.
It seems that her parents met and grew up in Tennessee so they named their daughter that.
My mother thought it was an interesting and unique name so here I am. ”
“I don’t guess you’ve answered that question more than a few times in your life,” Eden said with a kind smile.
“Just a few times, but it’s memorable,” Tennie replied. “After hearing the stories about her I didn’t mind being named after her so much. She was an interesting woman. However, I’ve been teased a fair amount about it.”
“Randi knows how that feels,” Eden said, glancing her way.
“Yeah, my name is Miranda and some people like to tease me and compare me to the Miranda Priestly character,” Randi explained. “I am not a tyrant like the Miranda in the movie, nor do I value fashion the way she did.”
“Uh, I don’t know,” Eden said, tilting her head. “You can be demanding sometimes.”
Randi smirked and Eden laughed.
“Enough about names,” Randi said. “Tennie, what made you come to the event today?”
“I’m rather new to Dallas and thought it would be a good way to meet people,” she explained. “I enjoyed your pitch, Randi, because you talked about Eden’s heart. None of the others went there.”
“Yeah, I noticed,” Eden said, widening her eyes. “But everything she said was true. I hope I didn’t come off as some hopeless romantic who’s boring in real life.”
“Not at all,” Tennie said. “You seem very—please don’t take this the wrong way—capable. From what Randi said you’re successful and now you want to share your life with…” She paused. “Dare I say the right person or someone special.”
Eden smiled. “Thank you. That’s accurate. I love my job and my life, but…” She shrugged. “Having someone special to come home to would be nice.”
Tennie nodded. “I get it.” She paused. “How do we go about the next step? I’m not sure I have anything new for us to try or am especially gifted at planning dates, but…”
Eden grinned. “How about I give you my number and we can plan something easy. Randi forgot to mention that a laid back, casual date is something I like.”
Tennie smiled and handed Eden her phone. “That would be great.”
Sometime later after Analise had gone and the event began to wind down Eden looked around the venue for Randi. Her eyes scanned the room then they stopped when they saw Randi smiling and looking her way.
Eden returned her smile and walked over to the high-top table where Randi was standing alone. “Having a good time?”
Randi shrugged. “It’s not about me. What about you?”
Eden nodded. “It was fun. I have to say it was a little unnerving talking to so many people who supposedly want to ask me out.”
“What? You are a great conversationalist.” Randi snapped her fingers. “I should’ve put that in the pitch. When you’re talking to someone, you have a way of making them feel like the most important person in the room. You listen.”
Eden shrugged. “I think I’m through talking for the night. How about you?”
Randi nodded. “I’ll walk out with you.”
As they walked to their cars in the parking lot Eden glanced over at Randi. “Hey, thanks for doing this. I know you love to give a pitch and in a way it makes you the center of attention, but I realize you were doing this for me.” She felt Randi’s shoulder bump against hers.
“I love you, friend. I’d do anything for you.”
“Really?” Eden stopped at her car and faced Randi. “Would you come to work with me?”
Randi pursed her lips then gave her a coy smile. “Yes, I will.”
Eden widened her eyes and gasped. “Do you mean it!”
Randi chuckled. “I already talked to Analise about it. Cari DeWare had the idea that I was the one who worked at HLR. So, we agreed that I would come in and do the pitch with this author. We’ll see how it goes.
If we’re a good fit then maybe we’ll do something more permanent.
But for now, it’s like a consulting gig. ”
Eden could feel her heart pounding with excitement. She reached out and wrapped Randi in a tight hug. “This is going to be so much fun!”
“Hold on,” Randi said, pulling away. “There’s one condition.”
Eden grinned. “I’m listening.”
“You have to buy lunch all week.”
Eden scoffed. “How’s that any different from now? I buy you lunch all the time.”
Randi chuckled. “You make a lot more money than I do.”
“If you’d stick with a job and stop moving around—”
“Blah, blah, blah,” Randi said, putting her fingers in her ears. “I’ve heard it before.”
Eden smirked. “Maybe this will be the job that makes you want to stay. You already like the people.”
Randi smiled. “Most of them.”
“Ha ha,” Eden said, getting into her car.
“When’s your first date?”
“I’m not sure yet. I’ll let you know.”
“You’d better!”
“Night, bestie. Love you,” Eden said, starting her car and pulling away once Randi was safely in her car.
As she drove home Eden tried to remember the women she’d met tonight, matching names with faces. They all had acted interested in going on a date with her, but she wondered how many would actually follow through.
She drove into her driveway and pulled into the garage. As soon as she stepped into her house Letty was immediately at her feet, meowing her little heart out in greeting.
“Hey, pretty girl.” Eden reached down and fluffed the hair on Letty’s head. “Let me change clothes and I’ll tell you all about it.”
She walked through her kitchen, down the hall, and into her bedroom. She changed into a comfy pair of shorts and a favorite T-shirt. Letty had followed her and jumped on the bed as Eden changed clothes. They followed this same routine nearly every day when she came home from work.
She walked into her living room, sat down on the couch, and Letty plopped into her lap. The cat began to purr as Eden stroked her hand down her back. “Such a good girl,” she murmured.
“What a night,” she said to the cat. “You wouldn’t believe all the nice things Randi said about me.” She continued to run her hand down Letty’s back then rested her fingers in the fluffy hair at her neck.
Randi had chosen to speak about things she knew made Eden happy. She’d been entertaining and made the crowd laugh at times. None of this surprised Eden because she knew how engaging Randi could be. She lived for moments like this, but Eden had never been the center of one of her pitches.
“She’s coming to work with me,” Eden said with a smile.
Letty’s reply was a contented grumble.
“Let’s see, I met so many women, girl,” she said.
“I think we’ll be hearing from Lindsey and probably Kelly.
I gave Gabi my number too.” She paused and rubbed the space between the cat’s ears.
“I hope Tennie will call. She was interesting, kind of quiet compared to the others, but seemed rather sweet.”
Letty began to purr loudly.
“There’s nothing wrong with sweet,” she went on. “You love Randi and she can be sweet. Although I wouldn’t necessarily describe her that way. When it comes to you and me, Randi is thoughtful and loves us. Even if you occasionally make her sneeze.”
Letty stretched out her front legs and slowly rolled out of Eden’s lap. She knew the cat had had enough as she curled into the corner of the couch and went to sleep.
Eden smiled at her furry friend and wondered if they would be welcoming someone new into their home. She didn’t have the feeling she’d met the love of her life or even a girlfriend tonight, but she didn’t believe in that love at first sight stuff anyway.
Randi had been right when she told the crowd she’d given them four dates’ worth of information. Eden was slow to open up and cautious. She’d had her heart broken a time or two and certainly didn’t want to go through that again.
She preferred to go slow and get to know someone before she shared too much about her heart. It was safer that way although some women had accused her of being closed off and too wary. Randi understood, though, and encouraged her to trust her heart.
Eden smiled as her thoughts turned to Randi once again. “She’s coming to work with me.”
Her phone pinged with a text and she reached for it on the table in front of the couch.
Hope you had fun tonight. When’s your first date?
Eden chuckled and typed out her reply.
It was fun. Thanks again for making me look so good.
She saw the three little dots appear on her screen as Randi typed a message.
I didn’t do anything but tell them how amazing you are.
Eden smiled at the screen. Randi always knew what to say to give Eden a little boost of confidence.
You’ll be the first to know if anyone else thought I was amazing.
I’d better be!
Eden laughed and put her phone down. Of course Randi would be the first to know.