Chapter 14
Chapter Fourteen
Randi followed Tennie’s car out of the parking lot as they made their way to the freeway. She watched as Tennie’s taillights disappeared down the road while they waited to enter the on ramp.
“Thank you for taking me dancing tonight,” Cari said.
“Did you have fun?” Randi asked.
“So much fun!”
Analise laughed from the backseat. “I think we all did, don’t you?”
“I had a good time,” Randi said. “I’m pretty sure Eden and Tennie did too. Actually, Eden mentioned that we should do something else together as a group.”
“I’d like that,” Cari said. “I don’t have any other friends here, so you’re stuck with me.”
“Mmm, I wouldn’t say stuck,” Randi said. “Would you, Analise?”
“Not at all.”
“So, I’ve decided to stay in Dallas indefinitely,” Cari said tentatively.
Randi glanced over at her. “That’s great.”
“Yeah, instead of meetings over email or Zoom we can do them in person,” Cari said.
“I like that idea,” Analise said. “What made you decide to stay?”
Cari sighed. “There are several reasons. My nieces have liked having their Aunt Cari around to spoil them and it’s been nice spending time with my sister. Her husband travels a lot for work, so I’ve been able to help some at home, too.”
“I’m sure she’s glad you’re here,” Analise said.
“Yeah, and then there’s my ex.”
“Uh oh,” Randi murmured.
“We broke up about a month ago.”
“I’m sorry,” Randi said.
“Mmm, I am too, but I knew it was going to happen.”
“Huh?”
“It was one of those friend of a friend type of things,” Cari explained. “I’d almost call her a serial dater. I knew this, but of course, I thought we’d be different. I have to add that we did last longer than any of her most recent girlfriends.”
“Go you,” Randi said hesitantly.
Cari chuckled. “I really don’t want to go back and have her show up with her new girlfriend the next time I get together with my friends. I know it’s going to happen and I’m not sad about it, but I was thinking, if I can avoid it, then why not?”
“We’d love for you to stay here with us,” Analise said.
“Yeah, we’ll keep your mind off your friggin’ ex,” Randi said.
“It’s really okay. I’m not heartbroken or anything like that,” Cari said.
“Maybe you should find someone to date while you’re here,” Analise suggested. “We have the best pitch woman right here driving us back to Dallas. I’m sure Randi knows someone.”
“Yeah,” Randi said. “Let me talk to Eden.”
“No, I’d rather you not do that,” Cari said. “I want to enjoy my family, my new friends, and this new chapter in my author business.”
“Okay,” Randi replied. “Just let us know when and if you’re ready.”
A short time later Randi pulled into Analise’s driveway.
“Thank you again for driving us, Randi,” Analise said. “And I should thank you, Cari, for this fun idea tonight.”
“See you Monday,” Randi said. She waited in the driveway until Analise was inside her house.
“I should have agreed to meet with Analise a long time ago,” Cari said as Randi drove down the street.
“Maybe,” Randi said. “But I like to think things happen at the right time. If you would’ve come to Dallas earlier I may not have been working at HLR.”
“Oh, that’s true,” Cari replied.
Randi could feel Cari’s eyes on her as she turned at the next light. She glanced over at her then back at the street. “Something wrong?”
“No,” Cari stated. “I want to ask you something, but I’m not sure I should.”
“Well, you’re going to have to ask me now.” Randi chuckled.
“Maybe it’s more of an observation.”
“Okay, what did you observe?”
“You and Eden are close. I know you’ve been friends for a long time, but…”
“But what?” Randi glanced over at her.
“You don’t seem that excited about her going on all these dates and you were the one who pitched her to all the eligible women. It makes me wonder…”
Randi could feel heat rush to her cheeks.
She was glad it was dark inside the car so Cari wouldn’t notice.
“Makes you wonder what? It was my idea to do the pitch event. Eden had been out on so many—let’s say, unsuccessful first dates—that I wanted to do something.
I helped with the marketing for the pitch event so I convinced her to do it.
I want her to find someone, mainly because that’s what she wants. I want her to be happy.”
“Yeah, that sounds like a best friend, but that’s not all I saw tonight when you were dancing with her,” Cari said.
“What do you mean that’s not all you saw?”
“You two fit together like a couple.”
“Yeah, because we’ve been best friends for a long time and have danced together a lot,” Randi explained.
“Maybe, but I also saw you eyeing her and Tennie as they danced across the floor,” Cari said. “I can’t help thinking there’s a part of you that wants to be more than friends.”
“What! No!” Randi exclaimed. “She’s my best friend. There’s no way either of us wants to screw that up.”
“Look, I’ve only known you two for a short time, but that’s not the vibe I got.”
Randi sighed. She and Eden were so comfortable with each other it didn’t surprise her that Cari might see them as a couple.
She stared out the windshield. There had been a few rare times in the past when her feelings for Eden had crept out of the friend zone, but she’d always been able to rein them in.
Usually that meant dating and finding a new girlfriend.
However, she could admit she’d been surprised by her reaction to Eden and her dates.
These old feelings had snuck up on her and hit her tonight while they were dancing.
“You’re very quiet.”
Randi swallowed and kept her eyes on the road.
“Look, I’m sure no one else noticed,” Cari said. “If you need a distraction, I’m here. We’re just two friends hanging out.”
“Hmm, a distraction,” Randi murmured. Maybe Cari could help her put these feelings for Eden away for good.
A tone sounded over the speakers indicating an incoming text on Randi’s phone. She glanced at the dashboard screen and could see it was from Eden. Randi punched a button and the text was read through her speakers. “Are you coming by tonight?”
“Can I type a reply for you?” Cari asked.
“Uh, yes.”
“Okay,” Cari said, lifting Randi’s phone from the console. “Shoot.”
“Just type, Tennie and a question mark.”
“Huh?”
“I figured she might stay at Eden’s for a while.”
“Oh, okay.” Cari sent the text.
Moments later Eden replied. “She’s not staying. Come on by after you drop Analise and Cari home. I’ll get the new episode of The Traitors ready.”
Randi sighed. “We watch The Traitors together every week.”
“Just like best friends would do,” Cari said.
Randi looked over at her once again as she turned onto Cari’s street. She pulled into her sister’s driveway and put the car in park. Randi took her phone from Cari and replied to Eden’s text.
“How will this distraction work?” she asked.
Cari smiled. “We hang out together, especially when Eden has dates.”
“Yeah, but what if we end up hanging out with her dates like we did tonight?”
“Then I’m your dance partner,” Cari said. “I’ll help you keep your distance from Eden and we’ll all have fun.”
“You don’t think Eden and Analise will get the idea we’re dating?” Randi asked. “Because it sounds that way.”
“We’re not dating, we’re friends,” Cari said. “Your focus will be on me instead of Eden and my focus will be on you instead of my ex.”
“Do you think about her often? Did you tonight?”
Cari nodded. “Much to my surprise and self-loathing, I thought of her several times tonight. She would love dancing the two-step.”
“Maybe this breakup is harder than you thought?”
“Yeah, that’s what I’m finding out,” Cari said. “Maybe watching Eden date all these women is harder on you than you thought?”
“Ouch.” Randi chuckled. “Eden and I decided a long time ago that risking our friendship to go on a date with each other was something neither of us wanted to do. Our history with girlfriends was not good and we needed our friendship a lot more than we needed a girlfriend.”
“Yeah, but sometimes feelings can sneak in when you least expect it. Especially when you already love your friend so much,” Cari said. “I should know, I just wrote a book about it.”
Randi chuckled. “That you did.” She opened her car door.
“You don’t have to walk me to the front door.”
“Come on.” Randi smiled and walked to the front of the car.
They walked up to the front door where the porch light illuminated the entrance.
“Can I ask what you texted Eden?”
“Oh, so you’re that kind of distraction,” Randi said. “You want to know everything I’m doing.”
Cari laughed. “No, I don’t. Have fun at Eden’s.”
“I texted Eden that I wouldn’t be by tonight. All this talk about buried feelings has me exhausted,” Randi said. “I’m going home.”
“Thank you for such a fun night,” Cari said with a smile. She squeezed Randi’s hand and gently kissed her cheek. “I hope that’s okay.”
Randi nodded as Cari went into the house and she walked back to her car.
“What the fuck,” she murmured.
As she drove home she thought back over the night. If Cari could see through her so easily then Eden could catch on, too. That was the last thing Randi wanted. These feelings had truly blindsided her.
Randi wanted to help Eden find a girlfriend because it would make her happy. She had seen Eden go on many dates before and couldn’t understand why now it seemed to bother her. Enough so that Cari noticed.
Maybe hanging out with Cari would help her get these feelings in check. It couldn’t hurt.