Chapter 23
Chapter Twenty-Three
Eden glanced over at Randi. They’d finished their weekly Sunday brunch and she was taking Randi back to her apartment before going home to meet Tennie. She couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off with Randi.
“Are you okay?” she asked, pulling into Randi’s parking lot.
“Yeah, why?”
Eden shrugged. “I don’t know. You’ve been quiet all morning.”
Randi chuckled. “That doesn’t happen very often. You should enjoy it.”
Eden smiled. “True, but…are you tired or something?”
Randi raised one shoulder. “Maybe a little.” She sighed.
Eden stopped the car and turned towards Randi. “Why don’t you come over? We can find something to watch and nap to on HGTV or Netflix. We haven’t done a TV marathon on a lazy Sunday afternoon in forever.”
“I thought Tennie was meeting you at your house?”
“She is, but she won’t be there all afternoon.”
Randi knit her brows together and stared at Eden. “Any idea what she wanted to talk to you about?”
Eden shook her head. “I don’t know. She sounded kind of serious though.”
“Hmm, I wonder what that means.”
“I’m sure everything is fine.”
Randi nodded and opened the car door. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Hey.” Eden reached out and grabbed Randi’s arm. “Are you sure you’re all right?”
Randi gave her a smile and nodded. “I’m sure. Go have fun with Tennie.”
Eden waited until Randi was inside her apartment building before she drove away.
She wasn’t sure what was going on with her best friend, but she knew something was up.
Randi was fun-loving but there were times when she could be serious.
Everything had gone well with yesterday’s event so Eden didn’t think it was work related, but then again they’d been spending a lot of time with their work friends.
As she drove to her house Eden decided if Randi wasn’t in better spirits tomorrow she’d talk to her at lunch.
Her thoughts turned to Tennie and her request to come by her house this afternoon. Tennie knew she met Randi for brunch on most Sundays and had texted to see if Eden was busy after that.
Not long after arriving at her house the door bell rang.
“Hey,” Eden said cheerily. “Come in.”
“Hi,” Tennie replied. “I hope I’m not intruding on your Sunday.”
Eden wrinkled her brow and tilted her head. “You’re not intruding. You’re my friend.”
Tennie smiled. “Good.”
“Would you like something to drink? I thought we could sit on my patio. It’s such a beautiful day. I have sweet tea.” Eden lifted her brows and started to walk to the kitchen.
“That would be nice,” Tennie said, following her.
Eden got their drinks and stopped to look over at Letty, who was sleeping in a chair in the living room. “I’m glad we’re not bothering her.”
Tennie chuckled. “She hasn’t moved since I got here. Does that mean she likes me?”
Eden chuckled. “Yes. Maybe next time she’ll get up and walk through your legs. She can be a tease.”
Tennie laughed. “Women.”
Eden laughed with her as they walked out to the patio. They settled into chairs with the table between them. Eden sipped her tea then set her glass on the table. She could tell Tennie was nervous.
“Hey, what’s going on? It’s me,” Eden said, trying to ease Tennie’s anxiety.
Tennie smiled. “I know. You’re easy to talk to, and I hope we’ve both been honest with each other from the beginning.”
“We have.” Eden put her palm on her chest. “I have.”
Tennie sighed. “You are my friend, Eden, and because of you I have new friends in Analise, Cari, Paige, and even Randi.”
“We are friends, Tennie.” She tilted her head. “Even Randi? You know she likes you.”
“I do.” Tennie nodded. “What I’m trying to say is that—” She paused. “You know the sparks Cari was referring to last night? I think you and I have them, but they’re friend sparks.”
Eden felt her whole body relax. “I know,” she said quietly. “But Tennie, that doesn’t mean we can’t be friends.”
“Oh good.” Tennie sighed, obviously relieved. “I want to be friends and continue to hang out, but I think that’s all we’ll ever be. Friends.”
Eden studied Tennie for a moment. “What about the sparks that take a little longer?”
Tennie smiled and nodded. “I thought about that, but…”
Eden watched as Tennie shifted in her chair. “Come on. You’re my friend, right? Is there something you’re not telling me?”
Tennie sat a little straighter and stared into Eden’s eyes. “I really like you, Eden, and I wanted us to feel those sparks. I think Cari called them romantic sparks. And at the risk of losing my new friend, I think you have feelings for someone else, so there’s no way you could feel them for me.”
It was Eden’s turn to shift in her chair and recross her legs. “You think I’m into someone else?”
Tennie nodded. “Maybe you haven’t admitted it to yourself or I imagine you’re afraid to. If you think about it, we’ve been going out for a while now and it’s usually with your work group.”
Eden groaned. “I know, but that’s why our morning coffee dates mean so much to me.”
“They mean a lot to me too.” Tennie smiled. “I’ve been able to see you alone, plus you with your friends and get to know them.”
Eden sat back and waited for Tennie to continue.
“It’s obvious to me that no one makes you smile the way Randi does.”
Eden gasped. “Because she’s my best friend!”
“I know, but the way you two look at each other and all the things you’ve been through…”
Eden gazed at Tennie and knew what she was saying was true. But what Tennie didn’t understand was that it didn’t do any good for Eden to feel this way because Randi didn’t.
“It doesn’t really matter, Tennie, because Randi doesn’t feel the same way.”
Tennie’s face lit up with surprise. “What makes you think that?”
Eden scratched the back of her neck. “There have been times when both Randi and I were single and we talked about dating each other, but we agreed we needed this friendship more than we needed a girlfriend.” She chuckled.
“I know she had sparks—I’ll use Cari’s word—for me at one time and I’ve had them for her, but I learned to push them down into my heart. ”
“Why?”
“Because our friendship is precious. It’s special.
I’ve never been this close to anyone and probably never will be.
I can’t lose her.” Eden could hear the desperation in her voice and took a deep breath.
“Also, because I’m not the right woman for her.
We’d be happy for a while, but I’m not exciting enough for Randi Powell.
She should be with someone more worldly and into fashion and culture. ”
“Stop.” Tennie reached out and put her hand on Eden’s knee which had been bouncing up and down without Eden realizing it.
“You’re selling yourself short, my friend,” Tennie said. “You’re the exact woman for Randi. I saw it in her eyes the night we went dancing.”
“You did?”
Tennie nodded. “If I can ask, has anything ever happened between the two of you? I’ve seen you squeeze her arm or Randi sit shoulder to shoulder with you and it looks completely natural.”
Eden sighed. “There is a level of comfort between us because we’ve been friends for so long, but there was one night. It's been five years now.” She looked out into the yard and the memories came rushing back.
“I’d just bought this house and hosted a New Year’s Eve party.
I was so excited to have all my friends over and of course, Randi helped me get ready for the party.
My girlfriend at the time had gone to see her family for the holidays but was supposed to be back to bring in the new year with me.
She’d made a big deal of being here with me for New Year’s and having the party at my new house.
Right before the party started she texted me that she was staying with her family and wouldn’t be back until the next day. I was so upset.”
“I’m sure you were.”
“Yeah, well, as midnight crept closer and closer I knew there would be no New Year’s kiss for me and that just added to my disappointment.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Oh, no. Randi saw me slip out here as the countdown to midnight began in the house. She followed me out here.” Eden smiled and closed her eyes.
“She took my face between her hands and told me to close my eyes. She then said to think of Amy because it was her kissing me. Then she softly pressed her lips to mine in the sweetest New Year’s kiss. ”
“Oh, Eden,” Tennie said softly.
Eden opened her eyes. “I know. It was so sweet. But it wasn’t Amy I was kissing, it was Randi.
I can still feel her lips on mine. I can remember how my heart fell into my stomach, unleashing a kaleidoscope of butterflies.
Then it began to beat so fast I could barely catch my breath. There was no way I could speak.”
“What happened?”
“We pulled apart, Randi smiled at me and softly said, ‘Happy New Year, Eden.’”
“And you’ve never forgotten it.”
Eden looked over at Tennie and smiled, shaking her head.
“All these years you’ve been pressing those feelings down in your heart,” Tennie said. “What if you let yourself feel them?”
“Why would I do that to myself? If Randi felt the same way, why would she convince me to do that Pitch a Friend event?”
“You said it yourself,” Tennie replied. “Her favorite thing is making you happy.” She paused. “Why did you want to find a girlfriend?”
“I want someone I can share my life with,” Eden said.
“Yes, I share my life with Randi and my friends, but I want more.” She blinked a few times then stared at Tennie.
“Come to think of it, neither Randi or I have had a serious girlfriend for longer than a few months since we shared that New Year’s kiss. ”
“I’m not surprised,” Tennie said. “You’re both afraid to let yourselves love each other.”
“Because we don’t want to lose each other!” Eden exclaimed.
“Have you ever thought about what you’d gain instead of what you’d lose? Imagine the happiness you two could share if you’d let yourselves.”
Eden widened her eyes and sat back in her chair.
“I know this is a lot,” Tennie said. “But I have to ask you. Are you mad at me? Are we still friends?”
Eden chuckled. “My God, Tennie! Of course we’re friends. How did you figure all of this out in a few weeks?”
Tennie laughed. “If you were sitting where I am, you’d see it wasn’t that hard. You and Randi don’t even realize how bad you have it for each other.”
Eden stared at Tennie in disbelief. Was this really happening? One corner of her mouth twitched with a hint of a smile. Randi wanted to be with her?
“Think about your other dates,” Tennie said. “You danced the salsa with Gabi. That should’ve created a spark or two.”
Eden shook her head.
“Yeah, because you’d rather be doing the two-step with Randi.” Tennie smiled. “What about your date with Kelly? You went to listen to music, but you asked Randi to be there and she invited Cari.”
“Yes, I wanted Randi there because—”
Tennie stared at Eden and smirked.
“Because I wanted Randi there,” Eden muttered.
“Exactly. You wanted her there,” Tennie said. “You’re doing these things and you don’t even realize it, but your heart knows.” She gave Eden a compassionate smile. “Your heart is full of Randi.”
Eden sighed. Maybe Tennie was right. She knew her heart and she did love Randi. Eden didn’t know how long she’d been pushing her feelings for Randi aside, but it would all be different if Randi was doing the same thing.
“What am I supposed to do?” Eden said, sounding defeated.
“Talk to her,” Tennie stated.
“Oh, I don’t know if I can do that. We agreed. If anything, Randi would be the one to blurt out her feelings, but she hasn’t.”
“Could it be because she’s scared too? Or because of how much she respects and loves you?”
Eden groaned in frustration. “How did this happen? And how did you see it so clearly!”
Tennie chuckled. “It all began the night of the pitch.”
“Really?”
Tennie nodded. “As I got to know you and spent more time with you it became obvious to me.”
“How long have you wanted to say something?”
Tennie shrugged. “I was pretty sure after we went dancing, but I enjoyed our coffee dates so much.”
“We’re not going to stop those.”
“I wondered if Randi working so closely with Cari might make you…uncomfortable,” Tennie said.
“There have been times when I did feel…” Eden’s voice trailed off and she smirked. “But Randi usually included me when they met.”
“Imagine that.” Tennie chuckled.
“You’ve given me a lot to think about.”
Tennie smiled and tilted her head. “I like you and Randi, you’ve become my friends. I want you to be happy and hiding your feelings doesn’t seem like the best idea. Let me know how I can help.”
“Help? You want to help me tell Randi I’m in love with her and she’s in love with me, so hey, what do you say, let’s go out?” Eden laughed sarcastically.
“You’ll figure it out, Eden.”
“Yeah, yeah, I’m the practical one. The thinker.”
Tennie got up to leave. “Think about the perfect woman for Randi,” she said. “Then think about the perfect woman for you. That should clear everything up.”
Eden reached out and grabbed Tennie’s hand. “Thank you, I think.”
Tennie laughed. “You stay here. I’ll let myself out. This is a beautiful spot to do a little thinking.”
Eden smiled as Tennie went back into the house. She couldn’t believe what just happened. Instead of looking back over the past few weeks Eden’s thought was on that New Year’s kiss. She reached up and touched her lips.
How could she even bring all of this up to Randi? Then she remembered the look they’d shared last night while waiting for Tennie. It was a lot like the look they’d shared at brunch not too long ago. Randi had whispered something, but Eden didn’t hear.
She sighed and shook her head. When she had a dilemma or a problem she couldn’t figure out she always went to Randi. Talking it through with her usually led to a solution.
“Oh my God,” Eden whispered. “How do we do this?”