Chapter 29
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Eden stretched out her leg before her eyelids fluttered open. The first thing she saw was Randi’s beautiful, peaceful face. She didn’t get to see Randi like this very often.
Her best friend was vibrant, always moving, and full of energy. Randi’s eyes were bright, curious and constantly scanning, taking in her surroundings. To see her calm and relaxed like this, Eden couldn’t help but wonder what she was dreaming.
Yes, they were best friends, but now, so much more.
Eden could feel a little tightness in her body and smiled from the memory of how it got there.
She looked down to find her fingers interlaced with Randi’s.
Eden knew they were touching all night long even in their sleep.
She’d awakened a couple of times in the night and found Randi’s arms around her.
This wasn’t a dream, it was more like a dream come true.
Eden couldn’t believe how freeing it was to tell Randi how much she loved her.
Because she trusted Randi completely Eden lost all of her usual modesty or timidness when having sex with someone for the first time. If anything, she felt the opposite.
The way Randi touched her and looked at her made her feel bold and fearless. Eden felt things she’d never felt before. So much pleasure, passion, intensity, and it was all because of Randi.
She was tempted to wake Randi with a slow, soulful kiss which she knew would lead to much more. What a nice way to start the day. But with all the emotions and desire-fueled gymnastics from last night Eden chose to let Randi sleep.
This was their “brunch-day” but Eden couldn’t imagine them wanting to leave the house anytime soon. Randi’s favorite was waffles, so Eden decided to sneak out of bed, let Randi sleep, and show her love by making breakfast.
She gently slipped her hand from Randi’s and slowly got out of bed. Randi took a deep breath, but didn’t stir. Eden quietly walked to the bathroom to brush her teeth then snuck out of the bedroom to the kitchen.
It wasn’t long until she heard a rather urgent meow. Eden chuckled and turned to find Letty strolling in demanding her breakfast.
“Not so loud,” Eden said quietly. “We’re letting Randi sleep in.”
Eden put the food in Letty’s bowl and gently rubbed her hand down her back. Letty arched into her hand as she took a few bites of breakfast.
“Oh, girl.” Eden sighed. “She loves me, too. I know you love Randi and hopefully this means she’ll be here with us all the time.”
Eden got up, washed her hands, and went about making the batter for the waffles. She got out the waffle iron and while it preheated she turned her attention to making coffee.
Eden thought back to all the things they said last night. Her heart was so happy and full of love which was quite a contrast from the last few weeks. It was hard to hide feelings, especially when hers had grown deeper and stronger over the years.
All the fear and doubts she’d let swirl around her heart and head were gone. She meant what she said to Randi last night. All they had to do was count on their love.
Eden knew this might be a challenge for Randi.
For someone who was so good at their work, never second-guessing decisions and strategies, Randi had a hard time trusting herself when it came to her personal life.
She was a people-pleaser and Eden was her favorite person.
She loved the different escapades Randi would get them into.
Yes, sometimes Randi had to convince her, but Eden was never sorry.
They had had a few instances that weren’t necessarily pleasant, but Eden didn’t mind because Randi was going through it with her.
Eden took the last waffle out of the waffle iron and set it on a plate. She didn’t want them to get cold and was about to go wake Randi when she heard footsteps in the hall.
She turned to see Randi walking into the kitchen and was surprised she was dressed. “Good morning, babe,” she said with a smile. Eden leaned in to kiss her on the cheek.
“Good morning,” Randi said quietly.
Randi’s smile didn’t reach her eyes and Eden felt her stomach drop. She could tell something was wrong. Count on our love. She said it over and over in her head.
“I wasn’t sure we’d go to brunch, so I made you waffles.” Eden smiled.
“Thanks, that’s really thoughtful.”
“Thoughtful?” Eden took a deep breath. “What’s wrong, Randi?”
She saw Randi swallow and she couldn’t meet Eden’s eyes.
“Just sit down and let’s eat,” Eden said gently. “We can talk.”
Randi nodded and Eden handed her the plates while she poured them both a cup of coffee. They sat down at the table and Eden slid the syrup over to Randi.
Eden sipped her coffee as her heart pounded wildly in her chest. “Did you sleep okay?” What a dumb thing to ask, Eden chided herself.
Randi nodded and took a bite of waffle.
Eden watched her slowly chew the small bite then take a sip of coffee. “Are you still afraid?”
Randi looked up and met Eden’s gaze. “Aren’t you?”
Eden smiled and shook her head. “No, I trust our love.”
Randi looked back down and took another bite of her waffle. “These are really good, but I’m not very hungry. Thank you for making them.”
“I know how much you love them.”
Randi stared down at her plate then stood up. “I’ve gotta go.”
“What?” Eden jumped up and followed Randi to the front door. She could see the fear in her eyes along with uncertainty. “Please don’t do this,” Eden said desperately. “Talk to me.”
Randi walked outside then turned around. “I need to process everything,” she said.
Eden watched her walk to her car. “Don’t run away from me, Randi. From us,” she said. “Please.”
Randi turned around and Eden could see tears in her eyes. “I don’t want to hurt you.”
“Then stay!”
“I’ll talk to you later.”
Eden couldn’t move as Randi got in her car and drove away.
There had been times when Eden and Randi disagreed with each other or didn’t see eye to eye, but they always talked things through.
This was bad.
Eden had to do something before Randi spiraled so far out of control that she wouldn’t give them a chance. She went back into the house and paced back and forth through the living room and kitchen.
“Think, think, think,” she said over and over. They’d always had each other when things went wrong, but now…
She stopped. They needed help. It took them this long to admit their feelings. Why would it be easy to talk through things now?
Eden reached for her phone and called Tennie.
She quickly explained all that had happened since they left Six Flags last evening. “I need your help. We need your help.”
“I’ll be right there,” Tennie said.
Eden exhaled a deep breath and wanted to cry. “No! This is not over. We’re just beginning.”
She looked around the room and wasn’t sure what to do. A warm nudge against her leg made Eden look down where Letty was sitting right in front of her. Eden stared into Letty’s one good eye as a tear rolled down her cheek.
Letty softly mewed at her then walked towards the bedroom.
“Right,” Eden said, swiping the tear away. “I should get dressed.”
She followed Letty into the bedroom and quickly changed into shorts and a T-shirt. Her thoughts were on Randi and she paused to stare at the bed for a moment before leaving the room. The sheets were a tangled mess, but the story they told was one of discovery, togetherness, and love.
Eden walked out of the room and went back into the kitchen. She could make the bed and tidy her bedroom later. Right now, she cleared the table, cleaned up her mess from making waffles, and still thought of Randi.
She wiped her hands and closed her eyes as another tear found her cheek. Eden wasn’t crying because Randi hurt her, she was crying because she knew Randi was in pain. That made her heart want to break, but she knew if she could just get Randi to give them a chance everything would be okay.
Her doorbell rang and she quickly dried her tears, took a deep breath, and walked to the front door. She was surprised to find Analise standing there.
“Hey?”
“Tennie called me,” Analise said, taking Eden into her arms. “Everything is going to be all right.”
Eden was surprised by Analise’s comforting hug. Her boss wasn’t necessarily a touchy-feely person, but Eden didn’t realize how much she needed it until this moment.
When they pulled apart Analise smiled. “Tennie will be here soon. I live closer.”
Eden nodded and led her into the kitchen. Her house was an open-concept footprint with the kitchen, dining area, and living room all in one great space. “Would you like coffee?”
Analise shook her head. “Let’s sit.”
Eden took a seat at one end of the table and Analise sat perpendicular to her.
“They’ll be here soon,” Analise said. “In the meantime—”
“They?” Eden asked, furrowing her brow.
“Tennie and Cari.”
“Cari?”
Analise nodded. “We all wondered when you two would get your shit together and see what we’ve known for quite some time.” She frowned. “I’m guessing it started with a bang, then went sideways.”
Eden sighed and dropped her head. “You could say that.”
Analise smiled and gave Eden’s hand a squeeze. The sweet gesture almost made Eden’s tears reappear, but luckily the doorbell rang.
“Hey,” Tennie said softly, holding a drink carrier in front of her. “It’ll be okay.”
Before Eden could say anything, Cari pulled into her driveway. “The gang’s all here,” she said.
Tennie smiled. “Come on, I have your favorite.”
Eden tried to smile and let them both into her house.
Once they were all settled around the table with their drinks Tennie said, “Okay, we know you both finally expressed your feelings. You talked, Randi stayed the night, but then this morning…”