“It’s all so complicated,” Randi said.
“It doesn’t have to be,” Eden said. “We make it simple.”
“How?”
“We love each other,” Eden said. “We couldn’t stop it, right? So, just as I can always count on you, let’s count on this love we’re discovering together.”
“It feels good to love you out in the open, but it’s still new, isn’t it?”
“I know you better than I know myself, but there’s so much more I want to know,” Eden said.
“I’ll tell you one thing I’ve discovered,” Randi said. “I love it when you call me babe.”
Eden smiled. “Kiss me, babe.”
Randi was happy to oblige and they lost themselves again in a tangle of arms, legs, and love. Sometime in the night they finally fell asleep in each other’s arms.
Randi’s eyes fluttered open and for a moment she felt the sweetest calm. She knew where she was and whose arms were wrapped around her. She eased onto her back to see Eden’s sleepy face.
She smiled as Eden stirred and partially rolled onto her other side. Her hand loosely rested on Randi’s forearm and she marveled that Eden was always touching her, even in her sleep.
Randi looked up at the ceiling and took a deep breath. She couldn’t believe what had happened tonight. Once they’d kissed it was like a dam breaking and all their feelings rushed out of their hearts. It was overwhelming and at the same time glorious.
They’d spent the next several hours talking and having sex, mostly having sex. Randi expected a few moments of awkwardness, but they never materialized. Eden may have experienced a hint of shyness, but then she let go of the control she was used to having. Randi felt honored that Eden could do that with her.
She sighed and let her gaze fall on Eden once again. How could she ever be enough for this amazing woman? Randi wasn’t sure she deserved Eden as her friend much less her love. They were so different, but was it like Eden said tonight? Did they balance each other?
Randi couldn’t help but feel the dread creeping up from inside her. She knew she would disappoint and hurt Eden before it was all said and done. That’s who she was. There were times when Eden had been upset with her for her reckless choices, but they’d gotten through it because of their friendship. This was so much bigger than friendship.
Randi couldn’t help from thinking:Do I break Eden’s heart now or do I break it later?
Because in Randi’s world, she was sure it would happen.
She could feel tears sting the back of her eyes. Randi turned on her side and slipped her arm around Eden’s middle, nestling against her back. She hoped being this close to Eden, holding on with her heart, would drive these doubts away so she could wake up with belief and clarity that she was the one for Eden Andrews.
Randi squeezed her eyes shut as Eden pulled Randi’s arm around her a little tighter.
“My babe,” Eden murmured in her sleep.
Randi choked back a sob and held on for dear life.
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.
