“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…”
“This morning Randi’s doubts took over and ran wild,” Eden said. “She left without us talking it through, which is unusual for her. We always talk things out. She’s afraid and will process this by letting her fears take her through the most catastrophic scenarios. They will play over and over in her head.” She exhaled a shaky breath and ran her fingers through her hair. “Then she’ll let her emotions get the best of her and will make up her mind, steel herself, and not budge on her decision.”
“She’s so sure of every strategic move she’s made on my website, with my newsletter, every ad, my entire author business,” Cari said. “But that’s not her emotions, is it?”
“Yeah, it’s her super power on her creative side, but not with her heart,” Eden explained. “That’s kind of what happened years ago. We toyed with the idea of dating, talked about it, and she threw all the bad things out there. We decided against it and she stood her ground until our love became too much.” She paused. “Until now. I tried to reassure her last night and this morning. I told her we have to count on our love.”
“You don’t think she will? She listens to you,” Analise said.
Eden shook her head. “She’s afraid. How do I make her listen to me over her fears?”
“You can’tmakeanyone listen,” Tennie said.
“Isn’t that what a pitch does? Gets our attention, makes it so interesting we have to listen,” Analise said.
“Yeah, and Randi’s the pitch queen,” Cari said.
“That’s it,” Tennie said, snapping her fingers. “You have to pitch her.”
“Me?” Eden sat back in her chair. “I don’t do pitches. I’m the numbers girl. I don’t give presentations.”
“You were there when Randi pitched me,” Cari said.
“Yes, to add to Randi’s pitch,” Eden said.
“Okay, okay,” Analise said. “You can do this. We’ll help you.”
“You don’t know what you’re asking!” Eden exclaimed. “She’ll come back with a contradiction for every point I try to make.”
“Then don’t let her,” Cari said. “You have to be smooth, like she is.”
“Yeah, be ready for her arguments before she can even get them out,” Tennie said with encouragement.
Eden shook her head. There was no way she could do this, but she had to. This was their life, their happiness, their chance at forever. She looked around the table as her friends threw out ideas on how to pitch Randi then she gasped.
“I have an idea. She loves when I sing,” Eden said.
“Oh yeah,” Analise said. “Do you remember several years ago when we did karaoke at the company Christmas party? You and Randi sang together, but she kept asking you to sing again for her.” She turned to the others. “Eden has a beautiful voice. She can do this!”
“Oh! We should all do karaoke sometime,” Cari said excitedly.
“Focus,” Tennie said to her.
