Eden groaned. “Okay, okay. Well, thanks for giving me a ride. Kelly apologized for not picking me up, but I was fine meeting her there this first time.”
“You’re welcome. I was going to the same place anyway,” Randi teased, looking over at Eden with a grin.
Eden chuckled. “I know the last two days have been really busy for you, but I enjoyed sitting in on your pitches and watching your process.”
“You gave me several great ideas that found their way into the presentation. That’s one reason I wanted you there.”
“I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it. I mean, I knew you would dazzle with your creative genius because you do that to me all the time.”
“I do?”
“Sure. You’re always running ideas by me and it often amazes me.”
“Uh, I just thought you were being nice because I’m your best friend.”
Eden laughed. “Well, there was that time you wanted to use a horse in that ad.”
Randi laughed along with her. “Yeah, that wasn’t my best idea, but in my defense animal ads were in at the time.”
“I know you said you change jobs so often because you lose the excitement,” Eden said. “I understand that better now.”
Randi glanced over at Eden in surprise. She might be Randi’s biggest supporter, but she had often admonished her for not staying with a job long enough to see if her inspiration might return. “Really?”
“Yeah. My job is a lot of the same thing every day, but I like that. You know me, I love a schedule and structure. However…”
“Yes?”
“It was thrilling working together. I haven’t felt like that in a long time.”
Randi smiled and felt a jolt of happiness in her heart. “You mean you don’t get a thrill when accounts balance and revenues are more than expenses?”
Eden raised her brows. “Don’t knock a healthy bottom line until you’ve seen it.”
Randi laughed as she turned into the parking lot of the bar. “Only you could make business sound sexy.”
As they walked up to the door Randi said, “Once you see Kelly, I’ll find a table and you can forget I’m even there, unless you need me.”
“What?” Eden stopped and stared at her. “I’m not going to forget you. The reason you’re here is because of me.”
“Yeah, but Kelly doesn’t know that. I don’t want her to think I’m hanging around. It might be awkward.”
“Randi, you’re meeting someone else. Let’s just see how it goes.”
Randi sighed and nodded. She wanted Eden to have a good time and she was glad to be there for her, but it always made heruncomfortable walking into a new space and at the same time meeting someone new.
Randi held the door open and they walked inside the bar.
“Ride or die,” Eden said.
“Uh, we’re not going to die and of course I’ll give you a ride home, if you want,” Randi replied.
She could tell Eden was nervous and they always took care of each other above all else.
They stood inside the door and saw a long bar on the right with several tables to their left. Beyond the bar was a step-down into a larger space with more tables and a small stage in the corner.
“I see Kelly down there with her back to us,” Eden said.
Randi looked to her left and saw an empty table against the wall. “I’ll be over here. I can watch for Cari and maybe Kelly won’t see me. Have a good time.”
