“Me neither,” Randi added.
“How do you know one of your friends wasn’t in love with you?” Cari asked.
Randi shrugged.
“Or even now,” Cari said. “Haven’t we all had feelings for our friends at one time or another?”
Kelly chuckled. “I haven’t, but I can see how it could happen.”
Eden glanced over at Randi who seemed to be doing everything she could not to look her way.
“Randi and I were talking about your latest book and how there were several scenes where the characters did things that we have done together,” Eden said.
“I’m not surprised,” Cari said. “That’s why I put the friends in those situations. I wanted it to be realistic.”
“It was for us,” Randi said.
“Yeah, one of them was already in love with the other, so I put them in places that were familiar to them both until the other friend felt the spark, too.”
“I had a girlfriend who felt the spark in the beginning, but I didn’t at first,” Kelly said.
“How many times have you felt a spark for someone and they didn’t?” Cari asked. “Or maybe they did and you didn’t pick up on it. Love isn’t predictable.”
“No it’s not,” Kelly said. “I’ll have to read your latest.”
“I’ll text you a link to the book,” Eden said with a smile. She glanced over at Randi who was staring at her with a look on her face that Eden couldn’t quite read.
“They’re about to start again,” Cari said.
The band was back on the stage and were about to play again when the lead singer said, “You’re welcome to get up and dance. There’s a little room down here by the stage. Ready, one, two, three.”
They started to play and Eden couldn’t help but wonder why Randi wouldn’t look at her one minute then she caught her staring the next. From time to time their friends had asked why the two of them never dated, but they’d always agreed that their friendship was more important.
A few people did get up and dance as the band played an upbeat song. Everyone continued to sing along as Eden noticed smiles on everyone’s faces at their table. She decided to put her earlier behavior and Randi’s out of her mind. Maybe she was seeing things that weren’t there. It was probably because of the situation. They were both a little nervous with Eden on a date and Randi meeting Cari in this atmosphere.
She was beginning to relax and enjoy the music when Kelly leaned over.
“I’ll be right back,” Kelly said loudly into Eden’s ear as she got up and went to the stage to adjust the equipment.
Eden knew Kelly was helping the band tonight and might be called away at times.
The band started to play Paramore’s “Ain’t it Fun” and Eden looked over at Randi, wide eyed. This was one of their favorite songs to dance to whether they were with friends at a party or out at a bar. There was no way she would get up and dance by herself like several other people had, but when she glanced at Randi she could see the understanding in her eyes. Randi didn’t care who was looking on. If she wanted to dance, she danced.
Randi gestured toward the dance floor and raised her brows. Eden nodded eagerly and hopped up. She stopped to ask Cari to go with them, but she declined.
“Are you sure?” Eden asked. When Cari nodded, Eden took Randi’s hand and stepped onto the dance floor.
As they moved and jumped to the music there was pure joy on Randi’s face which made Eden smile even bigger. Whateverhad been going on with them earlier was forgotten as they danced and sang along.
When the song ended the band transitioned to a slower song and they started back to the table. Kelly grabbed Eden’s hand and smiled. “Dance with me?”
Eden nodded as Randi backed away. Kelly led them around the small space doing the two-step. Once the song ended they went back to the table.
“I loved watching you two,” Cari said. “I’m not much of a dancer, but that looked like fun.”
“It is,” Eden said. She looked over at Randi. “We can teach you the two-step.”
Randi smiled at Eden and nodded.
