Randi noticed Cari’s confusion. “The folks with red name tags are single,” she explained. “The pitchers, like me, wear blue name tags.”
“Oh.” Cari nodded. “Got it. That’s clever.”
“Would you like a name tag?” Eden asked.
Cari smiled. “I would, but I can’t stay for the entire presentation.”
“Oh, I think it’s time,” Randi said.
“We’ll be at that table over there,” Analise said. “Good luck.”
Eden scoffed. “I don’t need luck, my bestie’s got this.”
Randi smiled at Eden hoping she was right.
“This is so interesting,” Cari said. “It’s nice to meet you both.”
Randi and Eden walked over to where the other participants were getting ready for their turn to pitch.
“We’re next,” Randi said, holding up and extending her pinky finger. She smiled as Eden linked her little finger around hers. To others they may have appeared as a study in contrast. Randi had thick, long blond hair, greenish eyes, and a lithe body from regular yoga classes, whereas Eden was shorter with dark hair, light brown eyes, and a more athletic build. However, Randi knew their likes and dislikes were the perfect mesh that had made their friendship not only exciting, but lasting.
They took their place on the makeshift stage with Randi standing next to a large screen and Eden sitting on a chair on the other side. Randi smiled at her, hoping to calm the nervousness she could see in her best friend’s eyes.
Randi turned her attention to the people sitting at the tables with anticipation on their faces. She smiled and took a deep breath. “Let me introduce you to one of the best people you’ll ever know,” she began. “Eden Andrews is not just a pretty face.”
A picture of Eden appeared on the screen with her tongue sticking out sideways and her eyes looking the other way. A few people laughed. “Isn’t she cute?” Randi continued. “If she can look good making a face like that, I mean—” She chuckled. “She did not know I was going to open with that particular photo as you can see from the horrified look on her face now.” She glanced over at Eden and could see her widened eyes and wonder at what Randi was doing.
“You see, I chose this photo because I want you to know Eden can be playful,” Randi continued. “She is intelligent, motivated, and a successful financial professional. Yes, she loves numbers, but there is so much more to her.”
Several more photos appeared on the screen of Eden doing various things.
“In our friendship, I’m the one who makes Eden do new things with me.” Randi chuckled. “Yes, I have to talk her into things sometimes, but she always gives it a try. That says a lot about her heart and how she values her friends.”
Randi glanced over at Eden and was relieved to see her smiling.
“Do you like to play games?” Randi asked. “Not relationship kinds of games,” she continued with a laugh. “Board games?” She paused. “Let me tell you, if you want to win game night with your friends then you want Eden as your partner. We’ve won so many times that our friends don’t want to play with us anymore.” She looked over at Eden. “Maybe we can find new friends here to beat.”
Eden rolled her eyes dramatically.
“Ah, did you see that!” Randi exclaimed. “Yes, folks, she is a champion eye-roller!”
The crowd laughed.
“If games aren’t your thing, no worries,” Randi continued. “What about a nice quiet evening reading a book? Or now that the weather is nice, maybe a walk along the lake?” Randi scanned the crowd and raised a brow. “Do you like to dance? How about a slow dance?” She paused once again so the people could get the image in their head.
“These activities may sound passive and less exciting, but are they really? What Eden is and probably won’t admit”—Randi glanced her way—“is that she’s a romantic.”
Eden smiled and dropped her eyes to her hands in her lap.
“Of course there’s nothing wrong with that.” Randi smiled. “It just means that little things make a difference to her. In the same way she does little things that mean a lot to the people she cares about. Maybe a text to ask about your day or bring you your favorite treat. She’s romantic.”
“Am I?” Eden asked.
Randi laughed and smiled at her. “You know you are, but you don’t let anyone know it because you think it isn’t cool.” She looked at the crowd. “Tell me folks, being romantic is cool, isn’t it?”
There were murmurs through the crowd and a few people cheered.
“There’s nothing wrong with having a big heart and showing it.”
