“It’s really okay. I’m not heartbroken or anything like that,” Cari said.
“Maybe you should find someone to date while you’re here,” Analise suggested. “We have the best pitch woman right here driving us back to Dallas. I’m sure Randi knows someone.”
“Yeah,” Randi said. “Let me talk to Eden.”
“No, I’d rather you not do that,” Cari said. “I want to enjoy my family, my new friends, and this new chapter in my author business.”
“Okay,” Randi replied. “Just let us know when and if you’re ready.”
A short time later Randi pulled into Analise’s driveway.
“Thank you again for driving us, Randi,” Analise said. “And I should thank you, Cari, for this fun idea tonight.”
“See you Monday,” Randi said. She waited in the driveway until Analise was inside her house.
“I should have agreed to meet with Analise a long time ago,” Cari said as Randi drove down the street.
“Maybe,” Randi said. “But I like to think things happen at the right time. If you would’ve come to Dallas earlier I may not have been working at HLR.”
“Oh, that’s true,” Cari replied.
Randi could feel Cari’s eyes on her as she turned at the next light. She glanced over at her then back at the street. “Something wrong?”
“No,” Cari stated. “I want to ask you something, but I’m not sure I should.”
“Well, you’re going to have to ask me now.” Randi chuckled.
“Maybe it’s more of an observation.”
“Okay, what did you observe?”
“You and Eden are close. I know you’ve been friends for a long time, but…”
“But what?” Randi glanced over at her.
“You don’t seem that excited about her going on all these dates and you were the one who pitched her to all the eligible women. It makes me wonder…”
Randi could feel heat rush to her cheeks. She was glad it was dark inside the car so Cari wouldn’t notice. “Makes you wonder what? It was my idea to do the pitch event. Eden had been outon so many—let’s say, unsuccessful first dates—that I wanted to do something. I helped with the marketing for the pitch event so I convinced her to do it. I want her to find someone, mainly because that’s what she wants. I want her to be happy.”
“Yeah, that sounds like a best friend, but that’s not all I saw tonight when you were dancing with her,” Cari said.
“What do you mean that’s not all you saw?”
“You two fit together like a couple.”
“Yeah, because we’ve been best friends for a long time and have danced together a lot,” Randi explained.
“Maybe, but I also saw you eyeing her and Tennie as they danced across the floor,” Cari said. “I can’t help thinking there’s a part of you that wants to be more than friends.”
“What! No!” Randi exclaimed. “She’s my best friend. There’s no way either of us wants to screw that up.”
“Look, I’ve only known you two for a short time, but that’s not the vibe I got.”
Randi sighed. She and Eden were so comfortable with each other it didn’t surprise her that Cari might see them as a couple. She stared out the windshield. There had been a few rare times in the past when her feelings for Eden had crept out of the friend zone, but she’d always been able to rein them in. Usually that meant dating and finding a new girlfriend. However, she could admit she’d been surprised by her reaction to Eden and her dates. These old feelings had snuck up on her and hit her tonight while they were dancing.
“You’re very quiet.”
Randi swallowed and kept her eyes on the road.
