“Look, I’m sure no one else noticed,” Cari said. “If you need a distraction, I’m here. We’re just two friends hanging out.”
“Hmm, a distraction,” Randi murmured. Maybe Cari could help her put these feelings for Eden away for good.
A tone sounded over the speakers indicating an incoming text on Randi’s phone. She glanced at the dashboard screen and could see it was from Eden. Randi punched a button and the text was read through her speakers. “Are you coming by tonight?”
“Can I type a reply for you?” Cari asked.
“Uh, yes.”
“Okay,” Cari said, lifting Randi’s phone from the console. “Shoot.”
“Just type, Tennie and a question mark.”
“Huh?”
“I figured she might stay at Eden’s for a while.”
“Oh, okay.” Cari sent the text.
Moments later Eden replied. “She’s not staying. Come on by after you drop Analise and Cari home. I’ll get the new episode ofThe Traitorsready.”
Randi sighed. “We watchThe Traitorstogether every week.”
“Just like best friends would do,” Cari said.
Randi looked over at her once again as she turned onto Cari’s street. She pulled into her sister’s driveway and put the car in park. Randi took her phone from Cari and replied to Eden’s text.
“How will this distraction work?” she asked.
Cari smiled. “We hang out together, especially when Eden has dates.”
“Yeah, but what if we end up hanging outwithher dates like we did tonight?”
“Then I’m your dance partner,” Cari said. “I’ll help you keep your distance from Eden and we’ll all have fun.”
“You don’t think Eden and Analise will get the idea we’re dating?” Randi asked. “Because it sounds that way.”
“We’re not dating, we’re friends,” Cari said. “Your focus will be on me instead of Eden and my focus will be on you instead of my ex.”
“Do you think about her often? Did you tonight?”
Cari nodded. “Much to my surprise and self-loathing, I thought of her several times tonight. She would love dancing the two-step.”
“Maybe this breakup is harder than you thought?”
“Yeah, that’s what I’m finding out,” Cari said. “Maybe watching Eden date all these women is harder on you than you thought?”
“Ouch.” Randi chuckled. “Eden and I decided a long time ago that risking our friendship to go on a date with each other was something neither of us wanted to do. Our history with girlfriends was not good and we needed our friendship a lot more than we needed a girlfriend.”
“Yeah, but sometimes feelings can sneak in when you least expect it. Especially when you already love your friend so much,” Cari said. “I should know, I just wrote a book about it.”
Randi chuckled. “That you did.” She opened her car door.
“You don’t have to walk me to the front door.”
“Come on.” Randi smiled and walked to the front of the car.
They walked up to the front door where the porch light illuminated the entrance.
