“What about Gabi?” Randi asked.
“Mmm, I’m not sure yet,” Eden said. “Oh, we’re going to do a game night.”
“We?”
Eden nodded. “She grew up playing games with her family and none of her friends here like to play. I told her that we do game nights occasionally and she was excited. And yes, you have to come.”
“I don’t know,” Randi said.
“Gabi remembers meeting you, but wants to get to know you better. I, um, might talk about you a lot.” Eden looked down then up into Randi’s eyes.
Randi dropped her chin, knit her brows, and stared at Eden.
“You know she has to get along with you to have any kind of chance with me,” Eden said.
Randi chuckled. “Okay, but who’s playing besides you, me, and Gabi? We need more people.”
“How about Analise?” Eden said. “Or Cari. Maybe we can make it another group thing.”
“Or maybe thereissomething wrong with you,” Randi said as their waitress set their food in front of them. “Are you afraid to go out with these women by yourself?”
Eden scoffed and reached for the syrup. “I’ve been out with Gabi twice by myself. Tennie and I have met several times at the coffee shop before work. So there!”
She passed the syrup but didn’t let go when Randi reached for it. She met Randi’s gaze and said, “I like it when you’re there.”
“I know,” Randi replied.
“I’ve been on dates before without you. Could it be because these are women I met at the pitch?”
“It could be,” Randi said. “I think Analise and Cari are invested in these dates, too.”
Eden chuckled. “I guess so. They were there for the pitch and Cari’s been on two of the dates.”
“Let’s talk about Cari and the author event,” Randi said.
“Gladly,” Eden said. “Enough about me and dates.” She cut a piece of french toast and forked it onto Randi’s plate. “Taste this. It’s so good today.”
Randi chuckled as she placed a piece of waffle on Eden’s plate. “It’s always good.”
Eden smiled and tilted her head as she chewed a bite of waffle. Things were always easy with Randi. Why couldn’t her dates be like this?
“What?” Randi asked, wiping the corner of her mouth.
“I’m so glad you’re my best friend,” Eden said. “You know, I love you.”
“Yeah, I know.” Randi chuckled. “Where did that come from?”
Eden smiled. “My heart.”
They locked eyes for a moment and Eden felt a little flutter in her stomach. For a moment she thought Randi must have felt it too because she looked away. Eden reached for her water and took a drink.
“I was thinking…”
Eden heard Randi talking about the author event for Cari, but she was thinking about that look and what to do about it.
Chapter Sixteen
Randi fluffed her hair and smirked as she looked into the bathroom mirror. “I should’ve worn it back today.” She shrugged and went into the living room to get her things together to go to work. It had been a strange weekend but it had ended well.
