“You say that, but you didn’t see the way she was looking at you,” Eden said.
“I can handle Cari and everything will be okay,” Randi said. “Don’t you trust me?”
“You know I do!”
“Then let me do my thing, you do your thing, and we’ll all live happily ever after.”
Eden chuckled. “You sound like a romance novel.”
“It’s what I’m selling.”
After a moment Randi said, “Hey, I’ve been thinking about the game night thing. Let me host it at my apartment.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, that way you won’t have to stress about the food and all that,” Randi said. “I’ll take care of it. You can concentrate on Gabi and the games.”
Eden smiled as she turned onto her street. “That would be really nice of you.”
“I’m a nice person and you’re my best friend,” Randi said. “I just want you to be happy, too.”
“I know you do,” Eden said. “That’s how we got into this whole dating mess.”
Randi groaned. “It’s not a mess. You’ve met three very nice women. It’s early.”
“I have. You’re right.”
“I usually am.”
Eden laughed. “Okay, I’m home. I’ll make sure and tell Letty hello from you.”
“You do that.” Randi’s laughter echoed around the car. “See you tomorrow.”
“Bye,” Eden said and ended the call.
She walked into her house and went straight to her bedroom to change clothes. It was warm and she was eager to slip into her favorite pair of shorts. Maybe she’d go outside, sit in herbackyard, and catch the sunset. The days were getting longer and she loved coming home from work with the sun still shining.
“Letty?” she called as she hung up her work clothes. “Where’s my girl?”
Once dressed she walked back out of her bedroom to find her cat lazing in a patch of sun on the living room floor.
“There you are.” Eden smiled down at the cat who slightly opened her one eye then closed it again.
“Okay, you’re not interested,” she muttered, walking to the fridge and grabbing a beer. She stepped out the back door and onto the patio.
Eden sat in one of the chairs that looked out over the backyard. The sun was glowing a fiery orange as it fell towards the horizon. She was reminded of the many times Randi would stop by on her way home from work to watch the sunset with her and have a glass of wine or maybe a beer.
She took out her phone to snap a picture of the setting sun. With a couple of taps on her phone she sent the pic to Randi, inviting her to come by one day after work.
She smiled when Randi sent her a sun emoji with a smiley face and a thumbs up.
“Oh, Randi,” Eden muttered. “What am I going to do with you?” She shook her head as thoughts of Cari filtered through her mind. There was Cari gently touching Randi’s arm and the way she kept catching Randi’s gaze at the bar. Eden sighed.
Was she really worried about Randi crossing that line with Cari or was it something else? Eden could still feel the heat that shot through her body when she saw Cari touch Randi’s arm. She’d felt somewhat possessive instead of protective. But it was just a simple touch.
“Good God! Was I jealous?” she exclaimed aloud.
Eden sat up in her chair then sank back down. “I’m the analytical one. Randi is the free spirit,” she said to no one. “Figure this out.”
