Randi couldn’t keep her eyes off Gabi’s hand. She could see how her thumb was gently moving back and forth over Eden’s exposed skin. Why did she have to wear a sleeveless shirt tonight? Randi could feel a sudden rush of heat through her body. This should not be bothering her. She took a deep breath and quickly reached for her drink.
“Y’all are like a happy little work family,” Gabi said.
“We are,” Eden replied.
Randi followed Eden’s gaze around the table until their eyes met. She quickly smiled, hoping to hide the redness she knew was spreading across her cheeks.
“Eden told me about her love of game nights. I used to play with my family all the time,” Gabi said. “But my boring friends don’t like to play, so thank you for having me over and doing this.”
“You’re welcome,” Randi said.
“Paige and I played with our family, too,” Cari said.
“I’ve heard that Randi and Eden are very good,” Analise said. “This will be our first game night together, so we’ll see how it goes. I hope we’ll still be friends when it’s over.”
Randi chuckled. “It’s not like that, Analise. We’re not that competitive.”
“You’re not, but you know I am,” Eden said, staring at her.
Randi smirked. “What she means is that when we aren’t partners I am not as cutthroat towards her, yet she is to me.”
“That’s because you’re such a softie.” Eden smiled. “But I make up for it.”
“Oh yeah? When?” Randi asked, raising her brows.
“How quickly you forget.” Eden shook her head. “Do you remember the roller coasters?”
“Oh!” Randi groaned.
“That’s what I thought.”
“What roller coasters? What does that have to do with game night?” Cari asked.
“One night, we were playing games and Eden and I were not partners,” Randi explained.
“One of our friends made a side bet that included the losing team having to ride the big roller coasters at Six Flags,” Eden said. “We were all going that following weekend.”
Randi sighed. “I get sick to my stomach just thinking about it. Anyway, I was on the losing team and Eden was on the winning team.”
“Once we got to Six Flags it was rather crowded so someone suggested pairing off to make sure the losers rode the coasters. I immediately grabbed Randi and we took off for the biggest roller coaster in the park.”
Randi chuckled. “I remember the closer we got to that ride the sicker I felt.”
“But…” Eden pointed a finger to the sky. “Have no fear, best friend Eden is here!”
Randi laughed. “Yes, you were.”
“I led her past that roller coaster and around to the cave ride. We got in line, jumped in one of the boats and floated into that mysterious cave. No one knew Randi never rode the roller coaster that day.”
Randi met Eden’s gaze and the smile on her face took Randi back to that day. She had saved her from embarrassment and certain nausea. She remembered Eden grabbing her hand, waving goodbye to their friends, and hurrying them away. Eden told her there was no way she had to ride that roller coaster and their friends didn’t have to know how scared she was. It would be their secret. To this day, their friends still didn’t know Randi’s fear of roller coasters.
“What’s the cave ride?” Cari asked.
“The girls love it,” Paige replied. “You go floating in these little cars that look like boats along this track into a darkened cave where there’s cartoon figures that look like pirates. You meander along in the cool mist and shade. It’s our favorite ride when we go in the summer and it’s so hot.”
“So you two snuck into the little kids’ ride while your friends were daring the big coaster,” Analise said. “I love roller coasters. I would’ve ridden it for you, Randi.”
“It doesn’t sound like such a big deal, but if you knew our friends…” Randi said. “They would still be teasing me about it years later if they knew. Eden really did save me that day.”
