Randi leaned forward and stared at Eden. “You look kind of—you didn’t stay up all night worrying about this, did you?” She straightened in her chair. “I know you like Tennie and don’twant to disappoint her, but Eden, you can’t make yourself feel something that isn’t there.”
“I know.” Eden nodded. She tilted her head and stared into Randi’s eyes. As much as she’d hoped to avoid Randi today, at least until she had all these feelings sorted out, she couldn’t stop herself from asking, “Do you think you can keep yourself from feeling something thatisthere?”
Randi sat back in her chair and fiddled with the stress ball. “Uh, I’m not sure what you mean. Like, um, if there’s someone you have a thing for, but shouldn’t or they don’t feel the same way…” Randi suddenly looked uncomfortable.
“I don’t know.” Eden shrugged then had an idea. “Yeah, let’s say you had a spark for Cari, but knew you couldn’t do anything about it because of work and client boundaries. Do you just push those feelings away?” She flicked her hand out like she was shooing a fly away.
“I don’t have a spark for Cari,” Randi said testily. She tossed the ball back to Eden. “And why do we keep using the wordspark?”
Eden caught the ball and suppressed a smile. Randi Powell was frustrated. She only saw her friend like this when she was caught red-handed. Randi had a talent for getting out of situations where she might have been acting questionably or was guilty, but she could never hide it with Eden. Randi’s reaction was interesting, but now Eden wasn’t sure if Randi had feelings for Cari or for her.
“You didn’t answer the question,” Eden pushed. “Can you keep yourself from feeling something that’s already there?”
“How would I know?” Randi raised her hands in exasperation. “What kind of question is that?”
“Wow, what are you getting so upset about?”
Randi huffed. “I’m not upset,” she said. “Why do you think I have a thing for Cari?”
“I don’t. You’d tell me if you did, right?” Eden replied, tossing the ball in the air. “I think she could have a thing for you.”
“She doesn’t,” Randi stated. “I’d better get to work.”
“Okay,” Eden said.
Randi turned around at Eden’s doorway. “You’re okay though?”
Her expression had softened and Eden smiled. “Uh, yeah, I’m okay.”
Randi nodded and took a step into the hallway then came back into her office. “Does that mean Gabi is the only one left from the pitch a friend thing?”
“Not really,” Eden said. “I don’t plan to see her again.”
“Ah, too handsy?”
Eden raised her brows. She’d forgotten how Randi noticed Gabi’s attention at game night. “Yeah, and no sp—uh, uh…”
Randi chuckled. “I get it. You’re not into her.”
Eden shook her head.
“Hmm, I was sure that pitch a friend would work. I’m sorry, babe.”
“It’s okay,” Eden said. “It’ll all work out, right?”
“It will,” Randi said. “See you at lunch.”
Eden stared at the empty space where Randi had been standing. Her question had certainly upset Randi, but why? Randi had assured Eden that nothing was going on with Cari weeks ago and Eden believed her. One thing she could count on was Randi’s honesty. Eden could usually tell if Randi was interested in someone as well. She didn’t get that vibe from her when Cari was around.
The only thing Eden learned from their conversation was that she could still frustrate Randi, but this time it was unintentional and not funny.
“What do I do now?”
“About what?” Analise asked, stopping in Eden’s doorway.
“Oh.” Eden straightened in her chair and set the ball on her desk. “Good morning.”
Analise tilted her head. “Are you okay? You’re not the usual bright Eden I’m used to seeing in the mornings.”
