“Oh, I’ve got a…hmm…I’m not sure what to call it. A dilemma, a situation, a question.” She smiled. “It’ll be okay.”
“I know you go to your bestie when you have something you need help with, but I’m here if you need an ear.” Analise gave her a kind look.
Eden smiled. “Thanks, I’ll keep that in mind.”
“I’m assuming this isn’t work related?” Analise asked.
“Not really.” Eden sighed. “I don’t mean to be cryptic…”
“It’s okay.” Analise smiled. “By the way, great job on Saturday at Cari’s event. I know that’s not part of your job, but I appreciate it.”
“I was happy to be there,” Eden replied. “The Plot Twist is a great partner.”
“Yeah, they are,” Analise said. “But there’s just something about the energy you and Randi brought to the event.”
Eden looked at her in surprise. “Me? Randi’s the hype person who keeps everyone entertained.”
Analise nodded. “But you play off each other. I heard you asking each other questions that got the readers waiting in line to engage in the conversation. You’re a good team.” Analise stepped into the office and reached out her fist.
Eden raised her brows and hesitantly bumped her fist to Analise’s in surprise.
“I’m so glad you got her to come work with us.” With that Analise smiled and walked out of Eden’s office.
Eden couldn’t keep from smiling. “We do make a good team.” She’d known that from the beginning.
Randi walked into her office and sank into her chair. She exhaled a frustrated breath and shook her head. Eden’s question made Randi think her heart was going to beat out of her chest. She couldn’t get out of that office fast enough because she knew Eden would see right through her. Who did Eden have feelings for that she couldn’t do anything about. Was Cari right?
Randi sighed and took a deep breath, trying to calm her heart. If Eden had feelings for her wouldn’t she tell her? They had always been able to talk about anything. On top of that, why was this happening now? Why did Randi feel so out of control when it came to Eden? She’d had these feelings for years and been able to keep them in check.
Randi sat back and stared at the wall across from her desk. She and Eden had faced these questions from time to time over the years, but when Cari asked—rather, proclaimed—she couldseeRandi’s feelings for Eden, it was different. Randi felt exposed and couldn’t push the feelings down deep enough. They always seemed to hover whenever she saw Eden and when she thought of her.
“Good morning, my friend,” Cari said, strolling into Randi’s office and sitting in the chair opposite her desk. “I need your help.”
“Okay,” Randi replied, grateful for the distraction.
“I’m working on my new book and here’s the question: Why are you and Eden single?”
Randi had chosen that moment to take a sip of her coffee and almost choked. She coughed, trying to catch her breath. When she was finally able to take a deep breath, she stared at Cari. “What?”
“Why are you and Eden single? You’ve both dated, have exes, so what happened?”
Randi swallowed, still trying to catch her breath and thought about her past relationships, if she could call them relationships. She didn’t have a history of long-term commitments, but had several shorter term girlfriends in her past.
“I’m the girl you date, not the girl you envision forever with,” Randi said.
“Why?” Cari asked with surprise on her face.
Randi shrugged. “Women don’t think I’m serious enough for the future. I’m a good time.”
“Hmm, you are a lot of fun, but that doesn’t mean you’re not, um…”
“Relationship goals? Forever material?”
“I didn’t say that.”
“You didn’t have to.” Randi smiled. “I don’t go around talking about my future plans or aspirations.”
“I don't think I do that either,” Cari said.
