The look on Randi’s face made Eden’s heart skip a beat. For a moment it felt like they were a couple enjoying a day at the amusement park with their friends. Eden could hear Tennie’s words:Your heart is full of Randi.
She returned Randi’s smile and let her heart feel it all, if only for today. An innocent date at Six Flags with friends; no one had to know Eden’s true feelings.
They stood in line for the cave ride, but once they were seated on the makeshift boat, memories came rushing back. Eden remembered Randi’s relieved sighs, big smiles, and a little bit of cockiness from putting one over on their friends.
“You’re remembering that day, aren’t you?” Randi asked as the boat floated down the track and into the darkness ahead.
Eden chuckled. “Yes, it was amazing how quickly you went from fear and dread to arrogance. You had a bit of moxie the rest of the day.”
Randi laughed. “I had to act like I’d ridden the frigging roller coaster and it was nothing. I couldn’t let them see through me.”
“How many times have I seen that look, but knew the truth?” Eden chuckled.
“Yet you always have my back.”
“Of course I do.” Eden bumped her shoulder into Randi’s.Because I love you.
“They thought we were their cool lesbian friends.”
“Wearetheir cool lesbian friends,” Eden said. “Which reminds me. We haven’t seen them in a while. Ann-Marie textedme the other day about a birthday party she’s planning for Sidney.”
“I know, she texted me, too,” Randi said. “We’ve been busy. They know how it is when I change jobs.”
As they floated around another bend in the stream a blast of cool air from above blew their hair.
“Oh, that feels nice,” Randi said. “Another reason we like this ride.”
“Do you think maybe you’ll stay with this job?” Eden couldn’t see Randi’s eyes in the darkness, but could just make out her smile.
“I’m loving this job,” Randi said. “Especially the people.”
Eden smirked. “Duh, of course you love the people.”
Randi chuckled. “I try to say something nice…”
“But is the job challenging enough?” Eden huffed. “I want you to enjoy your job and want to stay. You don’t have to love it all the time, but there’s something reassuring and gratifying about staying with it. I want you to experience that because it does something to you.”
“You don’t ever feel complacent or in a rut?”
“Yes, sometimes I do, but something comes along to give me a jolt. It may be a new author or a new co-worker with fresh and exciting ideas that I see the results from in the numbers on my reports.”
“Are you talking about me?”
“Maybe,” Eden said.
Randi chuckled.
“I try to say something nice…” Eden repeated Randi’s words and they both laughed as their boat came out of the cave and floated to the exit.
Eden reached up and took Randi’s offered hand as she stepped out of the boat.
“I do see myself staying at HLR, Eden. Stop worrying about making me love the job. Did you ever think I might want to stay because of the people?”
They walked up the sidewalk to exit the ride. “Is that reason enough though?”
“You should be worried that you’re going to get sick of seeing me every day,” Randi said.
“Not going to happen,” Eden said.
