Page 11 of Holding Her Heart

Aster blushed. “You don’t have to do that. It’s no big deal.”

“Are you joking? It’s a big deal for me.” Eden stood, placing a hand on her hip. “I’ve just added a superstar to my team; it’s a huge deal.”

Aster was looking for some kind of comment to make, but she genuinely had nothing to throw back at her new boss. Eden was…a joy to be around. And the constant ego boost was beginning to grow on her. “Okay. Let’s do this.”

5

Eden lowered her sunglasses over her eyes, slowly climbing from her Mercedes. She’d managed to grab a parking spot at the field, unheard of on game day for Ashforth FC. This wasn’t something she’d always done—caught the latest women’s football game—but Blair had started dragging her along when Dom was playing. Something about sisters sticking together when the weather was rubbish. And today…it was.

She lifted her handbag from the passenger seat, resting it in the crook of her elbow as she looked around to locate Blair. When she finally spotted her, Blair was waving frantically in Eden’s direction. Yes, she was late. No, she didn’t care.

For the last three weeks, Eden had met with Aster for drinks on a Saturday night. If they were working, they hung back at the bar. If not, they got ready and made an effort to keep one another company. They just got on, and if Eden were being honest, she preferred Aster’s company to anyone else.

Last night had gone on longer than either of them had anticipated, but she’d had a wonderful night. Sitting with Aster and talking about anything that sprang to mind had been refreshing; Eden hoped they could keep doing it. Aster was a breath of fresh air in her life.

“Come on! Move yourself!” Blair yelled, and it wasn’t at the players on the pitch. No, she was yelling directly at Eden. “Sometime today would be great!”

“Alright. I’m coming.” Eden winced as she yelled back, her head throbbing…slightly. “Give me a sec. This field is like sludge.”

“Welcome to my world.” Blair crossed the distance, meeting Eden in the middle of the field and linking their arms. “One thing you never are…is late.”

“Mm. Late night, sorry.” A very late night.

Blair smirked, squeezing Eden’s arm against her. “With the one and only Liam, huh?”

There was more chance of hell freezing over lately. “God, no.”

“Why do I feel like we need to have a serious conversation?”

Eden didn’t know why Blair thought that. They hadn’t had a serious conversation since Blair met Dom. And that was eighteen months ago. Eden wouldn’t make a big deal out of it, but Blair hadn’t wanted to know about Eden’s life much since Dom arrived on the scene. But it was fine. Life moves on.

“Eden?”

“I’m fine. I didn’t spend the night with Liam. I was with Aster.” Blair wasn’t aware of their newfound friendship. Perhaps it was time to tell her.

Blair stopped, gripping her best friend’s arm. “Aster?”

“Yeah. We hang out on Saturdays.”

“Oh, well…that’s nice.”

Eden had to agree. It was nice. Too nice, actually. “Yeah. She’s lovely.”

“Mm. You keep saying.”

“And I don’t know, I think I just got carried away last night. In the end, she had to call me a cab.” She didn’t make it a habit to have many blow-outs, but once a year was okay. Last night had been that opportunity, and Eden had foolishly grabbed it with both hands.

Blair narrowed her eyes. “And did Aster, like, take you home?”

“She did. Which was sweet. But it’s not a very good impression I made, is it? Taking your drunk boss home from work.”

“I’m sure she didn’t mind. But maybe don’t do it again. You know, you want to keep it professional.”

“I do. Or I did. We get along so well, we decided to make it a regular thing. If she’s available.”

“Oh.”

Eden didn’t miss the frown Blair wore, but what she wanted to know was the reason for that frown. Surely, Blair didn’t have something against Aster. She was a sweetheart.

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