Page 12 of Holding Her Heart

“What?”

“Nothing.” Blair’s voice pitched a little higher. “It’s just, you’re her boss, and you don’t know one another.”

“We know one another. We have lunch together most days.” Lunch had become Eden’s favourite time of day recently.

“I mean, sure. Yeah. If that’s what you want to do.”

Eden sighed, waving at Dom as she sprinted down the sideline. “Look, I know you probably think it’s all a bit odd since I don’t usually bother with anything unless it’s work related, but you’re okay, Blair. You have Dom now. And I love that, I do, but I feel lost. I feel like I’m merely existing some days when I sit home alone.”

Blair opened her mouth to speak but fell short of creating any words.

“I wanted so much happiness for you,” Eden said, stopping and turning to face her best friend. “And you have that. Let me find my happiness now. And if it comes in the form of a friendship with Aster, so what?”

“I thought you had happiness. Liam, your business, us.”

“Liam is not my happy ending. Please understand that.”

“And that’s okay.” Blair shrugged. “If you want to hang out with Aster, go for your life. But you do know that she’s a lesbian, don’t you?”

“I’m not sure what relevance that has. I’ve been best friends with you for almost 40 years.”

But Eden knew exactly what Blair was hinting at. It was probably a good idea to avoid saying how she was feeling about Aster. It was already a muddled mess in her head.

“You know what I mean.”

“Actually, I don’t.” Eden frowned. She never wanted to lie to Blair, but she wouldn’t understand.

“Have you thought that maybe she’s being very friendly for other reasons?”

Eden took a step back. Blair had no right to say that. Of course Eden knew Aster was a lesbian. It hadn’t gone unnoticed. But now, hearing Blair accuse Aster made things harder for Eden. One, because it meant Blair would be keeping an eye on their every move. And two, because Eden didn’t feel like she could confide in Blair about the unexpected attraction she felt towards her photographer. And Blair was always the person Eden confided in. From childhood, right up to current day, they’d been so close. But now that didn’t feel like a possibility…and Eden had nobody else to talk to.

“I…I think I’ll go and say hi to the team.” Eden made a beeline for the substitute players further down the sideline. “Well, that was a kick in the stomach,” she muttered to herself. “But it’s fine. Everything is fine.”

It wasn’t fine. It hadn’t been fine since the moment she met Aster. But she couldn’t do anything about that now. It was too late to stop looking at her in a way she’d never looked at any other woman before.

I can’t be attracted to her. I’m straight!

* * *

Aster rushed across the field, stopping dead as Dom scored, the ball thrashing the back of the net. She cheered and whooped, clapping as she continued her sprint towards the team. Grace was in goal, but Mia was on the sideline, substituted for what looked like Fi. They had a love-hate relationship, but most people did when Fi was involved.

“Hey! Sorry I’m late.”

Mia placed a hand on her hip. “What time do you call this, Miss Bennett?”

“I call it reasonable for a Sunday morning.” Aster yawned. She wasn’t hungover, but she was tired. Eden had kept her out last night until after 2 a.m., a time Aster hadn’t seen in a few years. “How’s it going?”

“4-1 to us now that Dom’s just scored that screamer.”

“Looks like a semi-final trip then, right?” Aster rubbed her hands together, grinning. “I love away days.”

Mia nodded. “Still got thirty minutes to go, but I don’t see them coming back. And Grace has been amazing in goal.”

“As always.”

Aster watched Mia as she swooned over Grace. She loved that her best friend had found the love of her life; it was unmistakable every time she watched Grace and Mia together. Really, it was beautiful. I want that, too.

“Hey, do you two have plans later? I was wondering if I could pick your brains about something.” After a month of Saturday’s with Eden, it was time to open up. Aster needed the advice.

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