Page 36 of Holding Her Heart

“What?” Eden snorted, pushing down the desperate need to yell YES! “Why would it have anything to do with Aster? I was simply asking a question.”

“Mm. But you never ask things like that, so forgive me for being suspicious. I know I blurted out how Aster felt, but you don’t have to feel the same way.”

This was a waste of time. Blair would never believe for one second that Eden could be attracted to women. Because she never had been…so why would that suddenly change now? It was way too far-fetched in Eden’s mind, so Blair would go into overdrive. “Never mind. Sorry. I was taking an interest. It won’t happen again.”

“Oh, love. I’m sorry. I wasn’t suggesting that it’s none of your business. But I know something is going on in that beautiful mind of yours, and I’m worried about you.”

“It’s okay.” Eden turned her watch towards her. She’d only been here for half an hour, but she was thinking of leaving. She couldn’t sit here and lie to her best friend, so leaving was the next best thing. “I should head home. Busy day tomorrow.”

“What? You haven’t touched your coffee.”

Eden lowered her eyes, sitting forward on the couch. “I’ll finish it and then get out of the way. Dom will be home soon.”

“Look at me right now.” Blair sat forward, placing a hand on Eden’s shoulder, but she couldn’t meet her eyes. “Eden?”

Tears welled, her bottom lip close to quivering. “I’m okay.” She shrugged Blair’s hand from her shoulder, clearing her throat. “I think I need some sleep.”

“No. I’m not doing this anymore. If you have something on your mind, come out and say it. Please, you know I support everything you do.”

The words were on the tip of her tongue, but Eden couldn’t bring herself to say it. She wasn’t ashamed of how she felt about Aster, not at all, but she didn’t know how to come to terms with it. It was…not what she expected. “I know you do.”

“And I’ll always support you. If you told me you wanted to throw yourself out of a plane tomorrow, I wouldn’t agree, but I’d support you.”

“This is more complicated than that.”

“So, talk to me. You helped me through so much when I decided to divorce Barrett. Let me be there for you this time.”

“Blair…” Eden’s voice trembled as she shook her head ever so slightly. She’d never felt so apprehensive about her life or what she wanted before. But it was fear of the unknown that had Eden unable to say the words out loud. And then she looked into Blair’s eyes. Eden was safe here. “I-I…I have these feelings for Aster. And I don’t know what any of it means. She’s so wonderful and genuine a-and…addictive.”

“Addictive?”

“God, I can’t stop thinking about her. She’s constantly on my mind. And I don’t know why.” Eden took a breath. “And this has nothing to do with how she feels. I’m actually relieved now that I know, but…”

Blair wrapped an arm around Eden, pulling her against her. “Eden, this isn’t the end of the world you know.”

“None of this makes sense. I’ve never looked at another woman in my entire life. I mean, I spent years knowing you were gay. You’re every woman’s dream, so why wasn’t I attracted to you?”

“Because that’s not how it works.”

Eden smiled, wiping a tear from her cheek. “I’m sorry I wasn’t into you. It’s not that you’re not gorgeous, you really are, but—”

“Don’t even finish that sentence. We’re best friends, sisters, whatever you want to call it. You have no reason to explain anything to me, but you do need to decide how you feel…and what you want.”

“Mum would have an aneurysm.”

“Your mum isn’t the one feeling like this. And I know you watched my mum hit the roof time and time again, but that doesn’t mean you’d receive the same treatment. Your parents are much more laid back than mine are.”

“But it also doesn’t mean they wouldn’t freak out, and I don’t want to risk that. I have a hard enough relationship with Mum as it is.”

Blair turned Eden to face her fully. “I’ve spent my life watching you grow up with me. You’ve never been content with who you were with. And maybe I should have questioned that, but it seems to me like this is the first time you’re feeling this way.”

“It is.”

“So do what you want to do. If Aster is who you’re attracted to, then so be it. You could certainly pick worse people.”

“She’s sweet.”

Blair grinned. “Yeah?”

---