The door opened, and Eden stood there in the purple hoodie and black leggings. She waved Anna into the room. “Want me to order popcorn?”
“I just ate a big lunch, so I’m fine without it, but totally order some if you want.”
Eden shrugged. “I’m pretty full too. And tired. Definitely reached that part of the tour where exhaustion hits.”
“Yeah, I hear you.” Anna followed her into the bedroom.
Eden walked around to the far side of the bed and perched on the edge. “Thank goodness the break’s coming up.”
Anna toed out of her shoes, then sat cross-legged, facing Eden. It was a king-size bed; plenty of room between them. They used to just flop onto the bed together without a care in the world, but they wereboth clearly overthinking it now. “You were smart to put that in the schedule.”
“I learned from past experience. After two months of shows almost every night, I’m always ready for a week off, a chance to rest and stay in one place for more than a night or two. I’m so sick of packing up every morning.”
“Is that your plan for the break, then?” Anna asked, trying not to notice how weird it was, the two of them on opposite sides of the bed. “Just rest?”
“Pretty much. I’m going to my house in Vermont, so there will be hiking too.”
“Jealous,” Anna said. “That sounds awesome.”
“What are your plans?” Eden asked.
Anna shrugged. “Headed home, I guess. I’m sure Nelle is in dire need of some spoiling.”
Eden smiled. “Who’s watching her while you’re on tour?”
“Zoe. I have a built-in cat sitter with her living next door. It’s so easy for her to pop by and check on Nelle.”
“Makes sense.” Eden reached for the remote control to the TV. “You were right about this show. I’ve been dying to get back to it and find out who killed Lila.”
“Let’s do it, then.” Anna was still sitting cross-legged on her side of the bed, but now she scooted back to lean against the headboard.
Eden started the show and settled in. There was a lot more space between them than there used to be, but just being here, watching TV together, felt like they were taking an important step back toward normalcy.
The show began, and Anna relaxed against the headboard. She’d seen the whole series before, but there was so much going on plot-wise that she was picking up on lots of things she’d missed the first time. On the other side of the bed, Eden had leaned forward, watching the TV with a look of intense concentration.
Watching her watch the show was distracting.
“Oh my God,” Eden exclaimed during an intense moment. “I can’t believe he—” She cut herself off as the scene took another dramatic turn. “Shit!”
Anna loved seeing her reactions. She remembered being just as shocked when she’d watched the first time. Eventually, Anna quit watching her and got sucked into the show. She lay on her belly, facing the TV. Eden moved to lie beside her, bumping into Anna in the process. Anna had just registered the warmth of her body before Eden lurched to the far side of the bed. It was such an overreaction that Anna wanted to scream in frustration.
On the TV, someonedidscream, a loud shriek that filled the room, making them both jump. Anna looked at Eden, who stared back, eyes wide and wary.
“Not talking about it isn’t working,” Anna blurted. “Not if you’re going to keep acting like this. Come on, Eden. This is ridiculous.”
“I—” Eden’s gaze darted to the TV and back to Anna.
“Maybe I should just go.” Anna slid off the bed and stood. So many conflicting emotions swirled inside her. She wanted things to go back to normal between them, but it just wasn’t happening. It had been over a week now since their kiss, and they still couldn’t be around each other without making things weird.
“Don’t go.” Eden scrambled across the bed and grabbed Anna’s hand. She gave a gentle tug at the same time Anna tried to pull her hand free. The combined effort caused them to stumble into each other, bodies flush, breasts pressed together. Eden exhaled, but it sounded more like a whimper.
Anna couldn’t breathe. Arousal swamped her senses, hijacking her brain so that instead of running for the door, she leaned in to smell the rose-petal scent of Eden’s skin, close enough that she felt the warmth of Eden’s breath on her cheek, and then ...
Eden’s lips met hers for a desperate kiss, the kind of kiss that had Anna’s hands fisting in the soft cotton of Eden’s hoodie as she pulled her closer. Eden’s eyes were squeezed shut as if she couldn’t face what she was doing, and ... this wasn’t right.
Anna pushed backward out of Eden’s arms. Tears rose hot and furious in her eyes. “I can’t do this. We can’t keep doing this!”
Eden blinked at her, cheeks pink and chest heaving.