Eden opened her mouth and then snapped it shut. She withdrew her legs from Anna’s lap, drawing her knees against her chest. “I ... well, I hadn’t really thought about that, to be honest, other than the age difference. I guess I was too caught up in my own head. But when it comes to our careers, I see you as a peer, Anna.”
“Yeah, I feel that way around you now too. I just ... I’m gun shy after Camille.”
“Okay, then let me see if I can set your mind at ease.” Eden quit hugging her knees and sat up straight, taking Anna’s hands in hers. “My relationship with my parents was controlling, and after going through it, I would never try to do that to someone else. But also, I’m not a manipulative person.” Eden’s gaze was steady and unflinching. “I’m reserved. I’m inclined to play it safe, sometimes to my own detriment. I like to be in control of my own situation, but I’ve always tried to lift up other women, not tear them down. I would never intentionally hurt you or misuse my power against you, and if you ever feel that I have,pleasetell me.”
Anna’s chest felt warm and fuzzy, and her eyes were watery. “Thank you.”
“In the interest of total, brutal truth here, you should know that Stella suggested bringing you on board becauseIneededyouto sell out the tour. You were having an amazing year, and I ... was not. And I wasn’t very happy about it either.”
“I ... you ... what?”
Eden’s eyes twinkled with amusement. “I resented needing you to sell out the tour.”
“You certainly never showed it.”
“Of course not.” Eden flicked a hand as if the idea were ridiculous. “I’m a professional. So have I helped set your mind at ease?” She drewher bottom lip between her teeth. “And if not ... it’s totally fine. You’re right that it could be tricky, trying a relationship when we’re on tour together. I promise I won’t be upset if you just want to be friends.”
Anna’s brain was still tripping over the words “trying a relationship” because she hadn’t known what to expect when she came to Vermont with Eden, but starting a relationship with her had seemed almost too much to hope for. “Are you sure you’re ready for that ... for a relationship with a woman?”
“You mean, coming out?” Eden flinched. “Sorry, that still sounds weird to say. And I don’t know how I feel about it, to be honest. I’m obviously not ready to talk about it publicly before I’m comfortable saying the words, but I’m going to get comfortable with it, for my own sake. So long term, no, I’m not worried about coming out. Our fans obviously already love the idea of us dating. For me, the biggest hurdle has just been ... coming out to myself.” Her tone changed on that last part, becoming quieter, more hesitant.
Anna flung her arms around her. She’d never expected Eden to start talking about publicly coming out so soon. That was just ... wow. Eden never ceased to amaze her. “And I’m so proud of you for it.”
Eden hugged her back, her heart thumping against Anna’s breast. “I never told the world I was straight, so I guess I don’t see why I need to tell them I’m not. I think, if we reach that point, I’d just announce our relationship and let that speak for itself.”
“I love that approach,” Anna told her. She loved everything about this conversation, and for the first time, she could see a real future for them ... the kind of future where they lived happily ever after. Anna knew she was gettingwayahead of herself, but then again, she’d never been afraid to dream big.
“Oh my God.” Eden sat up straight, staring at Anna with wide eyes.
“What?”
“I just realized ... you just told me you figured out you were attracted to women while you were watching me on TV, and I ... I realized the same thing from my reaction to you. That means ...”
“It means we were each other’s sexual awakenings.” Anna pressed a hand against her heart. This felt monumental somehow. It felt fated, like a moment in a romance novel.
“That’s ...” Eden seemed to be at an uncharacteristic loss for words.
“It feels like we were meant to be.”
CHAPTER TWENTY
Eden leaned back in her chair, comfortably full and relaxed. Anna had cooked stuffed bell peppers for dinner, and they were delicious, almost as wonderful as spending this kind of quietly domestic evening together. “I’m so glad you’re here.”
Anna smiled. “Me too. Do you usually come to Vermont alone?”
“Usually. Zach came with me sometimes, but he’d rather be in the city than out in the mountains any day, so even while we were married, I tended to come here alone.”
“No staff?”
Eden shook her head. “Paris handles the logistics, getting the place ready for me when I visit, and if I’m going to be here longer than a week, I have a cleaner who comes, but other than that, no. The whole reason I come here is to get away from the Hollywood life. This is my place to rest and relax.”
“I love this place for you,” Anna said. “It made me a little sad to see you trapped in your LA condo, where you couldn’t even go outside for a walk on the beach.”
“I do love it here, and thanks for dinner. It was delicious,” Eden said. “Do you enjoy cooking?”
“I do,” Anna told her. “It’s something my mom and I did together when I was growing up. I have so many fond memories of being in the kitchen with her.”
“What does your dad do?”
