Page 29 of Cory Sloan is Swearing

“I’m over here,” Vi said, walking towards her car.

Cory walked with her then stopped as Vi unlocked her car. “Careful with that door. I’m right next to you.”

Vi looked over at Cory’s pickup and smiled. “She may drive a truck but she can also wear a pair of heels.”

Cory smiled. “See ya soon, Violet.” She got into her pickup and waited as Vi backed out of her parking space. Cory waved and watched Vi drive away.

“Talk about being in someone else’s shoes,” Cory said out loud and chuckled. Now that she knew why Vi was selling in this area, maybe she could figure out a way to help them both. She liked Vi and had from the minute she walked into The Liquor Box.

She couldn’t think of her as an enemy or adversary; she didn’t think of anyone that way. Cory didn’t have a mean bone in her body, but she wasn’t a pushover either. There had to be a way that Vi got her new accounts and Cory’s wholesale business could thrive at the same time.

Cory smiled as she thought back to the look on Vi’s face when she asked to borrow her shoes. At first she didn’t believe Cory, but then she saw her desperation. Cory glanced down at the floorboard on the passenger side of her front seat where her volleyball shoes currently sat.

She hadn’t really thought about what she’d do if Vi didn’t help her, but deep down she knew she would. To say she was attracted to Vi would be an understatement. Cory could feel Vi fighting her every time she’d run into her at the gym. Yes, she made sure Vi had to stop and talk to her and with each hello she could feel her thaw just a little more.

Cory wasn’t sure how Vi felt about her, but she was determined for them to at least be friends. There was no reason they couldn’t be even if Vi seemed to think differently. Another smile crossed Cory’s face as she pulled into her driveway. Your enemy wouldn’t let you borrow their shoes. Would they?

The next week Cory was at the happy hour bar in the back of The Liquor Box when CeCe and Cat walked in and slid onto stools.

“Well, hey.” Cory grinned. “I call this meeting of the Sloan Sisters’ Shopping Extravaganza to order.”

Both her sisters laughed. “Maybe we should start having meetings and compare progress,” CeCe suggested.

“You can catch us up on the gossip and Cat can tell us who has been sneaking into The Bottom Shelf,” Cory said.

“Gossip? In a beauty salon?” CeCe said, pretending to be shocked.

Cat and Cory looked at each other and they all laughed.

“Try this new wine I found.” Cory poured them each a glass. She waited as they took their first sips. “What do you think?”

“It’s crisp,” CeCe said.

“Mmm, but I like it,” Cat said.

“I do too and I’m not much of a wine drinker,” Cory said. “Get this, it’s non-alcoholic.”

“No way!” CeCe exclaimed, taking another sip.

Cory nodded and took a drink from her glass.

“I’ll take a bottle home with me. This would be great for Alexis on nights before she has surgery,” CeCe said.

“She doesn’t drink the night before surgery?” Cat asked.

“Nope. She said she always abstains the night before,” CeCe said.

“How are things with Dr. Girlfriend? Every time she comes in she’s smiling,” Cory said.

“That’s because she’s about to see me.” CeCe grinned.

“I’m happy for you both,” Cory said.

“I may need your help with something, sisters,” CeCe said with a dip in her voice.

“Oh?” Cory said, raising an eyebrow.

“Are you going to propose?” Cat exclaimed.

---