Page 71 of Cory Sloan is Swearing

“Mmm,” Vi said, pulling away slightly. “Thanks for letting me hang out with you tonight.”

“You’re welcome any day, any time.”

Vi giggled. She kissed Cory one more time and pulled away.

“I’d better go.”

Cory locked the front door behind them and walked Vi to her car.

“Hey, I’ve listened to ‘That Part’ several times.” Cory tilted her head. “I want to get to the part where we kiss and live happily-ever-after, too. But…”

“But?” Vi asked.

“I think it’s going to be a lot of fun getting there. I don’t want to miss any of it or skip a thing.”

Vi leaned in and kissed Cory softly. “Me either.”

“I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“I hope so.” Vi winked.

“One more,” Cory said as she brought their lips together one more time.

Vi waved at Cory and left the parking lot. Working at the store tonight had been fun. It hadn’t taken long for her to slide right back into her role as a customer assistant. She’d always liked helping people and it wasn’t any different in Cory’s store compared to her Spec’s stores or even her parents’ convenience store.

It had been a long time since she’d worked in a store and she didn’t remember enjoying it quite this much. It had to be because she was there with Cory.

She smiled and laughed at herself. “You’ve got it bad, Vi,” she said to her reflection in the rearview mirror. Just thinking about Cory made her smile.

As she drove home she had a vision of working at the store side by side with Cory. They were all smiles, helping customers and happy. That’s what Vi saw: happiness.

Whoa, where did that come from?

“Oh, no, Vi. You are not working in a store. You are going to be the Vice President of Sales,” she said, her voice echoing around her car.

She shook those thoughts out of her head and smiled once again as she remembered the kisses she shared with Cory. The gallery opening would be fun and then they were going to spend the night together. Vi was looking forward to it all.

Thoughts of liquor and stores and work were long gone once she started to imagine their date.

“Maybe that’s when I can reveal what’s really in my heart,” Vi mumbled. “Maybe that’s when I’ll tell you I'm in love with you, Corrine Sloan.” Vi smiled. “What a pretty name.”

* * *

“Hey, Diane,” Vi said, standing in the doorway to her boss’s office. “I’m going to leave a little early today.”

“Are you going bar hopping this evening?” Diane asked with a smile.

Vi sometimes left work early when she planned to go check on her accounts during the evening. Diane referred to it as bar hopping, fully knowing Vi didn’t care for alcohol.

“No,” Vi replied, walking into the office. “I’m going to a gallery opening tonight and I’m getting my hair done.”

“Please sit,” Diane said. “I know this is none of my business, but is this a date?”

Vi couldn’t keep from smiling. “It is. I’ve asked Cory to go with me and her sister happens to be a hairstylist and offered to do my hair.”

Diane smiled. “As I said, it’s none of my business, but can I ask a favor?”

Vi wrinkled her brow. “Sure.”

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