“Lured?” Elena laughed. “Yeah, I don’t quite remember it that way.”
“I remember it perfectly,” Cat said. “You told me you’d redone a room and I had to see it.” She turned to Nicolas. “Of course I had no idea how beautiful your work was and pretty much fell in love on the spot.”
“With the room or Ms. E?” Nicolas asked, narrowing his gaze.
“Both!” Cat chuckled and took a bite of her muffin.
A proud smile crossed Nicolas’s face. “I was happy to do my part.”
Elena laughed at them both and sipped her coffee. How can I be this happy? She loved listening to her two favorite people laugh and exclaim at their new love. It doesn’t get better than this.
“I hate to rush this wonderful breakfast, but I do need to take you to work,” Elena reminded Cat.
“Are you trying to get rid of her? That’s not how this works, Ms. E,” Nicolas teased. “You see, now that Cat’s spent the night you need to get a U-haul so we can start loading it while she’s at work. That way she can be all moved in by tonight.”
Elena nearly choked on her coffee while Cat laughed.
“He’s just teasing, babe,” Cat said, reaching for Elena’s hand and giving it a squeeze.
These two had no idea that Cat moving in was exactly what Elena wanted.
Elena cleared her throat and smiled. “I know he’s teasing. Trust me, Nicolas. I know how this works.”
“Ohhhhhh, did you just school me, Ms. E?” he exclaimed.
“I’d say she did.” Cat laughed and held her hand up for a high five.
Elena slapped Cat’s hand and joined their laughter.
“However, my babe here is right. I do need to get to work,” Cat said.
“OMG, listen to y’all calling each other babe. I love it!” Nicolas said with a big grin.
“And I love her,” Cat said, leaning over and kissing Elena’s lips.
“I’ll be your best man,” Nicolas quipped.
“Whoa!” Elena exclaimed. “You’re going to scare her away!”
Cat laughed. “You’re moving me in today and are we getting married tomorrow?”
“Why wait? Haven’t you waited long enough?” he said in all seriousness.
Cat and Elena stared at each other.
“Too much, too fast,” Nicolas said. “Take a breath, we’ll get there.” He reached over and covered their hands with his.
“We?” Elena said, raising her brows.
“We’re in this together, Ms. E. We have been since I was six. I’m not about to leave you now. Don’t worry, Cat loves me,” he said, giving Cat a wink.
Cat chuckled. “He’s not wrong.”
“Okay, Nicolas. You’ll be the first to know when we make any major changes or decisions. How’s that?” Elena said.
“I can live with that,” he said. “But don’t expect me to wait for long.”
They waved to Nicolas from the front door.