Page 39 of Cat Sloan is Swirling

Cat and Elena settled into a nice routine. Elena still came into the bookstore every day and Cat went to Elena’s several nights each week. It was Cat’s turn to bring dinner tonight and she knew Elena would be excited with her choice. She’d also brought something for Elena to put in the bookcase and this time it wasn’t a book. Cat was a little hesitant about this addition and butterflies swirled in her stomach as she pulled into Elena’s driveway.

She took a deep breath and looked into her rearview mirror. “What is wrong with you?” she said to her reflection. “It’s just Elena.”

Cat smiled and thought there was so much to Elena that just couldn’t be further from the truth. She was Cat’s best friend and there was no one she’d rather spend time with. If either of them ever met someone else—Cat couldn’t imagine and she didn’t want to.

“Hey,” Elena called from her front porch. “Are you coming in?”

Cat smiled, gathered her things, and got out of her car.

“What were you doing?”

“Nothing. What were you doing?” Cat replied. “Staring out the front window?”

Elena chuckled. “No, I was in the kitchen and saw you drive up. Is that what I think it is?”

“Tacos from the food truck down the street from the bookstore,” Cat said, holding up the bag.

“Get in here!” Elena exclaimed, holding the front door open for Cat. “You know how much I love their tacos.”

Cat laughed. “I do!”

They went inside and Cat set the food sack on the island along with her purse and a bag from the bookstore.

“Did you bring something for the bookcase?” Elena said, leveling her gaze on Cat.

“I did, but it’s not a book.”

“Oh?” Elena’s eyebrows rose up her forehead.

“I think you have enough books to read until the end of the year,” Cat teased.

Elena scoffed. “Not if you help me.”

Cat looked up at her and tilted her head. “You want me to read them?”

Elena nodded. “Yeah, to me.”

“What?”

“I was thinking…”

“Yes,” Cat said, drawing the word out.

“Do you remember the other day when you read part of that book to me?”

Cat nodded. Sometimes after dinner they would sit in the sapphic study and simply read. Cat had come to enjoy these evenings doing something they both loved together. She knew she could just as easily go home and read, but there was something nice about sitting with her friend in that beautiful room.

“I thought maybe we could read to each other. You know, just like you did the other night. You wanted me to hear how the author described that lake and it was beautiful.” Elena gasped. “Maybe you should produce audiobooks.”

“No! I have enough to keep me busy with the bookstore.”

“Your voice is very pleasing and I enjoyed it.” Elena shrugged. “Is that weird?”

“No, it’s not weird. You read to me that night, too.”

“Are we weird?” Elena asked, leaning in, her voice low and quiet.

Cat grinned. “No, we’re not weird and if we are, who gives a fuck. It’s you and me.”

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