Page 76 of Cat Sloan is Swirling

“Then why don’t you live together?” Christine asked.

“Whoa!” Cory exclaimed.

“Told ya so,” CeCe teased. “Cory’s on the hotseat.”

“We are acting like bougie people who have more than one home,” Vi explained. “I think CeCe and Alexis did the same thing.” Vi winked at them.

“Nice try,” Alexis said. “But we are now living in this sweet little bungalow together.”

“Oh, this is fun,” Elena commented quietly to Cat.

“Isn’t it though,” Cat said, grateful the conversation had moved on from her and Hattie.

“For everyone’s information, our friend Ella is keeping an eye out for a house for us,” Cory explained. “Now, how about those drink orders?”

The rest of the evening was spent in lively banter between the sisters as the parents told stories of when their kids were younger.

As they said their goodbyes and walked to the car, Elena turned to Cat. “That was fun. What a great family.”

“It was nice to have everyone together.”

“Vi’s parents are so much like your mom and they had such joyful looks on their faces telling embarrassing stories about you all.”

“They did seem to enjoy that, didn’t they?” Cat chuckled.

Once they were in the car and Elena had them on the road back to the bookstore, Cat turned to her. ”Thank you for tonight.”

“Me? It was your family,” Elena replied with confusion in her voice.

“I know, but it felt good to have you there with me,” Cat said. “I know you’ve been to family dinners with my mom and sisters before, but tonight I needed my friend, not my nosy family.”

Elena chuckled. “They’re nosy because they love you.”

“I know that, but I didn’t want that tonight. I’m glad Cory and Vi were the center of attention.”

“You don’t like to be the center of attention, do you?”

Cat could feel Elena glance over at her. “Not really.”

“Do you want to come to my place or would you like me to come to yours?” Elena asked as she pulled up next to Cat’s car in the mostly empty parking lot of the shopping center.

Cat sighed. “I think I just want to go home and process this day.”

Elena nodded. “I’m here if you want to talk.”

Cat smiled. “I know you are.” She leaned over and kissed Elena’s cheek then opened the car door. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“You can count on it.”

Cat unlocked her car and waved at Elena as she drove away. “I’m so glad you’re in my life,” she whispered.

20

When Cat got home she walked straight to her bedroom, undressed down to her bra and panties, then fell onto the bed. She looked down at the red lingerie she was wearing and realized she didn’t get the chance to share it with Elena. Was it strange that they played this little game? The red set was Elena’s favorite and Cat reached for her phone to text her.

In all the excitement today I forgot to show you what I was wearing underneath. It’s your favorite.

It didn’t take long before her phone dinged with Elena’s response.

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