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Elena chuckled. “Here you go,” she said, handing Cat a mug. “Are you going to be tired all day from lack of sleep?”

Cat took a sip and closed her eyes. “Mmm, this is so good. Almost as good as…” she trailed off and winked at Elena.

Elena giggled and took a sip from her mug.

“We may not have slept much last night, but I feel great,” Cat said. “Happy.”

“I do, too.”

“How do I look?” Cat asked, smoothing her hands over her shirt. “Do I look like you?”

Elena laughed. “No, but you look like the woman I’m in love with.”

“Right back at you,” Cat said, leaning over and kissing Elena on the lips.

As Elena put their muffins on a plate, the doorbell rang.

“Are you expecting someone?” Cat asked with raised eyebrows. “It’d better not be your girlfriend.”

27

“Haha,” Elena said, opening the door.

“Good morning, Ms. E!” Nicolas exclaimed, rushing inside the house. “You’ll never be—” Nicolas stopped midword and stared at Cat. “Well, good morning, Cat.”

“Hi Nicolas,” Cat said, taking another sip of her coffee.

Elena walked around to the other side of the island and poured Nicolas a cup of coffee. She slid it over to him and smiled.

“Uh, is there something you girls need to tell me?” he asked, pointing from one to the other.

Cat and Elena exchanged a look then looked back at him. “I don’t think so,” Cat said with a grin.

“Uh huh. Well,” he began, “I think you do. I didn’t see Cat’s car outside. You look like you’ve just come from the shower and you both look freshly fu—um, I mean, you’re wearing one of Ms. E’s shirts, which is one of my favorites, by the way.”

“It is a nice shirt,” Cat said, smiling at Elena.

“It’s one of my favorites, too.” Elena returned Cat’s smile.

“Come on! Don’t make me say it. Spill the tea!” Nicolas exclaimed.

Elena and Cat both laughed.

“I hope you don’t mind, Nicolas, but I’m madly in love with your bestie here,” Cat said, putting her arm around Elena. “And I spent the night.”

Nicolas gasped and grabbed his chest. The excitement on his face was brighter than the sunshine coming in through the front window.

“I couldn’t let my love take the walk of shame so I lent her my shirt,” Elena said, wiggling her eyebrows at Nicolas.

He screamed and excitedly jumped around the island and hugged them both. “This makes me so happy!”

Cat giggled. “It makes me very happy, too.”

“What? When? I need every detail,” Nicolas said, reaching for his cup of coffee and sitting at the table.

Elena brought their plates to the table while Cat sat next to Nicolas.

“You know, you played a part in this,” Cat said, spreading jelly on her muffin. “Your craftsmanship is how Elena lured me over here.”