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“Yeah, I had a jolt of hope run through me.” Cat raised up and looked into Elena’s eyes. “Did you ever think about getting married again, after Dean?”

Elena shook her head. “Not to a man. When Dean told me to find out who I was without him I think he knew.” She frowned. “I miss him so much.”

Cat nodded.

“But it’s the friendship and companionship I miss. Intimacy with him was different,” Elena said. “I love being like this with you. Simply holding each other and lazily running my hand along your skin.”

Cat smiled and let her continue.

“I want to know every inch of you, inside and out,” Elena continued. “When I would read that in books, I thought it was kind of hyperbole, but baby, I get it now.”

Cat kissed Elena on the cheek. “Me too.”

“Please don’t misunderstand. I was very happy with Dean.”

“I know that. There was a time when I was once happy with Hattie, but not like this.”

Elena furrowed her brow.

“I know we are just at the beginning and all we can think about is making love,” Cat said.

“Yeah, I can’t seem to keep my hands off of you.”

“That usually slows after a while, but I can tell it won’t with us. Don’t ask me how I know. I can just feel it.”

Elena raised up to look into Cat’s eyes. “I can’t imagine not kissing you, not touching you. It’s become a part of my being.” She fell back on the bed and groaned. “I can hear how that sounded.”

Cat looked over at her. “It sounded like we’re in love and intend on keeping it that way. We’re in this together, El. That’s where it went wrong with me and Hattie. We both have to keep at it.”

“There’s nothing more important to me than loving you,” Elena said, pushing Cat down and showing her how much she loved her.

29

The next evening Elena and Cat waited outside The Liquor Box. They had picked up several platters of food for the party after Vi’s proposal.

“There she is,” Cat said with a grin.

“Let’s go.”

They got out of the car and joined CeCe, Alexis, Christine, and the rest of their friends outside the store and watched through the windows.

“Look at Cory’s face,” Cat said.

“Oh, there they go,” Alexis said as Cory and Vi began to dance.

“I can’t wait until they teach us how to do that,” Cat said, putting her arm around Elena’s waist.

“Me, too. Dance party at Cory’s this weekend,” CeCe said.

“They may be a little busy,” Christine commented.

“Mom!” CeCe exclaimed.

Christine chuckled and looked over at Cat and Elena. She nudged CeCe with her elbow and nodded towards them.

“It’s supposed to be fake, but I’ve got to find out what’s going on with them,” CeCe said quietly.

“Leave them alone,” Christine said. “They’ll figure it out.”