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“I swear you love my bras as much as or more than I do.”

Elena’s throat was dry and she was afraid to speak. She swallowed and murmured, “They’re beautiful.”

Cat smiled and Elena knew she had no idea she wasn’t talking about the bra. She would never do anything to risk their friendship, but her feelings for Cat were beginning to shift and she didn’t know what to do with them.

“Hey, is everything okay?” Cat asked with concern in her eyes.

“Yep.” Elena smiled. “Let’s sit.”

They sat in their customary places and Elena took a deep calming breath.

“What should we have for dinner tonight? It’s my turn to bring the food,” Cat said.

Elena breathed a sigh of relief that Cat started in on their normal conversation as if nothing was amiss.

“Where did the pizza come from that we had at your mom’s last Sunday?”

“You liked it.” Cat grinned. “It came from an Italian place not far from here. I can pick one up when I come to your house. Any requests?”

Elena chuckled. “You know what I like.” It wasn’t lost on Elena that they had settled into a comfortable friendship that was similar in some ways to her marriage. Another deep breath should calm all these crazy thoughts running through her head. What is wrong with me today?

“I do, but maybe I’ll surprise you.”

You seem to be surprising me with everything you say today! Elena glanced over to the opening between Cat and CeCe’s stores, hoping for a distraction. With a stroke of luck , CeCe came strolling into the bookstore.

“Hi sis,” Cat said, waving at her from her chair in the reading nook.

“Hi,” CeCe said with an excited smile. “I need your help.”

Cat got up and said, “Sit.”

“You don’t have to get up,” CeCe replied.

“It’s fine. I’ll sit right here,” Cat said, plopping down on the ottoman in front of Elena’s chair. “What’s up?”

CeCe gazed around the store then leaned in and said, “I’m going to propose to Alexis.”

Cat covered her gaping mouth with her hands and Elena gasped.

“That’s wonderful,” Cat said. “No more doubts.”

CeCe grinned. “I haven’t had any for a while.”

“Doubts?” Elena asked.

“Yeah, I wanted to fall in love with Alexis, but I held back because I couldn’t see myself in her world.”

“We tried to tell her she was wrong,” Cat said, glancing over at Elena.

“What did Alexis do to change your mind?”

A dreamy smile grew on CeCe’s face. “She knew about my doubts and simply said, ‘I can tell you over and over that we are a perfect fit, but to make you believe me, I know I have to show you.’ So that’s what she did.”

“How?” Elena asked.

“She simply loved me every day and showed me over and over.”

“It helped when she sold her house and moved in with you. That’s a show of commitment,” Cat said.