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“Next time?”

“I predict it won’t be long until Cory and Vi will be engaged.”

“Love is still in the air,” Elena said.

“Hey, let’s do something different tonight,” Cat said.

16

“Different?”

“Yeah, instead of me bringing dinner to your house, let’s go out.”

This was new. Cat loved sitting in the sapphic study just as much as Elena did. But the idea of going out with Cat sent a thrill through Elena’s body. “Where?”

“We have a bar that we love and it also serves decent food,” Cat said.

“We?”

“The Sloan Sisters,” Cat said, tilting her head. “Who did you think I meant?” Cat gasped. “Oh, wait. No! I was not thinking of Hattie.”

“I didn’t think you were,” Elena said, holding her hands up. “I didn’t know who you meant.”

Cat’s stiff frame visibly softened. “Sorry. You know what, we’re going to Betty’s tonight and we’re going to have a good time. Hattie never really liked it there. That should’ve been my first clue we weren’t going to last.”

“I’ve seen Betty’s, but I’ve never been,” Elena said.

“Perfect. We’re going. Let me check this customer out and we’ll make plans.”

Elena noticed a lightness to Cat’s step and couldn’t keep from smiling. They were going out to a bar together. It wasn’t really a date, but the other people who saw them together didn’t know that. Elena sighed and leaned back in her chair. She knew she shouldn’t be pretending this way, but maybe someday she and Cat would be in a place where she could ask Cat on a date. Until then, maybe it would be okay to pretend.

Later that evening Cat came to pick Elena up and she was actually a little nervous. When she answered the door all her nervousness instantly calmed. The smile Cat gave her was equal parts excitement and warmth, sprinkled with just a hint of adventure.

“Look at you,” Cat said, grabbing her hand.

Elena felt Cat’s eyes look her up and down. It had been a long time since she’d chosen her outfit with someone else in mind. She and Cat usually sat around in jeans and casual tops when spending time together. Tonight Elena had chosen a dark blue pair of jeans with a sleeveless top. Over that she wore an oversized button down shirt. She’d rolled the sleeves up to just below her elbows and one side of the shirt hung just off her shoulder.

“You are beautiful, Elena,” Cat said with a smile.

“Thank you,” she replied and could feel her cheeks warm.

Cat had chosen to wear a T-shirt dress with a denim jacket over it. Her dark, curly hair was down and flowed just below her shoulders. Elena felt little flutters in her stomach and couldn’t stop staring at her. “But you’re the beautiful one,” Elena finally said.

“We both look fabulous,” Cat said, exaggerating the last word. “Isn’t that what Nicolas would say?”

Elena chuckled. “Yep, and he’d be correct.”

“Let’s go. I’m excited to show you Betty’s. I don’t know why I didn’t think of this before,” Cat said as they walked to the car.

“Because we had that new room to decorate,” Elena replied.

“I love your sapphic study and plan to be sitting on our favorite loveseat a little later.” Cat grinned as she glanced at Elena.

Once in the car, Cat reached to turn the volume up on the radio. “I love this song.” Harry Styles’ “Satellite” began to echo around the car.

“I like it, too,” Elena commented.

“You listen to Harry Styles?”