Page 70

18

Afew days later Cat was checking an inventory report on the computer at the register when Elena walked up beside her.

“Did you find it?”

“It says there are two copies,” Cat said, pointing to the screen. “They should be with the sapphic thrillers.”

“I didn’t see them. Do you think someone put them with the mainstream thrillers near the front?” Elena asked.

Cat narrowed her eyes and stared at Elena for a moment. “I’ve started putting sapphic romances in with the general romance shelves and vaguely remember doing the same with a few other books.”

Elena smiled. “You can’t possibly remember where every book is on every shelf. I’ll go look.”

“Thanks, El, but I can do it,” Cat said.

“Nope, I promised to take Vi’s dad a sapphic thriller and I will find it.”

Cat smiled as Elena walked towards the front of the store. Cory had come to the bookstore with Vi’s dad this morning while Vi and her mother were shopping.

“Found it!” Elena yelled, holding the book over her head.

Just then Jessica walked in the front door. “What did you lose?”

“It wasn’t actually lost,” Elena explained as she walked to the register and joined Cat.

“Thanks for letting me come in late today,” Jessica said.

“No problem. I need you to close tonight because Elena and I are going to CeCe’s for dinner with Vi’s parents.”

Jessica furrowed her brow. “Say what?”

Cat chuckled. “Vi’s parents are in town and it’s a family dinner. It’s the parents meeting the parents, or in our case, parent.”

“Oh, now I get it.”

“Vi’s dad and I were talking about books this morning and I promised to bring him a sapphic thriller,” Elena said, holding up the book.

“You know Vi’s dad?”

“No. He came in with Cory this morning and we like the same books.” Elena shrugged.

“So a big meet the parents weekend for Cory,” Jessica commented then chuckled. “Once they solved their liquor sales dilemma, those two fell hard and fast.”

“That’s probably how the sales dilemma was solved,” Cat said, turning back to the inventory report.

“Uh, I don’t really know how to tell you this.”

“Tell me what?”

“Hattie’s back in town.”

Cat looked up and met Jessica’s eyes. “Oh?”

“Yeah. Do you think she’ll come to the bookstore?”

“Why would she?”

“Because you’re here,” Jessica said bluntly.