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“Yes ma’am,” Cory, CeCe and Cat responded in unison.

Vi raised her eyebrows at Cory.

“We try to have Sunday lunch with mom every week and we’ve missed the past few,” Cory explained.

Vi nodded. She suddenly had such an empty feeling inside. How long had it been since she’d had a family dinner with her parents and brothers’ families?

“That’s nice.”

Cory looked at her and smiled. “You’ll have to come with me some Sunday.”

“See y’all later,” CeCe said, grabbing Alexis’s hand and walking away.

“CeCe’s good. Why doesn’t she play with y’all all the time?” Vi asked.

Cory smirked. “Because she’d rather play with Alexis.”

Cat laughed. “Can you blame her?”

“Oh my, your heart is still beating,” Cory said to Cat.

“Sister,” Cat said, which sounded like a warning.

Cory held up both hands and nodded. “Thanks for coming, Elena. It was nice to have you here cheering for us.”

“It was fun,” Elena said. “It was nice to meet you, Vi.”

“You, too.”

Cory and Vi watched Cat and Elena walk away.

“So Alexis is CeCe’s girlfriend. Are Cat and Elena together?”

Cory shrugged. “Not yet.” She turned to Vi. “Cat had a bad breakup with her longtime girlfriend and says she’ll never love again,” Cory said dramatically. “But she will and Elena might just be the person to mend her broken heart.”

Vi nodded. “That’s the risk of trusting someone,” she said softly. “Where are we going to get this drink you promised me?”

“At the happy hour bar at The Liquor Box. I know you haven’t tried it yet.”

Vi hesitated.

“Come on. You just beat me in volleyball. Let me help you celebrate without the usual hangover when you drink,” Cory said with a hopeful look.

Vi smiled and tilted her head. “I’m trusting you.”

Cory returned her smile. “You can always trust me, Violet.”

Vi followed Cory out of the gym. Not one to trust so easily and although it was a rather harmless comment since they were merely talking about a drink, the way Cory looked at her when she said she could trust her felt like much more.

* * *

Cory pulled into the parking lot of the shopping center and waited as Vi parked next to her. She smiled at Vi and opened her door.

“Are you always this nice when you lose?” Vi asked, getting out of her car.

Cory grinned. “I haven’t lost yet. This is far from over.”

Vi raised her brows. “Why do I get the feeling you’re not talking about volleyball?”