Page 65

“Oh, I’m your girlfriend?”

“You don’t want to be my girlfriend?”

“It feels like more.”

“This isn’t too fast. We’re not kids. I’m forty-five years old and I know what I want. We’re doing this on our time, not society’s time, not our friends’ time. Our time. And we, Cory Sloan, have perfect time.”

Cory sighed. “Oh, Violet. I knew I’d fall for an older woman.”

Vi giggled. “Yeah, I’m so much older.”

Cory leaned over and Vi met her lips. This kiss was sweet, but quickly heated up when Cory gently sucked Vi’s lower lip into her mouth. They were still holding hands and Cory reached over with her other hand and pulled Vi even closer.

When they pulled apart, their eyes met and locked. A smile grew on Cory’s lips. “I hope you always look at me like this.”

“Oh, honey. I’m getting out of this pickup before I change my mind and drag you into my house.”

Cory laughed. She walked Vi to her door and waited for her to unlock it.

“Thank you for such a wonderful day. As your romantic bulldozer,” Cory said, grinning, “I hope we can do it again soon.”

“Oh, we are definitely doing this again.” Vi paused and put her arms around Cory’s shoulders. “You’re not a bulldozer. It’s called being honest. You make me feel safe and because I trust you I can tell you how I feel. Today, you made me feel like I have so much to look forward to.” Vi smiled at Cory and pulled her in for a kiss. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Cory kissed Vi one more time and dragged herself away as Vi went inside and closed the door.

“Wait!” Vi said, opening the door.

Cory turned around and walked back to Vi.

“Let me see your phone,” Vi said.

Cory handed it to her and gave her a confused look. “What are you up to, Violet?”

“I’m pulling up a song I want you to listen to,” Violet said, handing the phone back to Cory.

She looked at the screen and saw Lauren Spencer Smith’s song, “That Part.”

“Listen to it on your way home.”

“Okay.”

“This is how you make me feel,” Vi said.

Cory kissed Vi once again and nodded. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Once Cory got back in her pickup, she connected her phone and the song began to play. She smiled because she’d heard the song before, but now she listened closely to the lyrics.

It didn’t necessarily describe how she and Vi had started but it talked about skipping to the part where they kiss and start their lives together. Cory played the song several times and when she pulled into her driveway there were tears in her eyes.

Vi was exactly who her heart had been waiting for. Even though she had hoped she would someday find that woman, here Vi was and it filled her with happiness and such joy. She was in love with Violet Valdez.

19

The next day, Cory was waiting for CeCe to get to the salon. She stuck her head through the opening between their stores and looked towards CeCe’s station. Just as she sighed with frustration, CeCe walked through the front door. Cory hurried towards her and asked, “When’s your first appointment?’

“Good morning to you, too, dear sister.” CeCe smirked. “I have a while, what do you need?”

“Meeting! Now! At Cat’s,” Cory exclaimed.