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“So that’s when things began to speed up?” Josie asked.

Vi chuckled. “I guess you could say that. I had come by Cory’s happy hour bar a few times.” Vi stopped. “Did I tell you that she made me the most delicious non-alcoholic cocktails because she knew alcohol makes my head hurt?”

“Now that’s true love,” Josie said.

“Mom!” Vi laughed. “But you’re not wrong. That was such a nice thing to do.”

“She liked you,” Josie remarked.

“We liked each other. Even when I was trying to outsell her, I couldn’t get her out of my head and it had nothing to do with liquor sales.”

Josie giggled.

“Oh my God! I need to shut up. You’re my mother, I don’t need to be telling you this stuff.”

That brought a bark of laughter from Josie. “You don’t think your dad and I felt that way? Let me tell you something, my daughter, it just gets better.”

Vi smiled at her mother and knew what she said was true. Every day she was with Cory was better and better.

“I can tell by that smile on your face that you know what I’m talking about.”

Vi nodded. “Sometimes I can’t believe it. I never dreamed life could be like this. I have everything I’ve ever wanted.”

“And what’s that?”

“I have an amazing woman who is in love with me and my career is where I’d hoped it would be. It’s all coming together,” Vi explained.

“Well, I think you have a very important question to ask Cory.”

Vi turned from the dress she was gazing at and grinned. “Maybe Cory needs to ask me.”

Josie threw her head back and laughed. “Like you would ever let her beat you to the punch.”

Vi laughed along with her. “You know me so well. Come on, we’d better go. Cory and Dad are going to wonder where we are.”

As they walked back to Vi’s car she thought about what her mom had said. Maybe she did need to ask Cory an important question.

26

Vi and Cory introduced her parents to Cory’s mom and they immediately began an animated conversation.

“Wow, they hit it off,” Vi said, following Cory to the island where CeCe and Alexis were setting up the food.

“I’m not surprised,” Cory said, turning to Vi. “Your parents kind of remind me of my parents.”

Vi tilted her head and looked over where Christine, Josie, and Alberto were laughing. “I can see that.”

“Hey, I thought we were having burgers,” Cory said.

“Change of plans,” CeCe replied. “We decided that building your own tacos would be more fun.”

“Then it’s a good thing I brought you a jar of my famous salsa,” Vi said, setting the jar on the island.

“Yummy!” Alexis exclaimed. “Cory told us you made salsa and I wasn’t sure if she meant the dance or the sauce.”

“We have offered to teach you and CeCe the dance,” Vi said, chuckling.

Alexis leaned in closer to Vi. “Is it really like making love with your clothes on?”