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Vi grinned. “If you do it right.”

“Then we’re in. When’s our first lesson?”

Vi laughed, putting her arm around Cory's waist. She followed Cory’s gaze and saw Cat introducing her friend, Elena, to her parents. She noticed her father was carrying on a conversation as if he knew her. “Did you and Dad hang out in the bookstore today?”

“We did while we were waiting to meet you for lunch. What took y’all so long?”

“Uh, we just lost track of time,” Vi replied, not wanting to tell Cory they were looking at wedding dresses. That was a conversation for another time. “They look rather friendly.”

Cory glanced over at them. “Yeah, your dad and Elena talked about some book they had both read.”

“I think Elena is becoming a part of the family,” CeCe observed quietly.

“Hey,” Cat said as she and Elena walked up to them. “Elena came along because…”

“Because she’s more than welcome to be here,” Alexis said.

“Thanks, Alexis.” Elena smiled.

“There’s been a development that I’ll tell you all about later. I don’t want a bunch of questions from Mom,” Cat said.

“What kind of development?” Cory asked.

Cat sighed. “Hattie is back in town.”

“What!” CeCe exclaimed.

“Shhh!” Cat shushed her. “What part of I’ll tell you later did you not understand?”

“Un uh,” Cory said, shaking her head. “She does not get to come back to town and upset you all over again.”

“It’s okay,” Elena said, giving Cat a sweet smile. “I’m helping Cat with it.”

Vi looked on and watched Cory and CeCe both narrow their eyes and look from Elena to Cat. She knew the Sloan sisters were close and it was admirable to see Cory and CeCe ready to defend their little sister. Vi met Alexis’s gaze and she shrugged. “Is this the ex whose name we don’t speak aloud?” Vi asked quietly.

Cat chuckled. “That’s Cory’s rule, not mine, Vi. But yes, Hattie’s my ex and she came waltzing into the store proclaiming her love for me, saying how she made a huge mistake.”

“She did make a mistake, but fuck her!” CeCe said.

“Sisters!” Cat whispered. “Later!”

Vi rubbed her hand across Cory’s back and could feel the tension. Cory had told her that Cat and Hattie had been in a long term relationship and Hattie ended it, out of the blue, leaving Cat devastated.

“Cory and I are going to teach CeCe and Alexis how to salsa,” Vi said, trying to steer the conversation away from Cat’s ex. “Would you and Elena like to learn, too?”

Cat gave Vi a grateful smile then looked at Elena. “That sounds like fun.”

Elena nodded. “It does.”

“Sure, count us in,” Cat said.

“What are y’all scheming about over there?” Christine asked from the kitchen table. “When those three sisters get together I have to keep a close eye on them,” she said to Vi’s parents.

“We’re not scheming, Mom. What would you like to drink? My beautiful partner has requested mocktails and I’m happy to be your bartender for the evening,” Cory said.

“Partner? That’s so formal. What happened to girlfriend?” Christine said in an amused voice.

“It’s simply the truth.” Cory smiled at Vi. “We’re in this together.”