Bette and Alice sat at a table, both drinking coffee.

“Ok Porter, so spill. I wanna know all about your little lady”

“What do you wanna know?” Bette tried her best to be elusive.

“Everything”

“Where do I start?”

“Well, how d’ya get her to fall for you?”

“I did what every sane person would, I told her how I felt”

“Oh, so there is a heart somewhere in that chest of yours. And here I was thinking you didn’t have feelings”

Bette glared at Alice witheringly.

“Okay, okay, and she turned just from that?” Alice sat back in her seat.

“I didn’t push her. Well…tried not to” Bette admitted.

“So you scared her away?” Alice looked triumphant.

“A little. But she came round in the end”

“So how long til you fucked her?”

“Alice!” Bette exclaimed “that is none of your business!”

“Come on…I want details”

“We waited til she was ready…” Bette started.

“That must have killed you” Alice interrupted.

“…and it was worth it, believe me” Bette’s eyes glinted.

“So…”

“That’s all the details you’re getting” Bette was insistent.

“Spoilsport” Alice folded her arms and pouted.

“Al, this isn’t like with all the other girls. This is different”

“Different how, exactly? What’s so special about her?”

“Everything, Al. She makes me feel so…alive” Bette tried to find the right words “Every day I fall in love with her a little bit more”

“So sweet…and so not you” Alice pointed out.

“Welcome to the new me, Alice”

“Wow, she’s really got to you, hasn’t she?”

“I guess she has” Bette took a sip of coffee.

“Have you used the l word yet?”

“*****?” Bette was confused.

“Love, you idiot”

“Oh right, yeah I have”

“And you meant it?” Alice asked incredulously.

“Yes Alice, I did. It wasn’t some ploy to get her into bed. I really am in love with her”

“Geez Porter, I never thought I’d hear you say that”

“Well I’m a changed woman”

“I can see that”

“There is something I need some help with, though. Although I’m not sure if you’re the right person…” Bette trailed off.

“Spill. I’ll see what I can do”

“I don’t ever want to be without Tina. I think I’m gonna ask her to marry me”

Alice’s eyes widened as she exhaled loudly and almost spat out her coffee.

“I’m serious Alice”

“Wow, I never saw that one coming. But how can I help?”

“I need to know if she’s gonna think it’s too fast”

“Can’t you just ask her?”

“Then there wouldn’t be any surprise” Bette smiled as she pictured the look on Tina’s face “I need you to find out for me”

“*****, I’ve only met the woman for like, two minutes”

“You can talk to anyone. Please, for me” Bette fluttered her eyelashes.

“Okay, okay, you know I’m a sucker for that. I’ll do my best”

“Thank you, thank you, thank you” Bette got up and hugged Alice, almost smothering her.

“Get off you big *****” Alice pushed Bette away “not such a pain in the arse now, am I?”

“But please be subtle, Al”

“Subtlety’s my middle name”

Bette rolled her eyes. Alice picked up her cell phone and dialled the number of Bette’s house.

“Hey, Tina…yeah, it’s Alice…uh huh…well I was thinking, how about you and me get together for a little chat…without Bette…yeah…we need to get to know each other…about a half hour?…that’s great…I’ll see you then…bye Tina” Alice hung up the phone “sorted”

“You’re a star”

“You owe me, Porter. Now why don’t you get out of here while I figure out my approach”

“Okay, but you be nice”

“Hey, nice is my middle name”