Its been a long time. Were the first words I said to her, when I eventually managed to move my feet and make my way through the, audience. I ordered a Jack Daniels at the bar to steady my nerves and give me a little Dutch courage. I didnt know what to expect from her. I didnt know what her reaction would be to seeing me after all these years, without so much as a phone call. Did she hate me for not keeping in touch?

I searched her eyes to read how she was feeling, but she was giving nothing away. There was a time when she couldnt hide anything from me. I use to say to her, I can read you like an open book. Unfortunately for me it looked like shed closed that book.

Yeah, it has Tina. Her tone was nonchalant. She didnt even look at me when she spoke. She just stared straight ahead, looking straight through me.

I took a long drink of my JD it burned a path as it passed down my throat and warmed my stomach. She wasnt going to make this easy. She was going to give me a hard time. Maybe I deserved it?

I tried to ease the tension between the two of us. No ones called me Tina in years, I smiled at her, hoping to get some response, but she was having none of it.

Well Im sorry, but I cant call you Joss Knight, I dont know that person. She said it so coldly, it sent a chill through my whole body, but at least she looked at me when she said it. I was fighting a losing battle. She hated me.

Maybe this was a bad idea? Im gonna go. It was nice to see you Bette. I placed my empty glass on the bar and turned to walk away. I didnt bother looking at her. I was hurting too much.

Her fingers tightened around my wrist as she shot her arm out and pulled me back towards her.

Dont go T. Her voice was a whisper, her face, was softer. She had tears in her eyes.

That was when instinct took over. I wrapped my arms around her and embraced her tightly. We clung to one another. God it felt so good to be holding her this close.