Bette wearily climbed into her car once more. The day hadn’t really even begun and she felt exhausted, yet exhilarated. There was something about settling scores and putting her life in order that energized her.

This can’t be right, she thought. It’s not supposed to feel this good when you break up with someone. Especially when there’s no one else.

There was someone else, of course, but she didn’t want anything to do with Bette right now. Bette didn’t blame her either.

Bette knew that she loved Tina, as much as she had tried to ignore it. Her relationship with Candace had been meaningless, she knew that. But the real reason she had been able to break it off so easily, so abruptly, was that she had never let Candace in. She had kept her at a distance, kept her feelings on the surface. It had been all about her feeling okay after losing Tina. Okay enough to get through the days, having a way to spend as few nights alone as possible. A typical rebound relationship. Bette knew the rules, but she didn’t understand how Candace had become so attached so fast. She had kept it light, she had kept it simple, or so she had thought.

Bette was caught in traffic again and thinking over the events of this morning. Maybe tonight she could go to Alice’s and she could talk to Tina. She’d have to think it all over of course – it wouldn’t do to clumsily blurt it out. The timing had to be right. She knew Tina well enough to know what she would be most receptive to. This would require some thought and planning. Despite the uncharacteristically dramatic chaos of the morning, Bette prided herself on being a logical, organized, somewhat dispassionate woman. When she set out to accomplish something, she did it.

Bette was lost in her thoughts, driving slower than was necessary, when her cell phone rang from the depths of her bag. She fished inside and answered without checking to see who it was.

“Hello?”

“Bette…”

Oh God. It was Candace.

“Candace, I don’t know how many more ways to say this, but I don’t want to see you anymore. It’s over, do you understand? What I did wasn’t fair to you. I don’t know what I’ve been doing. I must have been… temporarily insane. I can’t…” Bette paused, sighing. “I’ve apologized, Candace. I’ll apologize again: I’m sorry. Please, stop calling me.”