It was cold, early..I didn’t think fall would come so early here in Pittsburgh, no snow yet..but there was no more flip flops or sunny days at the beach weather here.  So, a bunch of us for work were all playing cards.  The room had amazing energy, there was beer, food, booze, my cousins who were also my roommates and board game night and some card games too.  In my head I was stuck in a triangle, it can be called on the outside for some as the worst timing ever or just plain complicated. 

My girlfriend Ally, amazing Ally, we have been together for about four months..we were new to the city and just happened to meet at the local watering hole for school.  Lucky in Pittsburgh to find a beautiful woman?  That was definitely not scarce, there were many schools in the city and some were only women only..Happenstance that Ally  and I met up and had a good time and were both fellow Californians as well.  We had our vices for our needs back home In n Out and the warm sun almost everyday.  We didn’t get into a girlfriend relationship too fast it just kind fell into place that way and it was nice, no it was more than nice, which makes it all that harder for what started at the beginning of my first term at grad school, it was a like wall smacking me in the face.  Game night slapped it in the face and came to a boiling head.

I didn’t think she would come, it was game night, who wants to come to that?  Ally and I loved it and well my cousins also loved it.  A cold night in the house with family and booze and food..and least not forget FUN.  You could hear us outside on the street yelling of smack talk of who was going to win the game or who was cheating at the time. 

Ally and I would team up and pick on some with our code names of defense..little did we think of winning it was just a good night in.  I was half buzzed when the door rang, so I got up waving off to my Michael the youngest of our group.  I walk to open the door and I was god smacked with that pitting ache in my stomach I had thought was gone for good.

"Hi…uh Bette?"

"Hey..erm Tina..I thought you invited me?"  Those eyes…and her lips, her voice.

I let her in unbeknownst to me that I look like a goldfish at the same time.  Bette smiles at me and I go a little weak and straighten  up quickly after hearing Ally’s voice and her arms around me.

"Bette!  The famous Bette..Tina cannot stop talking about you!"   I turn red and try to play it off with a shy smile and shrug off of introductions.  Everyone smiles and says their hello and nods.  She turns to me.

"So big family?  Kind of nice actually I can see why you love game night!"  Bette poked me in the belly with a cheery smile and wink that made me.  We walk in and I show here where to get a drink and she pulls me in the kitchen.

"Tina thanks for inviting me..I was surprised actually that you did with that whole conversation we had and all…so thanks.."  I look at her with slight pleading in my eyes, her voice was soft, and I know no one can hear us but us making more drinks.

"Well I was actually forced to by Ally…it doesn’t change anything from that conversation.." Bette steps closer to me, I can smell her shampoo and perfume, its intoxicating.

"So does that mean you love me too?"