“Depends on the meaning of the word ‘free,’” Tina hedged.

“Do you have another date or somewhere else you have to be between eight and ten?”

“Well, no. Not tonight.”

“Excellent, neither do I. We’ve already established agreement and no conflict on points one and two,” Bette said. “All that’s left is a decision on point three.”

“Now wait a second,” Tina said, probably feeling like she was close to agreeing to something that she wasn’t sure about. “I have to –” she broke off and wrinkled her brow. “What’s point three?”

“Where we go to eat,” Bette said breezily.

“Oh… Do you like Italian?”

“Absolutely,” Bette said, happy she had circumvented Tina’s doubts. “Have you been to Don Ricci’s?”

“No…”

“You’ll love it. So it’s settled; that’s where we’re going tonight.”

“Um… okay.” Tina said, looking a little dazed, as though she couldn’t believe she was agreeing to this.

It was Bette’s turn to laugh. “Don’t look so worried.”

“Oh, I’m not. It’s just that I’ve never agreed to anything like this before. You know. Dinner with a stranger? You have to admit, this is the sort of situation you only experience while watching horrible romantic comedies.”

Bette snorted. “Just call me Meg.”

“Then that makes me Tom Hanks?”

“After a fashion.”

Tina giggled. “I look more like Meg than you do. And you have the dark and curly Hanks hair.”

Bette snickered. “You got me. I’ll practice being an infinitely earnest and approachable every woman for our dinner tonight.”

“And I will be the slightly kooky winsome female lead. I’ll try to work in as many sarcastic cracks as I can. Then I’ll twirl when I think you aren’t looking, but make sure to catch me doing it, okay?”

“You got it.”

“This is so silly,” Tina said. “But I’ve already agreed. The rules of romantic comedy canon clearly state that I have to go through with it, in spite of any misgivings I might have. It’s out of my hands now.” She rummaged through her purse for a pen and a business card. Leaning her purse on her thigh, she scribbled her number down on the back of the card quickly and handed it to Bette. “There’s my number. In case you need to call me or something.”

“Right,” Bette said, taking the card. “So, tonight. Don Ricci’s. At eight. See you then?”

“I’ll be there.”

Bette grinned. “Can’t wait.”

Was it her imagination, or was Tina blushing?

“I should get going,” Tina said, shifting from one foot to the other.

“Oh, right, of course. I didn’t mean to keep you. Busy day,” Bette said awkwardly, groaning inwardly.

“Yeah. So… yeah. See you tonight.”

“Bye, ‘Meg’” Bette said, waving a little. She and Tina parted at the corner. Bette walked a few steps and then turned around to look behind her, only to meet Tina’s eyes as she did the same thing.

With another small smile in Tina’s direction, Bette continued down the street. It was just like the movies. But Bette definitely didn’t mind. Not even if she had to be Tom Hanks.