“No, not at all…”

“So who were you calling?” Tina asked with a hint of a smile, looking pointedly at Bette’s phone. “Another date?”

The waiter came up with Bette’s water before she could reply. “Another place setting for my friend and a menu for her as well, please. Thanks.”

The waiter nodded and left. Bette turned back to Tina. “I wasn’t calling another date or anything like that. I was just calling my friend Alice to keep me company. I don’t like eating alone.”

“So you did think I was standing you up,” Tina said. “I’m sorry. Were you waiting long?”

“Not too long,” Bette covered. “Don’t worry about a thing. I’m just glad you’re here.”

Was that a blush she saw? Bette finally allowed herself to smile.

Tina grinned back at her. “So am I.” She moved her arms away from the table while their waiter set a place in front of her and handed her a menu.

“I guess you ordered already?”

“Just a few minutes ago.”

Tina ordered wine and some shrimp and pasta dish. The waiter disappeared again and they were left looking at each other. She’s so pretty, Bette thought. Conscious of staring, she looked away.

“You know… I argued with myself the whole way here.”

Bette raised her eyebrows. “Really? Why?”

“Well… because I don’t do this kind of thing. I’m not really the adventurous type. And…,” Tina ducked her head a little and tucked her hair behind her ear. “And because I’m in a relationship. It didn’t seem right. But then I decided it had to be right, or I wouldn’t want to go so much. I had to come and see why.”

“Why what?”

Tina paused. “Why… I’ve been thinking about you today, even before I saw you at the cafe at lunch. Before we ordered the exact same thing. It just seemed like…” Tina paused, searching for the right word.

“Like fate,” Bette suggested.

“Yeah. So, for once in my life I decided to do the adventurous, crazy thing.”

“I’m glad you did,” Bette said simply.

“Don’t get used to it,” Tina replied. “I’m a very steady girl. Probably a little tame for you.”

Bette laughed a little. “I’m a lot more tame than you think. The state you saw me in this morning is not how I usually operate.”

“Well, that’s a relief,” Tina said lightly. “Otherwise tomorrow morning you might find yourself charming some other girl in another diner.” There was a teasing glint in Tina’s eyes, along with a hint of something else.

“I’m not interested in anyone else at the moment,” Bette said, surprising herself with her candor.

“More good news,” Tina said. “Neither am I.”

“What about your boyfriend?”

“It wasn’t serious. If it was, I wouldn’t be here.”

The waiter interrupted again, pouring Tina’s wine. When he was gone, Bette lifted her glass again. “Let’s toast.”

Tina lifted her glass as well. “Okay. What are we toasting?”

“To chance encounters… and being open to wherever they may take you?”

Tina tapped her glass against Bette’s. “I’ll drink to that.”