“Kim’s mom called and asked if she could pick her up tonight.  Kim is excited about her first sleepover and asked if Angie could help her get ready for tomorrow when all their friends will be there.  I thought since you and Helena were working and you said that you two would take Kate here to dance after dinner that it would be safe.”

                “Oh.”  Tina was busted.

                  “The next time you want a break make sure you don’t actually go to the places that you said you would.”  Alice shook her head.  “Dana move” she muttered too low for Tina to hear. “Better yet just tell me. Helena is a terrible cover.  Bette still barely tolerates her even after all this time. I suspect she is half the reason that Bette agreed to come; she still seems suspicious of Helena when it comes to you. I played on that to get her to come. Work with me TK, work with me.”  Alice shook her head. “There you are.”  Alice spotted Helena who seemed to be trying to disappear into the crowd.  “Was there even a dinner?”  Alice rolled her eyes and looked at the ceiling.  “You two are on your own. I’ll be back later; I like my toast well done.”

                  “Al” Helena cajoled her blocking her exit. “Al, I had no idea it was all Tina’s plan.”

                 Before Tina could protest a familiar voice cut in.

                  “What was Tina’s plan?” Bette asked with interest handing Alice a beer while she drank sparkling water. She did not look directly at Tina but fixed Helena with a stare that made the woman extremely uncomfortable. 

            “It seems the director that Ethel and Lucy here wanted to snag for their latest project was scooped up by the competition right under their noses.”

             “Sorry it was such an unproductive night.”  Bette remarked, carefully studying the water in her hand. 

            “Do you at least have a table?”  Alice asked thoroughly annoyed with Tina and Helena. 

              “Yes that we do.” Helena hurried to make amends.  She noticed that Bette was watching her.  She managed to whisper to Tina before they reached their table, “tell my children and my mother that I love them.”

              Alice’s temper started to dissipate once they were seated.  The table was close to the dance floor yet still private.  She slowly started to realize that Tina and Bette were carefully avoiding each other.  They both tried to initiate conversation but seemed too embarrassed with each other to make it work.  Helena looked like she just wanted to disappear.     

                Alice’s quick eyes shifted from Bette to Tina. Quickly, she figured out that the sexual tension between them was undeniable.  Alice would place a bet on it: Tina wanted Bette so bad she could taste it.  That’s why she needed a break as she called it.  Alice was sure she was right.  She must have enlisted Helena to score a Bette replacement when none other than Bette herself busted her.  Alice, Kit and Shane had talked about it.  They had all witnessed the sparks between the two of them over the last five months.  They had debated talking to Tina about it but no one was willing to accept that assignment. It seemed it fell literally into Alice’s lap.