“Humph. I think she’s cheating on me.”

“Wh…what makes you say that?”

“Well, she’s been coming home late. She sleeps on the couch or with Jackson most nights. I don’t know. I think I’ve lost her somewhere and I don’t know if I can or will get her back.”

“Well I’m sure she’ll find her way back.”

“She’s also been acting strange these last few days, not coming home at all some nights.”

“Wh…um,” I said clearing my throat, knowing that it’s my fault she hasn’t been coming home, “maybe there’s a perfectly good explanation.”

“I don’t know. I’m sorry to unload on you like this. You’re a good friend. Tina hanging out with you is doing her good. Getting her away for a while is keeping me sane and Jackson is having a wonderful time with you and your sister.”

“It’s no problem, really,” I said, laughing nervously, “well, I’ve gotta head back upstairs. I hope your day goes better.”

“Thanks Porter, have a good one.”

Guilt flooded my heart, I couldn’t bear it. I know that one day he’d find out, but the guilt was agonizing. He thought I was his friend, but I was deceiving him, I’m hurting him. I smile at him and walk away. I meet Tina down the hall and I grab her and pull her to the elevator.

“Bette, what the hell?”

“Tina what are we doing? You need to tell him, he thinks us hanging out has been good for you, for him. He thinks we’re just friends, and Aimee keeps pressuring me. She really wants to be the one to tell him. Babe, I want to wear you on my arm. Show the world that we’re together. I am so proud to be with you, and it kills me that we are hiding a secret, I can’t do this anymore,” I say and there was a long pause, “I’m tired of pretending.”

“As am I,” Tina said and pulls me into a passionate kiss. Our tongues battle for dominance, then we hear the elevator stop and we part.

“This is torture,” I say as the doors open.

“I’m gonna tell him tonight. I can’t live a lie any longer,” she says and gets out, “I love you,” she says as the doors close.