Looking over Al squinted then her mouth scrunched, with all the sincerity she could muster said, “Umm – yeah.” 

Bette should stick to teaching she reflected in silence.  Her matchmaking skills weren’t quite as reliable as her knowledge of art.  Sadly, the Dean obviously didn’t agree given the grin that graced her perfectly glossed lips.  Alice could almost read the thought ‘I knew it’ scrolling through Bette’s mind.

Along with the freshly prepared smoothie came the instruction “Stay here.” 

So she stayed.  She shrugged her shoulders while Bette took a breath, turned around and approached the table with a soft look on her face. 

“You’re leaving?” she asked unnecessarily watching Tina shake Steve’s hand cordially while her other hand was on the bag that rested on the empty chair next to her. 

Tina replied – also stating the obvious – “Alice is here.”

“Okay.  Well actually, there’s something Steve and I were planning to join forces on and we were hoping to get your opinion.  Maybe we can all meet next week if you could make time for us?” 

She curiously looked at Bette.  After a brief pause replied, “Sure.” 

“Great!” came the excited answer.

“Fine.”  Tina cleared her throat.  “Again, nice to meet you.” 

“And you.” Bette’s friend replied warmly.

Shifting toward the brunette Tina reminded, “I’ll see you tomorrow with Angelica.”  She trained her eyes on Steve and clarified, “She’s our daughter.”

He nodded and looked at her then at Bette but said nothing. 

Tina smiled again, touched Bette’s arm then walked toward the counter.  Alice, with her usual discrete manner raised her eyebrows repeatedly as if to say, ‘Boyfriend material, Bette approved’. 

In return, Angelica’s mother just rolled her eyes as only she could.  With a considerable puff of air she blew a few strands of hair from her face. 

Alice shrugged again masking the chuckle that took over her upper body’s movement.

Eight steps away from the waiting writer and a minute or two from them clearing the restaurant, Tina thought the better of it.  This was it.  Whether Bette was ready or not she would make it entirely clear. 

In front of whatever this man’s name was. 

In front of Alice who would shortly convey her declaration to anyone who would listen. 

In front of everyone in the Planet.

Turning on her heel she marched back to the table where Bette sat. 

“Bette?”  Tina paused to stare at her ex. 

The woman who sat looked up with a small smile in greeting.  “You’re back, did you…”

Without another word, her body melted as she leaned and pressed her lips on Bette’s.  She kissed her with a barely suppressed passion. 

Catching her by surprise was perfect.  Bette didn’t pull back.  Almost immediately her lids fluttered closed after being snared by the blonde’s hungry smoldering gaze.  Tina captured her lower lip between the moist warmth of her own.  Searching Bette’s taste with possession leaving no question as to their relationship.

Not far away, Alice observed the two as did the nice man slated for consideration. 

She smirked.  With another shrug and a grin, she winked at the ‘perfect man’ then took a healthy sip of the well-worth-it smoothie.