“Just lunch, since you’re still making me breakfast.” Tina teased. “And dinner.”

            “Hey,” Bette said, nudging her back. “From what I know, you’re still in love with Clusters and fruit. I don’t treat milk like champagne anymore, but hey, you’re still eating it.”

            “You’re too proud of yourself, you know that?”

            “Only when it’s something to be proud of.”

            A comfortable silence settled between them before Tina decided to talk. “Bette?”

            “Yes?”

            Tina then leaned on the sink as she put the plate she was drying on the side. “I know we’ve been talking about the mortgage thing, and you’ve told me you don’t want to trouble me with it, but I’m really enjoying my time here, and I want to stay and split the mortgage with you, if that’s okay. I’ve been looking for a couple of places near work, but I just didn’t like the structures, and it was too expensive. So, is it okay if we split the mortgage and I pay my share?”

            Bette nearly broke out into the widest smile she could give. Okay? Okay doesn’t even begin to describe how I feel about this. “Okay. We’ll work on it during the weekend. But are you sure you want to stay here?” She asked, watching the blonde’s reaction.

            “Why not? I love the food,” Tina continued. “And I have my own pool.”

            Bette chuckled slightly. “Well, there is a lot to be said about my astounding skills.”

            Tina rolled her eyes as she began drying the plate again. “Yeah, right.”

            “Hey, you just said that this was ‘magnificent cooking’,” Bette said, doing the Italian accent that Tina was doing during dinner. “What happened to food you’d take to the set?”

            “Just kidding.” Tina replied. “But really? It’s okay with you?”

            “Of course it is,” Bette answered, smiling widely. “We’re having so much fun, I don’t see why not.” She then turned to Tina and added, “Thanks for telling me that. I appreciate that a lot.”

            “You’re welcome.”

Friday morning, two days later

            Alice saw Bette grinning widely after Tina got up and gave each of them a hug before she headed to work. She shook her head at the sight. Her friend was obviously head over heels in love with her housemate. Sometimes she found it funny, but more often than not, she found it heartwarming, although she never said anything about how she really felt about it to anyone else. Bette was lightening up. She just let go of her UCLA job and focused on her teaching stint at CU and at her gallery. Helena had just told them what happened last Wednesday at breakfast, and it was pretty funny that everyone at the table knew just how much Bette was falling for the blonde. Tina was now a part of their group, and Bette’s little secret was going to be harder to hide. As Bette watched Tina’s car pull off from the driveway and into the road, she waved for the nth time and smiled at her housemate before she turned back to her friends and sipped her coffee.

            “Bette, I must say, that’s really discreet.” Jenny said, as the rest of the table laughed.

            “C’mon, give her a break,” Alice said, as she wiggled her eyebrows. “She’s in lurrve.”

            Kit sat down at the table and nudged Bette gently. “Who’s in lurrve?”

            “Who else?” Shane asked back. “Bette P.’s in love with her housemate.”

            “Oh, no, not this again,” Helena said, pretending to be sick and tired of the game. Dusty laughed heartily as she and Max continued making inroads into their breakfast. “But really, Bette, are we all going to have gray hair before you make a move on your friendly executive?”

            “She’s straight, Helena.”

            “Oh please, since when has that ever stopped the legendary Bette Porter?” Kit asked. Bette shot a shocked look at her sister’s face. “C’mon, Bette, even I can see it. Ask her out.”

            “I can’t. Besides, we were just planning on how to split the mortgage.” Bette said. “It’s going to be so awkward. She’s not even interested in me.”

            “She’s still staying in your place,” Dana said. “That’s something.”

            Alice exchanged high-fives with Dana, who sat smugly on her chair.

            “No, really,” Alice said. “When she goes back to dating men, you’re going to be whining your sorry ass down to the Planet. You’re a goner, Bette Porter, and you know it.”

            “Yeah, well,” Bette replied. “I’m going to wait until she looks my way.”