“You went with Dana?” 

“MmmHmm. And Alice.”

Bette laughed her signature Porter laugh.

“I would’ve paid to see that.”

Tina chuckled. Bette cleared her throat.

“Well, I…um…I’ve got…to…to get back.”

“Okay.”

Tina placed a loose curl behind Bette’s ear. 

Tina ran her finger down Bette’s ear. Bette leaned into the touch and licked her lips. Tina then outlined Bette’s jaw before she dropped her hand.

“I’ll see you later,” Bette finally opened her eyes.

“For our date,” Tina said with a smile.

“Yes. For our date.”

“Are you going to tell me what we’re doing?”

“I am not. You are just going to have to wait.”

Tina pretended to pout.

“How am I supposed to know what to wear if you don’t tell me what we’re doing?”

“Jeans.”

“Jeans? That’s all I get. Jeans.”

“Yep. Jeans,” Bette smiled. 

“Fine,” Tina huffed.

Bette laughed again.

“I’ll see you later.”

Before Bette could move, Tina took a step towards her. Bette looked into her eyes. Tina waited. Bette hugged her with her free arm. Bette wished she wasn’t holding the cup of coffee and the bag of goodies. She wanted to pull Tina in and never let go. Tina circled her arms around Bette’s waist. Bette tried to stifle a moan. Tina heard it and squeezed.

Bette leaned down and inhaled. Tina loved it when Bette sniffed her. 

Animals sniff. Humans inhale.

Tina giggled and squeezed tighter. Bette breathed her in again. Tina took a step back. She was wet. Bette had always had that effect on her. 

“See you later,” Tina whispered. 

Tina turned around and walked towards the door. Tina knew Bette was watching her. She grabbed the back of her neck and gently ran her hand down the side of it. Then she ran her hand over her right cheek. Tina looked over her shoulder and wiggled her fingers at the brunette. Bette gulped as Tina disappeared through the doors.

“Fuhh…” Bette said before she got in her car and drove away.

***

Bette’s Journal Entry #18
It felt so good sleeping in the same bed with Tina. Holding
her. I love the way she nuzzled back into me. It felt…right.
I love the way she smells. I pretended to fall asleep first.
When I felt her body get heavy and her breathing even out,
I opened my eyes and watched her. She’s so adorable when
she sleeps. She makes these little noises when she dreams.
Sometimes she talks in her sleep. But not last night. She just
slept. She seemed so peaceful. I wonder if that was the first
time she had had a good night’s sleep in a while too. I propped
up on my elbow and watched her chest heave. The slight rise and
fall under the Yale sweatshirt. The way she wiggled her nose.
Then she smiled and it melted my heart. I wonder what she was
dreaming about. I couldn’t help myself. I kissed her exposed neck.
She moaned as soon as my lips touched her delicate skin. That drove
me crazy. I wanted to nibble on the spot behind her ear until she
woke up and turned to face me. But I know I’m not ready for that.
I know that we are not ready for that. I laid back down and let the
tears fall. I pulled her in closer and fell asleep. I don’t want to sleep
alone again. I want to fall asleep with her in my arms or me in hers
for the rest of my life. Of that I am certain. Some people think home
is a place. It can be a person. Tina is my home.