Tina bit her lip and smiled at the way her soul felt being tucked into Bette. 

Tina started a pot of coffee, put together a fruit bowl, a tray with an assortment of cheeses and some granola. She poured some Greek yogurt into a cup and drew a heart on top with honey. Breadcrumbs. She hoped the heart would still be visible by the time Bette got out of the pool. Tina checked her watch and left through the patio doors.

Tina paused and admired Bette’s arms.

One heartbeat.

Two heartbeats.

Three heartbeats.

Tina loved how magnificent Bette’s arms looked as she pulled them out of the water and drove them back in with each stroke. Her muscles rippled.

“Baby, you are so fucking sexy,” Tina whispered. 

Tina smiled. She continued watching Bette as she slowly left through the gate. 

Tina needed a release. She sprinted to the park. Her lungs were on fire and she could hardly breathe. She put her hands on top of her head.

*** 

There was a towel waiting for Bette on the lounger when she emerged from the pool. She smiled. 

“I know that look,” Shane said in her Shane way.

Bette looked up and saw her young friend entering through their shared gate with a smirk on her face. 

“What look? I don’t have a look.”

“You have many looks. And the one you’re displaying right now is the ‘I’m so in love with Tina’ look.”

Bette rolled her eyes. 

“Am I wrong?” Shane raised her eyebrows.

“You are not wrong,” Bette smiled.

“I know,” Shane smiled in return. 

Bette shook her head and wrapped the towel around her waist.

“So, things are going…well?”

“It’s been an intense few days. Emotional but good. We’ve been talking…a lot.”

“Like really talking?”

Bette nodded.

“Yes. Really talking.” 

“That’s good. Right?”

Bette shrugged.

“I hope so. I miss her…our rhythm…our life.”

“So, the love is bigger then?”

“It’s always been bigger, Shane.” 

“I know. You just had to figure it out for yourself,” Shane said in her Shane way. 

“Is that your polite way of saying I needed to get the fuck over myself.”

Shane shrugged. 

“Seems to be a common theme for me.”

“Eh. We all have our moments. You are just more stubborn than most.”