“You don’t plan to be here when he comes over?”

“I can’t sweetie. I have a meeting with the board of directors about the Provocations ordeal. This is huge and we’ve set several hours aside. I won’t be free until after 2pm. I want to be here but it’s too late to reschedule. Some of the board members will be going on vacation and I need their endorsements now.”

“Can Marcus come over tomorrow evening maybe after work? I could fix dinner?”

“Do you have something to do tomorrow morning because it’s the only time Marcus is free? He’s preparing for an international group show and will be going out of the country in a few days. That’s why I’m so anxious to get this done before he leaves. Please Tee.”

“I really wish you’d have at least talked to me before you approached him Bette. We said we would do this together.”

“I can’t imagine what reservations you might have but it’s a deal. I’ll be finished with my meeting by 2pm. Call me any time after that and let me know how it goes OK?”

Bette and Tina had sex that night until both were sated. Even when they were having problems the sex was always good but that in itself was the problem. They rarely made love anymore. The few times they’d gotten together in recent months it was to just to have the physical release they got from sex. The sexual connection was there and they always brought each other to multiple orgasms but the closeness and intimacy especially afterwards was sorely lacking. Rarely did they snuggle up to each other like fitted pieces to a puzzle. They always use to comment on just how well their bodies fit together; how beautiful the contrast between their skin tones; how perfectly their fingers and legs entwined. Now they found that more often than not they would each lie on their sides and Bette would casually through an arm over Tina’s midsection. She’d do it in the hopes that Tina would scoot back and allow herself to be spooned but it didn’t happen. Tina adjusted her pillow and pretended to have already fallen asleep. Bette closed her eyes and let the lone tear fall as she whispered “I love you Tee” sadly getting used to not getting a response. Maybe it would be different once they had a baby. Bette fell asleep with the hope that Marcus Allenwood would be the one to help them make this dream a reality.