”Not that there’s anything wrong with that…”

”I thought I was the one that was making up for multiple months of celibacy?” Tina asked.

”I’m not going to apologize for wanting to be with you,” Bette said.

”Well, no apology necessary,” Tina assured her. She sat up in a stretch. ”I’m getting hungry though. And you don’t have much food in the house.”

”Why don’t you go home, get something started for dinner and I’ll be over after I pack a few things,” Bette said. ”Then I don’t have to get up early to come back here in the morning before work.”

”That will give us a little more time to sleep in,” Tina replied.

”But more importantly, more time to talk tonight,” Bette said.

”You’re not feeling talked out?”

”We should give some thought to what we’re going to do,” Bette said.

”We’ll come up with some options,” Tina replied. ”I’ll see you shortly.”

Tina rose from the bed and started to dress. And Bette was soon placing a suit in a garment bag for her first sleepover at Tina’s house.
____________________________________________________________________________

”All the pressure is coming from outside sources, it’s not from me,” Bette said. ”In fact, right now it’s the judge, and Alice. That’s it.”

”I know it’s not you,” Tina said. ”But we’re both feeling it. And like I said, I want to control the story.”

”The best defence is a good offence,” Bette said.

”Is that your tactic in court too?” Tina asked. ”Is that why you appear to be so aggressive?”

”Are you trying to glean clues about how I defend my clients?”

”People are naturally more vulnerable when they’re naked,” Tina reasoned. ”And what if this relationship fizzles next week? I’d be kicking myself if I didn’t take advantage when I had the chance.”

”You still believe my reputation is based in some truth,” Bette shook her head at Tina’s assertion. ”So you’re pretending to be nonchalant about the fact we never want to be apart.”

”Yeah, you’re kind of interesting, so there. I admitted it. What now?” Tina asked.

”Well, it depends whether or not you want to make a splash,” Bette said. ”Are you going to the Mayor’s Banquet next week?”

”I was planning to go,” Tina replied.