Bette was so deep in thought that she didn’t realize that Kit was calling her name until she looked up and saw her signaling towards the door with her head.

“Bette?”

“Hmm?”

“I was saying, the object of your affection just walked in with Alice and Shane.”

Bette lifted her head and looked towards the door, where Alice, Shane,and Tina had just walked in. She didn’t feel like having a conversation, so she excused herself and went to the ladies’ room,just when it looked like they were headed towards her. It seemed to Bette as if she was in the ladies room like forever, but one glance at her watch showed that it was only fifteen minutes. Still a long time when all you were doing was staring at your reflection in the mirror. She splashed some water on her face and was about to exit when Tina walked through the door.

“Hey” Tina said hesitantly,not sure what to say to Bette.

Bette stared at Tina through the mirror and said an aloof “hey”

“Bette, we need to talk”

Tina’s tone of voice and expression were warnings that what she wanted to talk about was nothing that Bette wanted to hear.

“Can I have a rain check? Public restrooms aren’t my idea of a chat. Another time would be better.” Bette pushed past Tina, but instead of going back to the bar she opted for the parking lot. She was almost at her car when she realized that Tina had followed her outside.

“”I wasn’t talking about, in the restroom, can we go some place quiet and talk.?”

“I’m sorry Tina,but I don’t think that we have any thing else to talk about. I think you said all you needed to say the other night. I got the message loud and clear.” Bette paused then continued. Damn if she was going to give Tina the satisfaction of blowing her off again. She squared her shoulders and went on the offensive “Don’t worry Tina you have nothing to fear from me. I Think I know what you are going to say, so let me spare you the trouble ,okay?”

Bette opened her car and turned to face Tina. “You made love to me at a time when you were feeling lonely and betrayed by your husband, but I don’t hold that against you. We were consenting adults. We both got what we wanted from the other.” Bette paused to draw a deep breath. She hated that it sounded shaky. “But you don’t want a lasting relationship. No commitment.- No strings.” Spreading her arms wide, she added. “Hey, that’s cool. Neither do I. I get it , you only want to be friends. So you can stop acting like you are about to jump out of your skin every time you see me.” She managed to form a cold , stiff, insincere smile. “So relax , okay?”