Just as I sat down on the bed she opened the door, I looked up to find her standing there in her black bra and matching thong.

“Wha, what are you doing?!” I asked as I looked quickly to floor and shielded my eyes as if I were being blinded by the sun.

“I’m changing clothes. I am not about to fight wearing a dress! What the hell is your problem? You’re acting like you have never seen me in my underwear. My god Bette you have seen me naked more times than, more times than…..than, well you’ve seen me naked a whole hell of a lot.”

“I know that, it’s just…… been awhile? And I wasn’t prepared?” I was asking her like she knew why I was acting like a dumb ass.

“You weren’t prepared?! You have to prepare to see me naked. Well that’s just great Bette! Do you want me to go back in the bathroom and give you time to mentally prepare to see me naked? God, I just don’t get you sometimes!”

“Tina, that is not what I meant, and you know it. Look, just put some clothes on. I can’t have a serious conversation with you while you are standing there screaming at me in a thong. And keep your voice down. You have a house full of people, and I don’t think they care to hear about how much I have seen you naked.”

So this is not at all how I pictured to start our conversation. Of course the whole her being nearly naked was not part of the plan either. I mean I have been told to picture people naked during a speech, but come on. I have purposely avoided this exact situation for a reason. Tina and naked equals speechless and dumbfounded Bette.   These are not good characteristics to have when you are trying to proclaim your undying love for someone. It would be nice to be able to speak, and to be able to speak with some intelligence would be even better.

“Fine, I will put some clothes on, but I will not lower my voice. I am sure if you stick your big head out that door you will find that everyone has left.” She points to the bedroom door as she is saying this, as if I don’t know which one to stick my big head out of.

As I walk over to the door, which, keep in mind, is extremely hard due to my over sized head, I begin to ask myself, ‘What the hell am I getting myself into?’  But then I look back over my shoulder and I see her putting on her favorite pair of grey sweat pants. I see purple paint stains splattered down the legs from when she helped me paint my grandmother’s kitchen 5 years ago. I see the small burn marks from a few stray sparks, when she got too close to the fire two summers ago on our camping trip. I see the hole in the left knee that she got 4 months ago when we decided to go down to the city pool and go for a late night swim. We used to do it all the time back in high school, so we got the crazy idea of doing it one last time. We were climbing the fence and her pants got caught at the top and she fell right out them. I’m glad she wasn’t severely hurt because I was laughing way too hard to be of any help.

 All of these memories fill my mind as I am looking at her, then she glances up at me and I can tell by her smile that her mind is filled with same memories. I think I love her a little more. Every time I see that smile, I love her a little more.

“Huh? You were right.” I say as I stick my head out the door. “Everybody’s gone.”

“Well, I knew mom would make everyone leave so we could have the time and space to hug all the angry away. Or in this case yell it way. I am so mad at you Bette. I don’t think I have ever been this upset with you.”

“I wouldn’t say that just yet. The night is still young.”

TBC