She walks over and opens the fridge. “Umm, well, I don’t really have a lot to offer. I haven’t had time to stock up with groceries since I moved in.”

“I would have to disagree. I happen to know for a fact you have plenty to offer.” I say this while I walk the smirk on my face over to stand behind Tina.

She turns around and the bright smile that is lit up on her face is competing with the light shining from inside the refrigerator. She takes in a deep breath and starts to say something, before my rude stomach interrupts for the second time tonight.

She reaches out and rubs my stomach. She then bends down and speaks directly into my belly button as if it is microphone. “10-4 good buddy, I hear ya loud and clear.”

She then turns back around and sticks her head back into the refrigerator as if she has already been proven innocent of robbing me of my train of thought and breath. Before I can even begin to reclaim my thoughts and breath, she turns around again. “Well, there are always eggs?” I look down and she is shaking what looks like a small milk carton in her hand as she is saying this.

“Since when do eggs come in a milk carton?”

“This is egg substitute, it taste just like eggs, and it is better for you. Have you never tried it?”

“Well, my eggs have always shown up, so I have never had to call in a substitute. Sounds like you need to switch to a different brand. Apparently, you had slacker eggs.”

There is that laugh again. It never gets old. I love hearing her laugh; especially if I am the one that caused it.

“Bette, you are ridiculous.”

“So I’ve been told. Ridiculously charming, hilarious and lovable. That’s the rumor at least.”

“Well, I think it’s time to put that rumor to bed. As much as it pains me to admit it, that rumor is no rumor anymore. It is in fact true. You have been found to be charming, you have been found to be hilarious, and you most definitely have been found to be lovable.”

The way she said lovable sent a chill skiing down my spine.  Her tongue had the leading role in that performance and it deserves a standing ovation. Her lips are left with the shiny aftermath and someone needs to clean it up. I slowly walk over to her. I reach behind her and shut the refrigerator door. I take the so called egg substitute from her hand and set it in on the counter.

“Bette, you need to eat.”

I reach up and put my hand on her neck as my thumb takes life and gently rubs her cheek.

“Tina, thank you for trying to feed me, but there is something far more important that requires my attention at this moment.”

My eyes remain fixated on her lips

“Oh really? Care to share what is more important than food?”

“Oh, there is definitely going to be a lot of sharing.”

Our lips are dangerously close to each other. I look straight into her eyes as I say “I love you” directly into her mouth so that those words can travel direct to her heart with no connecting flight. She doesn’t even bother to say it back. She leans into my lips gently. Our lips are hugging one another. I have never felt anything so soft in my entire life. I guess my tongue felt left out because it slowly appeared and introduced itself to her top lip. As it methodically made its way from one side of her lip to the other I heard her moan, and all I could say was “Strawberries”.  I felt her pull back. Her eyes were closed and she has this goofy smile on her face. “What?” she asked. I grab the back of her head and pull her in. “Nothing. I just fucking love strawberries.”