How slow? Because from what you told me about the museum visit, it sounds like she’s being pretty respectful of your boundaries.

She is. That’s what makes it harder, actually.

Because it’s easier to stay angry when someone’s pushing?

Exactly. She’s being everything I said I needed her to be, and I’m running out of reasons to keep my walls up.

Maybe that’s the point B. Maybe you don’t need those walls anymore.

Bette stared at the message, knowing Jaylyn was probably right but still feeling scared to admit it.  Tina has respected every boundary she had given her.  It showed Bette that Tina is letting her take this at her own pace and in any direction she wanted it to go but that was the problem.  She didn’t know what direction she wanted.  But she felt like she was moving in the direction she needed to for now

I offered to pick them up for the planetarium trip.

Bette! That’s huge. You’re nesting.

I’m not nesting.

You’re totally nesting. Next you’ll be inviting them over for dinner.

Don’t be ridiculous.

I’m proud of you. I know this is hard, but that little boy has gotten under your skin, and honestly, so has his mother.

Bette’s chest tightened at that. Jaylyn understood how attached she was becoming to Carson, how much seeing him happy meant to her. And then there was Tina.  She was like a fire,an eternal flame, that burned steadily always within reach but getting to close meant getting burned and Bette wasn’t ready for that.  She knew that flame would completely consume her and if she allowed herself to be fully engulfed in it she would burn forever.

I’m scared, Jay.

I know. But being scared means it matters. And honey, this matters more than anything.

Saturday arrived with an unexpected autumn storm, rain beating against windows and making outdoor plans seem less appealing. Bette almost texted to cancel, but the thought of disappointing Carson stopped her.

Instead, she found herself standing outside Tina’s apartment building at exactly 2 PM, holding an umbrella and feeling more nervous than she had any right to be. She went to Tina’s apartment and readied herself before knocking.

When Tina opened the door, she looked surprised. “Bette! You didn’t have to come up. We could have met you downstairs.”