Two Weeks later…

The morning sun slants through the curtains of Tina’s bedroom. Bette is sitting up in bed, laptop balanced on her thighs, a slim Bluetooth earpiece tucked in her ear. She types furiously, voice hushed. “No, hold off on unloading anything when you get there. I’ll handle it when I get in, James…” Her fingers stutter across the keyboard. She runs a hand through her hair, exhales. “How did this even happen? We’ve used Carter’s Moving for years and never had so much as a scratched frame…”

She listens as James replies, eyes narrowing at the screen. “Right. Just hang tight until I get there. Thanks.” She plucks the earpiece free, shakes her head, and mutters, “Bullshit. Today is going to fucking suck….”

***

About ten minutes later, Bette stands under the shower, eyes closed, hot water running down her shoulders and neck. She hears the soft click of the shower door and turns her head.

Tina steps in, pulling the door shut behind her, and the steam closes around them both.

“Well, good morning,” Bette says.

“Morning.” Tina moves in behind her, arms sliding around her waist, chin coming to rest on her shoulder. The length of her body is warm against Bette’s back.

“Did I wake you with my little rant earlier?” Bette asks.

“A little.” Tina’s lips brush her shoulder. “Some artwork got damaged?”

Bette exhales. “A sculpture. Nicked on the way to the gallery, not catastrophic from the photos, but still. The moving company already has a scathing email in their inbox and a phone call coming the second I get in.” She pauses, watching the water spiral down the drain. “This day is already fucked up and I haven’t even left the house yet. I just—”

Tina doesn’t say a word. Instead, her hand moves, slow and deliberate between Bette’s breasts, and Bette feels the sentence she was about to say dissolve somewhere before it reaches her mouth. Her eyes close. Tina’s fingers find her nipples, and Bette’s breath catches, a low sound escaping.

She lets it go on for a moment, the heat of the water, the heat of Tina’s hands, before she turns around in the circle of Tina’s arms to face her. She cups Tina’s jaw and kisses her once, softly, then walks her back one step until Tina’s back meets the wet tile wall.