“Me neither,” Carmen admitted. “I mean… she kissed you back, so that’s good, right?”

“I don’t know,” Bette said. “I mean, I haven’t heard from her since…”

“So when did this all happen?”

“A few days ago. I just… I don’t know what I was thinking. Obviously, I moved way too fast. I just… I just couldn’t hold myself, you know? It was something I couldn’t help. And I wanted her so bad, I probably just misread all the signals. I feel so stupid, such an idiot. I feel like I’ve been treating her like a guy.”

“That’s not true, Bette. She could easily have said ‘no’ to that kiss. It was entirely her choice,” Alice said. “I get it that she’s confused, but she should think first and then act.”

“You’re the one to say that, Al,” Carmen said, rolling her eyes. She then turned to Bette. “I thought I was never going to say this, but I agree with Alice. She could have refused, and there would be no hard feelings, right? I mean, you talked about it before you did it, how it wouldn’t be awkward if you’d kiss and afterwards just be friends. So naturally, if she had refused, you’d have been okay with that. She’s supposed to be straight after all.”

“I know all of that, but I still feel so guilty,” Bette said, her head hanging. “I just… I don’t think I can get over it. The stupid thing is that nothing happened. It was just a kiss, after all.”

“But you said it was the most special kiss of your life!” Carmen said.

“Could it be,” Alice carefully said, “that after that break-up with Nicole, you missed some intimacy? And as you describe this Tina, she looks like Nicole.”

“She doesn’t look like her at all!” Bette angrily said, raising her voice. “They both are blondes, that’s all! That would be like saying you look like Nicole, Al.”

“No, don’t get me wrong… it’s just, you’ve been together with Nicole for some time. It’s normal to feel strange after a relationship that lasted that long. It’s normal that it’s weird that suddenly, you don’t have a girlfriend to hug and kiss, someone to love. It feels like something’s missing, and you just want to fill that whole because it’s burning you. And Tina just enchanted you, without having that intention. And maybe, she reminded you of Nicole – subconsciously.”

“When did you get this wise?” Bette mockingly asked.

“Dana…” Alice said. There was no need to fill the blank as all of them knew what Alice had gone through. “What I’m trying to say is that maybe, you should talk to Tina. If you explain her how confused this relationship left you, there’s a chance she’ll understand and maybe things will get back to normal. Yes, you should definitely tell her about Nicole.”

Bette bit her lower lip. She had let the part where she had told Tina about Nicole and her family out, sure as she was that her friends would say that she had given Tina too much information.

“She knows,” Bette said, explaining no more. Another silence fell.

“Well,” Carmen said after a while. “I think that party is gonna be good for you. It’ll free your mind, forget your worries for a night.”

“I don’t think so,” Bette said. “I kinda invited her and Shane.”

Carmen couldn’t help but smile. “I’d love to meet them, actually. I wanna see this girl that is so special to you. Al and I will do everything to help you through and solve this – you’re neighbours after all.”