Tony sighs “Bette?..You do know this means that maybe your encounter with Tina was not random”

Bette’s eyes narrow and her face changes to one of pure rage

“Rocco!”

Meanwhile Tina and Iris’s Apartment-LA

Tina stands in front of the sliding glass doors staring out into the city. The image of Bette last night permanently etched in her mind and replaying their encounter over and over again

Tina’s breath hitched in her throat as she remembered Bette falling against her and feeling her muscular arms with her hands as she steadied her. Arms that she never thought she would feel again.  Even after her heart was broken so badly and even beyond the anger she felt, there was a small part of her that was glad she did.

“Babe? Are you ok?” Iris snakes her arms around Tina’s waste from behind

Tina nods collecting her thoughts “Iris?”

“Yes?”

Tina turns around and clasps her hands around Iris’s neck

“What if this is going to be a huge mistake.  What if Rocco was wrong about what happened”

Tina removes herself from Iris’s embrace and leads her by hand to the sofa where they both sit. Tina turns to Iris and sighs

“Seeing Bette last night after all this time was obviously painful but there was something in her eyes….It’s just….She seemed sad. Like the Bette I have always loved.  Not the cold hearted monster who tried to kill me and left me for dead..And her face registered hurt when I said I needed to get back to my girlfriend”

Hearing Tina open up to her made Iris’s heart swell but then pangs of guilt set in wiping out any thrill she felt for that moment

“What’s wrong?” Tina’s question snaps her out of her thoughts

“Nothing..I’m just sorry you had to go through this because of her.  And I guess I wish I was really your girlfriend”  Iris says shakily

Tina smiles and composes herself to continue

“Iris…If it weren’t for you I wouldn’t be here today..You saved my life and I’m forever grateful to you and your family for that…It’s hard to move past the thought the woman I loved more than my own life would try to kill me so please understand I can’t just trust and allow myself to love like that again”

“Do you still love her?”

Tina narrowed her eyes

“After what she did to me?..I feel nothing but anger now…And that’s why we are doing this”

“You didn’t answer the question” Iris say pointedly

“How could I still love someone who would do what she did to me.  And she left me to die”

The guilt was overwhelming Iris.  She didn’t want to keep up this charade any longer especially since she loved Tina.

“Tina..I really need to talk—”

Tina stops her

“I don’t want to talk..Let’s focus on getting packed for the conference. Our flight leaves tomorrow and I want us to have time to plan everything” Tina says pulling Iris to her and kissing her softly on the lips only pulling away when she hears Iris’s phone buzz on the coffee table in front of them

Iris flinches

“Oh!…That scared me” Iris let’s out a nervous laugh “But Tina..I really need”

Tina presses her finger to Iris’ lips

“Shhhhhhh….You check that and I’ll make us some lunch before I go into the office to finish up some reports before we leave tomorrow”

Tina kisses Iris once more before heading into the kitchen

Iris sighs heavily grabbing her phone and sees a message and opens it and sees the letter A

A-I need to see you

Iris quickly texts back

-Now is not a good time

A-Well can I see you tomorrow

-I can’t. We are going to the conference in New York.

A-I will be there. But we need to meet.  You can’t keep putting me off. It’s important

Iris glances over at the kitchen to see Tina deep in onion chopping then looks back at her phone to text

-Fine.

A-I’ll be in touch

Iris exits the message app and sighs.  Telling Tina the truth would change everything.  Could she betray her Father and lose the woman she loved? Iris was conflicted but she needed to do the right thing.  The only problem was….Could she.

tbc