“It was fun.”

“So much fun. Like old times,” Tina cleared her throat.

They both took a sip.

“We haven’t done that in a while,” Bette admitted.

Tina contemplated the meaning behind Bette’s words. She wasn’t sure if she should say what she was about to say but in order for them to move forward, they couldn’t keep tiptoeing around the hard conversations.

“You didn’t do Game Nights while I was gone?” Tina asked slowly.

While I was gone she says like she simply went on a vacation instead of accusing me of doing something I would never do and then running away from me to another fucking country. Leaving me on my fucking knees as I begged her to stay.

Bette took another sip. Tina could tell Bette was agitated. She circled the rim of her glass and waited.

Bette closed her eyes tightly and watched the colors explode behind her lids.

Don’t shut down. She’s here now. She moved back into the house like you asked. She is committed to dating and rebuilding. Get the fuck over yourself like Dana said.

Tina waited. Bette sighed.

“Umm…once. It wasn’t the same…without you.”

“It’s a good thing I’m back, huh?”

Bette looked at Tina. She blinked because she didn’t know how to wink.

“It is.”

Tina clinked her glass against Bette’s. They both took a long sip. They didn’t say much after that. They sipped their wine, listened to the music and stared into space.

“More wine?” Tina asked.

“No, thank you. I should really get ready for bed.”

“Okay.”

Tina hopped up and offered her hand to Bette. Bette grabbed it and stood up slowly.

“Thank you for allowing me to sit with you.”

Bette smiled her famous Porter smiled. It lit up her entire face. Tina bit her lip.

“Thank you. It was really nice. Sitting next to you.”

They walked into the kitchen. Tina quickly washed the wine glasses. Bette watched her flit across the kitchen. She knew where everything went. This was her home. Tina felt Bette watching her. She slowly turned around. Bette smiled.

“Can I walk you to your room?”

Bette laughed.

“What?”

“You said you needed to get ready for bed. So, since I am a gentlewoman and the queen of wooing, I would like to make sure you make it safely to your room.”