Bette carefully kept her face impassive. “Okay. I’ll
wait for you here.” She watched Tina disappear into the bedroom to get
dressed and her mask cracked. Expressions of confusion, outrage,
indignation, and tenderness flitted lightning fast over her features.
Confusion, outrage and indignation at the kind of circumstances Tina
seemed to prefer, and tenderness for the aching defiance Tina showed
with her last declaration.

    “Jerk!” Bette finally burst out. She clenched her
fists when she remembered the questions she asked Tina and the
judgmental tone she had used. Afraid Tina had heard her, she glanced at
the bedroom door. She was relieved to see it still firmly shut. Okay
Bette, she thought, you better get your act together or you’re going to
hurt one fantastic woman with your callousness.

    Before Bette could formulate a plan on how to deal
with Tina after her discovery, the bedroom door opened and Tina
emerged, wearing her clothes from last night. She’d also brushed her
hair and looked, as usual, absolutely stunning in Bette’s eyes. But
Bette noticed that Tina was acting distant and not as warm as before.
She would not meet Bette’s eyes.

    “Listen Tina,” Bette spoke casually although her
heart thumped painfully loud. “I think… I think it’s great.” That was
all she could get out. She opened her mouth to try again.

    Tina looked at Bette, feeling a rush of fondness for
the awkward but gorgeous woman. It was true that she felt hurt by
Bette’s initial reaction. Bette was obviously put off by Tina’s
profession and she wasn’t able to hide it.

    But, Tina realized, if I couldn’t handle Bette being
honest about her reactions to my job, how could I demand of her to be
honest about her reactions to me? Honesty, Tina decided, was something
she was going to have to work on with Bette.

    Bette was staring at her feet, brows knitted in
concentration as she tried to say that she was sorry for being a
moralistic *****. Tina leaned down to try to catch Bette’s eye. When
she did, she melted as she saw the regret in them.

    “It’s okay Bette. I know what you mean.”

    Bette looked up swiftly. “You do?”

    “Uh-hm.” Tina smiled gently. “Now come on. I heard
Kit stops making vegan protein shakes at 8 and I want to try some of
that.”

    “Yuck. My friend Dana swears by that stuff. She
always wants other people to try it. Once, she tried to sneak it into
my breakfast take out…”

    Tina took Bette’s hand. With a serene smile on
Tina’s face and a shy one on Bette’s, they walked out of the apartment.

    “Say, you don’t have an appointment for today do you? Or tonight?”

    “Nope.”

    “Good. Would you like to have dinner with me? Then maybe, dancing?”

    “I’d love to, Bette. I’d really love to.”

    “Am I.. Am I going to have to pay you?”

    “Nope. You’re what I like to call a pro bono case.”

    “Gee, thanks!” Bette’s wry comment and easy giggle
caused Tina to laugh out loud. What Bette said next made her choke on
her own breath.

    “Tina, you can pro bono me anytime.”

TBC