Bette decided to leave the situation alone as it was. She would come up with something if Tina’s father attacks her.

”Good evening, Mrs. Kennard!” She greeted joyfully.

”So nice to see you, Bette” Amy said, grazing her cheek against Bette’s. ”Come on, make yourself comfortable in there. Tina, lead Bette to the living room, where everyone else is”

As the couple stepped into the house, Tina throwed Bette’s arm around her neck and showed the way gleefully. Bette saw Karen, Tina’s father, once in the living room, and two other people she didn’t recognize. They sat on a sofa across from the one, where Karen and Albert sat. Tina retrieved her girlfriend’s hand from her shoulder, intertwining their fingers together and squeezing it tight comfortingly.

”Bette, you already know Karen, of course, and my father Albert. Please meet my older brother Steven and his girlfriend Lindsey Pyle. Steve, Lindsey, this is Bette Porter, my girlfriend”

Steven rose up from his seat, shaking Bette’s hand. ”Pleased to finally meet you, Bette, my sister was so absorbed she couldn’t stop talking about you!” He said with a chuckle.

”Ugh, what a liar!” Tina cried out, grinning bashfully. ”Okay, I’m gonna go put the flowers in a vase. I’ll be quick” She babbled, letting go of Bette’s hand and turning on heels to run upstairs.

The brunette immediately felt a huge void, not having her fair-haired girlfriend close at hand. The blonde was so quick that Bette hadn’t even had a chance to follow behind, managing to actually look casual enough for everyone. She was desperate not to stay in one room with Albert without Tina by her side. However, she braced herself and went ahead, taking a seat in an armchair, while being aware of Albert’s scathing stare in the process.

The man cleared his throat, speaking evenly at last. ”Glad you made it tonight, Ms. Porter. Christina has been awaiting you with quite an impatience”

The brunette tried to swallow excessive saliva as quickly and insensibly as possible to reply in the same voice. ”I am very happy to be here myself, Mr. Kennard. It’s an honor for me to join Tina and her family for dinner”

”Especially you’re honored to join me, right?” Karen interjected with her usual ludicrous arrogance.