When Bette emerged and came downstairs there was a lovely smell emerging from her kitchen- she went into the sitting room – Tina was standing looking through Bette’s CD collection. Bette went up behind her and wrapped her arms around Tina’s waist
“I smell nice”
“You always smell fantastic “ Tina replied and turned “ And you look sensational as well – pyjamas suit you “
“Thank you “
Bette kissed Tina on the lips – Tina snuggled closer to Bette as the kiss became more involved. Bette was just besotted with Tina – she couldn’t get enough of her – it was a marvellous feeling. After several minutes of them kissing – Tina eased away
“That feels good “
“It does “ Bette agreed “ Do you feel better now ?”
“I am still pissed with my mother – but I am not going to let her come between you and Helena or you and I “
“Its going to be fine “
“I just can’t believe that she is touting me around “
“She wants you to be happy “
“She wants me to fit into her perception of me – it sucks “
Bette really didn’t want to get into another discussion about Tina’s mom – she kissed Tina on the lips
“Are you looking forward to walking on a perfect beach with me ?”
“I am – are you a bikini girl ?”
“I do have a couple – and some one piece swim suits – which would you like me to pack ?”
“I am sure that it is not up to me to say “ Tina replied
“Really ?”
“Yeah “
“What about you ?”
“Bikini – just for your enjoyment “
Bette smiled – that was something that she was looking forward to seeing. It was crazy when she had seen Tina naked a lot that she was so much looking forward to seeing her in a bikini – Bette dismissed it as being love sick. She smiled and stroked Tina’s face before kissing her again.
“Did you get the time off work okay ?”
“Yeah – unpaid leave “
Bette frowned “ Are you not entitled to paid time off ?”
“Not much but yeah – you have to give more notice than I did “
“Can you afford it ?” Bette asked wondering if Tina could afford to miss a couple of days pay
“I am not poor – just because I am not as well off as my mother”
“I didn’t say “ Bette began
Tina frowned “ Look – I try to live as frugally as possible – I do struggle to live on my pay but I have savings in the bank and my mother left me a fair bit of her money. After all why would she have left it to mom when mom is so wealthy. I don’t flaunt my money like Helena “
“Helena doesn’t flaunt her money “
“I take it renting that office of hers comes cheap – I know how much my mother is paying for the extra space she is leasing so that doesn’t wash Bette”
Bette frowned – Tina saw immediately that she had pushed Bette too far – damn – what had she just said to herself about not coming between the two friends ?
“I am sorry Bette – that was out of order – its been a fraught day “
Bette sniffed – Tina touched her face “ Babe – I am sorry – I was out of order “
Bette sighed and pulled Tina closer and they kissed again “ Sorry “
“Bette – I am sorry for what I said about Helena – I can afford to take a couple of days unpaid leave. I might have to dip into my savings later in the month but it isn’t a problem. My mother likes to pretend that I am some penny deadbeat but I am not “
“I didn’t say you were “
“I know – but all you seem to have to put up with is my problems with my mom and she doesn’t have the highest opinion of me. She assumes that I am lazy because I am not some high flying executive that she wants me to be “
“What would you like to do ?”
Tina shrugged “ I don’t know – but I do know that I am not going to spend the rest of my life working at the community centre. Maybe if I get the Peabody grant it will be time for me to start looking around to do other things “
“Anything I can do “
“You helped me a lot with the grant application “
Bette stroked Tina’s hair “ Why don’t we not talk about it for now – lets talk about how much we are going to enjoy our holiday “
“Will there be a lot of people there ?”
“Not sure – I am sure there will be some parties going on “
“I just wondered if I needed to pack some nice dresses “
Bette smiled “I remember that black dress you wore on our first date “
“The one that lasted twenty minutes before being dropped on your bedroom floor “
Bette smiled “ Not my fault that you looked so fucking edible – you just looked wonderful – you don’t look that bad at the moment either “
Tina smiled – she rested her head on Bette’s shoulder and held onto her for a few minutes.
“I love you “ Tina said softly
“I love you too “ Bette replied. She lifted Tina’s face up and brushed her lips against the blonde’s
“We are fine sweetheart – we have a great chance here to make something really good. I know that its early days and there are going to be a lot of hurdles ahead of us but I would say that we have a great chance to build a great future together. I really want that Tina – I want to be with you and I want this holiday together to be the first of many”
Tina smiled softly at Bette
“I feel the same “ she said “we will make it work – I know relationships take hard work – well I am prepared for that and to meet you half way on things and to give in just to keep the peace – I know that for this to work we have to keep communicating and enjoying being together and getting a thrill at just the sight of our partner. Its going to be fine Bette “
They kissed again – Bette eased away and looked at Tina
“I went shopping at lunchtime – just a few things for our holiday – I also bought you a couple of things “
“What ?”
“You are not going to be cross with me ?”
“Of course not – why would I want to ?”
“Its just that I have annoyed my exes “
Tina kissed Bette “Babe – I am not your exes – why don’t we sit down and have a long snog before dinner then after dinner you can show me what you have bought and then we can think about an early night – I might want to reward you “
“Sounds great “ Bette agreed
Is this love