“You didn’t ask me. Besides you know we’re best friends. Is that a problem?”

            “No I don’t know…”

            “Tina, if this is about what you told me that day in the restaurant, you can’t run away from her for good and you won’t figure out why you are so confused ignoring her. She’s a nice person. Come on.”

            Bette was busy with a phone call with her assistant that was in the gallery negotiating an important sell. She thought that Kelly could handle that but still her type A personality was tempting her to go there. It was then she realized that Alice was by her side with Tina. No way I will leave now. “Kelly, I trust you. Do whatever you think it’s better. Bye.” She hung up and rose to greet both women. She was surprised to be affectionately greeted by Tina with a kiss on her cheek and a warm smile. She noticed that Alice and Tina were at easy with each other and for a moment she was jealous. However during the lunch she saw herself being treated the same way by Tina, and for the first time since their first reunion in the opening dinner in the gallery, she felt that Tina was acting naturally around her. There was back the woman she was so impressed with that time. However, when Alice left them alone for a moment to receive a phone call, immediately Tina came back to her ‘cold and distant’ mode. So, I’m the reason of her ambiguous behavior. She likes me!! Just then Alice came back to the table.

            “I forgot that I promised my mother to go there. Damn! Bette, do you mind to take Tina home? I’m already late.”

            “No, not at all.”

            The three of them left the restaurant together. Alice kissed goodbye to Tina and when she did the same to Bette, she whispered in her hear “Behave Porter. You owe me one big favor and a tank of gasoline.” The drive to Tina’s apartment was in relative silent, but there wasn’t any tension between them. When they arrived in front of Tina’s building, Bette had to contain herself to not kiss Tina on the lips. But she was satisfied with the outcome of their lunch. She wouldn’t force anything yet. She still had five days and for her experience with women that was more than enough.