Their dark-haired hostess let the awkward moment stretch interminably beyond what would have been polite, before asking with a triumphant smile, “Although your plush carpeting was much more comfortable than the dark wooden floor in this room, I’d say we’re even now, right?”

Checkmate! Tina grew even more embarrassed, and scrambled to say something, anything. “Not so fast there, Aerin. I caught you with your head between Chris’ legs, remember? And Chris was moaning so loudly that I HAD to go check on what was going on in the studio. This hardly compares.”

Years ago, Tina had caught Aerin and her former flame Chris in the studio-style spare room in the second floor of Bette and Tina’s upper east-side duplex during one of the parties the popular couple liked to throw. That party had been to celebrate the conclusion of Chris’ first chemotherapy, ironically. Chris had been mortified when she’d seen Tina suddenly come into view by the door, mouth hanging open, even as Aerin continued to eat her out. “Oh my… oh, my … Tina, I’m …I’m so… ” Chris stuttered as she tried to push Aerin’s head away from her …

Aerin had finally gotten the message, then had leisurely turned her head to eye Tina, who’d been pretending to cover her eyes. “Just make sure you cover your mouth when you wrap this up. And then please join us downstairs. Lara’s about to serve her signature dish. Not something you should miss.” Aerin’s response had been indistinct as she returned to her pleasurable task.

Although Chris sadly passed away a year later, following a long period of mourning, the incident led to years of teasing and innuendo that Bette had gently subjected Aerin to. Tina catching Aerin and Chris in the act turned into an inside joke that the brunette had to admit she relished reminding Aerin about, even in jest, if only because it was one of the few things that could make Aerin squirm uncomfortably, on the spot, no matter the occassion.

But Aerin looked like she was up for it tonight. “Oh, so you bitches want me to go out there and tell everybody where I found you and HOW I found you?” Aerin cocked her head to one side, still grinning triumphantly, arms crossed in front, one eyebrow raised. “You willing to try me?”