Marissa smiled tersely in response.  She looked quickly around for an empty table where they could sit.  Tina looked like she was going to pass out, and the blonde had already drained her double gin and tonic.  The waiter came by again, and before Tina could order a drink, Marissa said quickly, “How about a couple of glasses of sparkling water for us?  Please refresh mine.”

She spied a table behind them that had just emptied, and tugged at Tina’s elbow to follow her, so that they could take the table.  Marissa smiled quickly at Gia, “I just need to sit.”

Gia responded, “Of course.  Of course! So silly of us, talking about Bette and me in Mexico, while you …” as she moved quickly to pull a chair for Marissa.  She pulled one over for Tina also, “You look like you need to sit, too.”

Tina sat stiffly, the color drained from her face.

“Well, actually, you were more than friends with Bette weren’t you?,” she asked with an edge, as she turned to face Gia, who nodded.

“And you still love her,” Tina bit the words out.

“Can you blame me?  She’s irresistible, beautiful, unattainable.  By some miracle, we were planning to get married back when we were dating,” Gia spiked back, leaning forward casually, playing with her glass. Tina felt her stomach twist painfully in knots.  Bette had been engaged before?

Gia looked again in Bette’s direction, and said with a voice full of regret, “I don’t know why I ran off with that stupid German baron, instead.  I came crawling back to her, on my knees.  But she would have none of it, of course.”

She took another drink, and then said wistfully, “To me, she’ll always be the one who got away.”

Marissa cut in, “Well she’s Tina’s wife now.” 

Gia smiled back, “Yes.  Now …”

Tina responded pointedly, gathering some of her wits back, “So not so unattainable, I guess.”

Gia purred as she stood, looking around for a waiter, before glancing at Tina, “Yes … you have proved that very interesting fact.  I’m sure something worth exploring for some…”

She paused as she saw Bette returning, and they all turned to look at the brunette, who had a quizzical smile on her face as she looked at the tense group.  Gia took a step in the direction Bette was heading, which was towards where Tina was seated, and as she and Bette crossed paths, they stood together in front of Tina.  Gia casually reached her arm across Bette’s back, to hand her glass to the waiter approaching.