When they started talking about the Pettibon exhibit, I remembered the controversial pieces Bette and I had purchased together at a gallery in New York. I couldn’t stop myself from joining the conversation and acknowledging our purchases.

Then, when Joe asked us if we were together, I deferred to Bette, realizing that I may have confused the poor bastard who had been looking around, panting like the perverted dog he was.

I looked at her wondering how she was going to handle the question. She glanced at me before answering with such grace, characteristic of her classy reputation.

“No, not anymore. But we bought them when we were, together.”

I shot Joe a smug smile before Alice and her soldier took their seats next to me. I think I may have scooted a little bit closer to Bette at that point.

Becca then wanted to get down to brass tacks with the offers that were on the table. I slipped back into work mode and made my pitch as to how true to the story I wanted to keep this project. Of course, Jenny was the first to comment on my seeming inability to control the project. That’s when my Bette, again, came to my defense. Only this time, it was in front of a whole table full of people, including some of our friends.

Then Joe got all creepy with Alice and Tasha. It was a bit awkward. If it wasn’t for Max coming up to introduce her to the girl with the cool t-shirt slogan, I think we would have been stewing in the awkwardness the rest of the night.

I felt myself leaning towards Bette’s chair as we went around the table talking about different t-shirts and sayings about the war we had all seen. I wondered if Bette had noticed my close proximity. She didn’t lean into me, but she didn’t shy away either.

Once the lights turned down and Kit was about to take center stage, I leaned even more towards Bette, just to be that much closer to her. I could smell her perfume and I started to get a little excited. I hadn’t been in a dark room with her in a long time.