“My cell phone battery died. I haven’t gotten any messages all day. I’ve actually been here for awhile waiting for you and Angie” Tina replied.

“Did you….did she?” Bette questioned as she looked back into the house.

“Yes, I was walking in as Jodi was walking out” Tina said softly watching for Bette’s reaction.       “You know the expression ‘I feel like shit’” 

“I may have heard it once or twice before” Bette responded.

“Well that’s how I feel right now” Tina told her.

Bette looked at Tina with a look of concern.  She placed her arm around her shoulders and held her tight. She felt Tina relax a little.

“Did Jodi… was she vicious?” Bette asked truly hoping that they hadn’t gotten into a huge fight.

“God, I wish she had been…..that’s just it.     It would have been easier. Why couldn’t she have just said ‘Fuck you Tina!’ ‘Fuck you and Bette!’ ‘I hope you both rot in hell!’’ Tina continued.

Bette couldn’t help but smile a little at Tina’s outburst.  Tina smacked her leg.

“Bette, it’s not funny” Tina scolded her.

“I know…I know” Bette said holding Tina tighter to her.  “I wish she had just slapped me today and have been done with it. She was so hurt when I ended it with her”

They continued to sit in silence listening to the night and feeling comforted in each other’s presence.

“I had no other choice…” Bette said as her voice trailed off. “We couldn’t have gone behind her back while we figured things out between us. That would have been so much worse.”

“I know…” Tina answered. “I know you did the right thing.  I know we’re doing the right thing”

Tina took Bette’s hand and kissed it softly.

“I have an idea” Tina said.

“I’m listening” Bette said.

“Tonight, we agree to feel like shit over what we did to Jodi…… BUT then it’s buried. Tomorrow is a new day. We’ll wake up each other’s arms and we figure this thing out… no looking back. What do you say?”    Tina explained.

With a small smile on her face Bette took Tina’s wine glass and raised it as if giving a toast.

“Here’s to feeling like shit” 

TBC