As the brunette came back, Tina was grinning and playing with the glasses. She looked at her shyly, cleared her voice, and stood up from the sofa. “I’ll leave you to work.”

“Ok…” Bette started to walk back on the sofa but she turned around and went to her desk instead. “Oh I have something to give you.” From her locked drawer, she took out a card, beautifully designed, with the capitals TK on it. “I have it made special for you. The first three month payment is in it. The password is the day you transferred to Marymount. I picked a college financing product for you. It’s solid and I have people monitoring. And of course, you have to sign a contract first.” Then she presented her a pile of paper.

“You thought of everything.” Tina smiled. She had her first pay card—not just a regular pay car.

“Sure, baby.” The term of endearment naturally slipped out. The brunette loved the way it sounded. She planted a small kiss on the blonde’s cheek and put the contract on the desk for her to go through.

For the next ten minutes, Bette wrapped up her work and watched the blonde read her terms, a mischievous smirk on her face.

The first two pages were stating the standard criterion of working under the Porter’s business, the terms were professional and compact. But as she browsed down to the end of it, Tina had her eyes widened. In the additional regulations, the vestige of Bette’s shenanigan was rather obvious.

“To always remember Elizabeth Porter’s birthday.”

“To always be available for Elizabeth Porter at school and during recession.”

“To always go on business trip, in or out of the state, with Elizabeth Porter, in terms of personal assistance (and pleasure).”

“To always accept surprises and invitations on birthdays, holidays and/or on normal days, no questions asked.”

“To read The Bike Talk weekly magazine with Elizabeth Porter at every boring Monday night self-study session.”

And the list went on.

“Hmmm, I see you really did think of everything.” Tina finished the rest of the “appealing” terms and glanced up at the very amused brunette. “Your name appeared a lot in it, particularly in the last part.”

“Well I certainly did.” Bette shrugged. “Gotta ensure my profit. It’s all about business. But don’t worry, I’m not gonna dock your pay if there’s only a little violation of your contract. Go on, sign the paper so I can take you out.”

“That’s very big of you.” Tina shook her head. But her smile never faded. She grabbed a pen and wrote down her name at the designated place.

Bette’s face lit up and the smile reached into her big brown eyes. She happily strode over and pulled the blonde girl out of the seat. “Do you wanna have dinner outside or in the Planet?”

“It’s a bit late, don’t you think. Alice and Shane are probably there already.”

“Planet it is.”

The motor roared and growled outside the gallery. The dry wind howled in their ears. Bette was in an extra good mood, grinning all the way of their ride and enjoying the feeling of the slim arms around her body. And Tina pressed her chin on Bette’s shoulder, pondering all the way that sometime, just a bit more time after, she’d give herself to the girl she just realized that she fell madly in love with.