“She wanted more than I could give to a relationship. At the time I didn’t want to stop seeing Eric. She and I ended it as friends after a couple of dates. We never slept together. She didn’t want just a piece of me. She’s very much like you in that regard. She wants it all.”

“So you think you might want to try again now that Eric is out of the picture?”

“No. That ship has sailed as they say. We’re better as friends.”

“Would it bother you if I were to ask her out?” Bette had found Sam attractive and they certainly did share much in common. Sam was giving off some vibes too so maybe there was a possibility.

“Bette you’re a free agent. I don’t have a say in whom you date.”

“Do you want to have a say?” Bette challenged.

“I don’t know what you mean.” Tina really didn’t know where Bette was going with this question. One minute she is expressing interest in Sam and now she’s asking Tina’s permission. However Bette knew exactly why she’d turned the question back over to Tina. She had held back confronting Tina about her hot/cold behavior these past few weeks but this gave her the opening she needed to speak her mind.

“Tina I want to know what was really going on with you on Saturday night at the Planet. I know you were upset because I didn’t tell you about Alex but why did you get so angry when I joked about dancing with another woman? Why were you so ready to leave the minute I walked away from the table to see Susan Alegrato? I don’t think I deserved to be treated so callously when all I wanted was to have a nice evening out with you. It was like you were taking all this aggression out on me. I want to know where all the anger was coming from. Did I do something to offend you?”

“No. You didn’t do anything wrong. You didn’t deserve that Bette. I’m really sorry.”

“I know you’re sorry Tina and I accept your apology but that really doesn’t answer my question. Why were you acting that way? I need you to be honest OK? I told you my heart is open to possibilities but I won’t put it out there to get trampled on. I’m getting mixed signals Tina and if I’m misreading between the lines that there is a possibility of “us” becoming more than just friends then let me know now before we go any further.”