The women looked at each other and shared a laugh.  The women were silent until Tina spoke.

“Bette I’d like to finish.  Will you listen until I’ve finished.”

“Yes, Tina I promise.”

Tina turned toward Bette and took her hand…”Okay, well I told Joe that I was attracted to someone and that I was interested in pursuing it to see where it went.  And you’re right.  He did say go for it.  But we also talked about our relationship, our sexual relationship and our marriage.  At that point I was still struggling with the concept of being attracted to a woman.  I thought long and hard about so many things.  Part of me did want to just make a pass at you.  Shit Bette, could you imagine spending your life not really being totally attracted to anyone and then ‘Bam’!  You can’t stop thinking about someone.  I wasn’t sure what was going on.  Well anyway, we started to become friends, really good friends.  I started to realize I didn’t just want a roll in the hay with you, I realized that, that maybe I’ve been settling for too long.  I realized that no matter what happened with you and me, I had to make a decision.   I guess in a lot of ways I just never even imagined a life that would be much better than the one I was leading.  And then all of a sudden everything became clear.  By the time Joe came home from London it all seemed so simple.  I realized I deserve more and for the first time in my life I saw that there is so much more.  Shit Bette I felt like I’d been asleep.  I told Joe that no matter what happened with this person.  We both deserved more.  He’s moving out when he gets back and we’re telling Ellie together when she gets home after finals.  You want to hear something funny?  He knew.  After I introduced you to him, he knew it was you.  He said he’d kill to have me look at him the way I looked at you.  So anyway, for the last week all I’ve really been thinking about is how to make a pass at you.”

Tina finished and sat looking eagerly at Bette wiping the tears from her face.  Bette met her eyes and smiled.  They gazed at each other when Bette broke the silence.

“Come here.” 

Tina leaned forward and Bette reached out and put her hand to Tina’s cheek.  She then took her finger and traced it over Tina’s lips.  She pulled Tina toward her and laid her lips tenderly on Tina’s.  Tina melted into Bette and accepted the unbelievably tender kiss.  Tina was lost in the moment as she reached her hand up into Bette’s hair and pulled Bette gently toward her.  Bette leaned over Tina and broke the kiss.  She looked deep into Tina’s eyes, and realized at that moment she had accepted the love of this incredible woman.  She kissed those lips again with a hunger that was even foreign to her and devoured Tina’s mouth.  She sucked and explored and licked like a woman possessed.  Tina responded to every movement and subtle change.  She explored, sucked, licked.  It was the perfect dance.  Each movement was completed by the other.  After several minutes they both pulled back slowly from each other and their eyes met once again. 

Bette broke the silence, breathing hard, “Tina, would you, um would you like to have dinner with me Sunday night after the show closes?”

“Bette Porter, are you asking me on a date?”

“Oh yes, Ms. Kinnard, I am most definitely asking you on a date.  So what do you say?”

“I say, I would love to go on a date with you.”