“I’m sorry if I talked your ear off last night.  It felt good to get that out.”

“I’m glad you could talk to me.  And I’m glad you feel better,” Bette smiled, laying the paper down to give Tina her full attention.  She had to admit, she could listen to Tina walking forever.  The way her lips moved gracefully over the words had a hypnotic effect on Bette.

“Tell me something about you so that I don’t feel so bad?” Tina asked, trying hard to make it sound like she wasn’t prying.  Truth be told, Tina had been wondering about Bette’s relationship status since she arrived.

“Well, I’m a master at scrabble, for one.  You’ve probably already gathered that I love art.  I graduated from Yale… Ben & Jerry’s Smores is my favorite ice cream.  Hm… what else?  I love driving at night with the windows down and a good mix cd.  I’m just full of surprises,” she laughed and shrugged at Tina.

Tina felt her heart swell at knowing these intimate details of Bette’s life.  But she still needed to know.

“And love?”

“I’ll know it when it comes, I guess.” 

“You’re not seeing anybody?” Tina asked, almost in disbelief.

“Right now I’m just focusing on my career.”

“Right,” Tina agreed noncommittally. 

Bette inhaled deeply before starting again.

“Actually, that’s not true.  If we’re being honest?”

“Of course,” Tina said.

“Truthfully, my career has been my excuse for a long time now.  In my heart I know that I could focus on both my job AND a relationship.  But in actuality, nobody’s swept me off my feet.”

“You don’t look like you would have any trouble in the woman department,” Tina said honestly.

“Maybe I just expect too much.  But I don’t want to just settle; I’m still holding out hope for that all-consuming love.”

“Me too,” Tina said sympathetically.  The women met each other’s eyes for a few seconds, as if in complete understanding.

Bette looked at her watch.

“Shit.  I have to start getting ready for brunch,” Bette said.

“Huh?”

“The girls and I, we meet at the Planet for coffee and food.  The Planet is a gay café; my sister Kit owns it.  Would you like to join us?”

“Oh, no I don’t think I should.  That’s your time with your friends.”

“Don’t be crazy, I’m sure they’d love you to come.”

“Bette,” Tina said seriously, sitting up.  “I want you to know that I don’t expect to be anything more than your roommate.  I don’t want you to feel like I’m the younger sibling that you have to cart around now.  Really.  Please don’t feel obligated to invite me to things just because I’m here, okay?”

Bette furrowed her brows.  She reached over and grabbed Tina’s hand, which made them both feel nervous.

“Tina, I don’t feel obligated to invite you.  I wanted to.  If you’d rather be more roommates than friends, that’s okay.  But on my end, I think we’d make great friends.  Plus, you met the girls and they didn’t scare you off.”

Tina smiled shyly.  “I’d like to be friends, definitely.”

“Great,” Bette beamed, her beautiful smile momentarily paralyzing Tina.  “So, Planet?”

“Today I think I am going to pass.  Go, be with your friends.  But next time, I’ll be there.”

“Promise?”

“Promise.”

“Okay, well… have a good morning, Tina.”

“You too, Bette.”

With that, Bette went to get dressed and headed over to the Planet, where she was sure her friends would want to know all about her new beauty of a roommate.