“Alice, I know you love Tasha, and you said you could get past the cheating, but if it’s stressing you this much, is it really worth it?”

She looks up at me with those sad blue eyes and says “Is it wrong that I’d rather have a piece of her than none of her?”

“I can’t tell you what to do or how to feel, but I can tell you one thing. You deserve more than this. You deserve someone who will only be with you, who will be truthful and honest with you, who will satisfy you. Love isn’t everything Alice.”

As I talk to her about honesty, my heart burns. I’m such a hypocrite. I have that person in my bed as we speak, but I’m keeping secrets from her, secrets that could change everything. I feel compelled to run to her and tell her everything, but that same cowardly fear creeps into my soul, and I’m paralyzed.

“Bette??  Hello??”

I snap out of my thoughts as soon as my mind registers Alice’s concerned voice.

“Are you okay? “

“Uh…yeah. I’m fine.” I smile weakly.

“Great. Now get your head outta your ass. We’re trying to fix my problems here!”

“Okay! Geez, you’re abrasive this morning!”

“Don’t tell me you’re sensitive Porter? Tina has turned you into a kitten.”

She laughs hysterically. Sensing that this laugh at my expense is helping to improve her mood, I reply,

“Actually, I’m more like a cat. That’s more her style. She’s a pussy fan.”

I see Alice’s eyes widen, and the laughter once again ensues. At this moment I realize how important my friendship with Alice is. Our starkly different personalities make for one hell of a good time. After a few minutes, the laughter subsides, and the seriousness of our initial conversation returns. She sighs.

“I just didn’t think Tasha would be like this. She seemed so honest and faithful and committed. How does that change?”

“I’m assuming that’s a rhetorical question because I wouldn’t know anything about that.”

“Come on Bette. In 10 years, you’ve never cheated? That’d be a first.”

“HEY! Give some credit. I have self-control.”

“You must have gotten some AFTER you cheated on me.”

“Geez Alice! That was forever ago. Why do you have to keep bringing that up? And technically it wasn’t “cheating”.