Recap….

Tina (whispering): You’re mine, Bette.

A slow, satisfied smile spreads across Bette’s lips.

Bette (softly): And you, baby, are everything to me…. (her voice dips, rich with warmth and teasing) You don’t even realize, do you?

Tina: (teasing) Hmm… then tell me, Bette. What am I to you?

Bette: (voice dropping to a gentle whisper) Then listen closely, baby (Softly her voice laced with warmth and something deeper something that lingers.)

“Come to me like a whisper, igniting a spark,
my hand tracing constellations in the dark.
Be the storm and the stillness, the fire and the ember,
the poem I’ll write on your skin to remember.”

A pause. The air between them feels electric, even through the phone.

Tina (breathless): Bette….

Bette (smirking): Sweet dreams, gorgeous. I’ll see you tomorrow.

Tina lingers for a moment after the call ends, her heart racing, her fingers brushing against her lips. The words settle deep inside her, a warmth she doesn’t want to shake.

She already knows Bette isn’t just a fleeting moment. She’s a story, a love letter, a poem Tina will never stop reading.

Chapter:5 The Party

Tina arrives at the party with Bette by her side, the two stepping into the softly lit home that hums with laughter, clinking glasses, and the low thump of bass from a playlist curated for the night. Bette looks effortlessly magnetic in a fitted black blazer over a dark silk shirt, the top few buttons undone to reveal just a hint of collarbone. Her sharp jawline and slicked back hair make her presence undeniable, the low lighting catching the subtle sheen of her cufflinks Her tailored pants hug just right, and the gleam of her shoes matches the quiet confidence in her stride.

Tina, in contrast is radiant in a form fitting burgundy dress that complements her complexion, her hair falling in soft waves over her shoulders. Together, they make a striking pair. The room stills for a moment as they enter.

Guest (whispering): Wow… I didn’t think she was actually serious about Tina.

Guest (watching them): Yeah, I thought Bette was just having fun. But look at them this isn’t casual.

Tina’s smile falters just slightly It’s subtle, the kind of shift only someone deeply attuned to her would notice and Bette notices.