Tina turned towards the door and leaned against the counter. 

She took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. She brought the Yale sweatshirt to her nose and took another deep breath. She smiled at Bette’s scent and exhaled slowly…again.

Tina needed more than a minute. She stripped down and jumped into the shower. She sobbed as the hot water beat down on her alabaster skin turning it a pink hue almost instantly. 

***

Bette was straightening up the living room when she heard the tea kettle whistle. She slowly walked to the kitchen. She thought about how intense the last few days had been for both of them. Bette was glad they were talking even though the conversations were extremely difficult and uncomfortable. There had been a lot of emotions and a lot of tears. 

Bette ran her hands through her hair and exhaled. She put together a tray for tea with honey and lemon and carried it to the living. She was setting it on the coffeetable when she felt Tina. She looked up and Tina was watching her from the hall. 

Bette noticed her puffy eyes and wet hair. Tina leaned against the wall a safe distance away from Bette.

“Would you like some tea?” Bette offered. 

“No thank you. I think I’m going to go to bed. I just came back to say goodnight.”

Bette nodded. 

“Okay,” Bette said as she poured her a cup of tea. 

“Thank you for today.”

Bette nodded again.

“Okay. Well. Goodnight then.” 

Tina pushed herself off of the wall.

“Goodnight.”

Tina watched Bette stir honey and lemon into her tea. Bette brought the cup to her mouth and blew before she took a sip. Tina never wanted to be a cup more than she did at that very moment. 

“Goodnight,” Tina said again.

“Sweet dreams.”

“You too.”

Bette nodded and took another sip.

“Hey Tina…”

Tee, Tina thought.

“Yeah?”

“Can we go on another date tomorrow?”

“I’d like that.”

“This time I will plan it,” Bette asserted. 

“Okay. Goodnight,” Tina said again.

“Goodnight.”

Bette noticed Tina wipe at her eyes before she disappeared down the hall for the second time that night. 

Bette took another sip.

Half an hour later, Bette stood outside of the guest room. The door was open. The room was quiet and dark. Tina felt Bette lingering outside the room. She waited. 

Tina’s heart started beating faster when she heard footsteps get closer to the bed. Tina smiled as Bette climbed into bed behind her. She wasn’t sure it was a good idea but she needed to feel Bette’s body pressed up against hers. 

“What are you doing,” Tina whispered.

Tina looked over her shoulder at the beautiful woman behind her. Her hair was wet. She smelled like lavender and home.

“Spooning you.”

“Oh.”

“Is that okay?” Bette said as she continued to snuggle in behind Tina. 

Bette wrapped her strong arms around the tiny blonde. Tina melted.

“Do…do you think this is a good idea?”

“I need to hold you.”

Bette had already closed her eyes. Tina felt Bette’s nose on her neck and heard Bette take a deep breath.

“Okay,” Tina said and turned back around.

Bette pulled Tina in closer and nuzzled into her neck. Tina wiggled her butt into her spot against Bette’s abdomen. They exhaled at the same time and they stayed that way as they drifted off to sleep. 

Bette woke up a few hours later. The sun had started to make its way into the sky. She took a deep breath and inhaled Tina’s essence. Bette smiled. That was the best she had slept in months. She quietly slipped out of bed. Bette looked down at Tina. The light hit her face perfectly. She looked like an angel. Tina glanced up and blinked because she didn’t know how to wink. 

They smiled and Bette walked out of the room. Tina rolled over into the spot that was just occupied by the mocha skinned amazon. 

“I love you, Baby,” Tina whispered. 

She snuggled down and went back to sleep. 

“I love you too, Tee,” Bette whispered outside the door.

A few minutes later, Bette was doing laps in the pool wearing her white bikini. Tina’s favorite.