“Yeah, your Ms. Do-The-Right-Thing.”

Tina laughed, a smile slowly growing onto her lips at the subject change. And suddenly her thoughts drifted to the couch the other night. When she’d done the wrong – the selfish – thing. Good? No, she’d been bad.

Bette was thinking much the same thing at work, typing away during her phone conversations, all the while trying to ignore James’s offers for her to leave a little earlier. She wouldn’t listen to his attempts to mention anything birthday-related, although she had thanked him for a small red velvet cupcake, chuckling at the thought.

“I couldn’t ask for a better assistant,” she’d smiled, then rolling her eyes at him. “Alright, alright. I’m another year older. Thank you, James.”

And he was dismissed, smiling at her slight change in attitude.

Bette was glad for the change as well when she got an unexpected call.

“Bette Porter,” she gritted, holding the phone too tightly to her shoulder as she listened to the cautious breathing on the other end.

“Hey, it’s me.”

“I’m sorry, T. I’m just in the middle of a whole bunch of calls, and these fucking idiots won’t get back to me.” She sounded quite angry.

“I’m sorry too. I know you have work to do. I just wanted to say that I can’t wait to see you later … and that … Bette, I’m sorry about last night. It’s just kind of a shock to me that you’re … so good with all this.”

Bette’s growl slowly rumbled down into her throat, her anger subsiding for Tina. The woman she loved to care for. “Really?”

“Yeah. And I … I love you. So I don’t wanna upset you, or make you think that … what you said last night wasn’t totally beautiful. I’m so, so, so happy that you wanna spend time with Angie and me. Oh, and by the way, I’m not sure where we’re going tonight. She said it was a surprise.”

 “That’s Angelica for you,” Bette smiled, without even realizing the expression that had touched her face. She felt so warm inside. “And hey, I understand. I have moments like that too.”

“You do?”

“Of course I do. But I’m trying really hard to push past all my past tendencies. I hope you can see that. I’m trying because of how much you mean to me.”

“I love your honesty.”

“As much as you loved it last night?” Bette teased, lowering her tone when she noticed Bette outside her office, hurrying away. She blushed a light pink when she realized he’d heard her.

“More,” Tina chuckled, “Anyway, I’m off work and I’m about to drive to get Angie. Do you need anything?”

“Yes. Five cakes.”

Tina laughed, “Uh huh. I’m serious, Bette. Do you want anything for tonight? I’d like to hear something that you want. It is your day, after all.”

“I’ll really just be happy with whatever you and Angelica wanna do. Okay?”

“You’re the boss,” Tina teased, buckling her seatbelt as she heard the low whimper from over the phone. “Yeah, I know what that does to you. Okay, I’ll see you tonight at five, okay?”

“Five it is.”