Tina shook her head. She didn’t know much about Eric, and had only recently started dating him on a regular basis.  She thought Eric could be a real sweetheart, this latest incident notwithstanding.  And, maybe, with his brother and the brother’s family coming for a visit for Thanksgiving next week, she may be able to find out more. Surely there was more to him than tonight’s issues?

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James was puzzled by Bette’s demeanor the next day, thinking she seemed both reflective, as well as emotional.  Bette didn’t tell him about her adventures the night before.  Only Kit knew about what had happened.

He figured that it was related, somehow, to Jodie.  He asked, as much, “Bette, maybe you need more time to get over that whole thing with Jodie …”

Bette was shaking her head, “No, James.  I’m alright, really.  Something happened…um…recently, and it just prompted some soul-searching on my part, particularly last night. I’m good to go, don’t worry.”

Then she cheerfully told him about Art Magazine’s feature editor coming by to interview her about a piece about the upcoming exhibit, “Primitive Season,” that they were opening on Black Friday.

Later, Sonja told Bette she was impressed by the exhibit.  “I like the whole “primitive art” theme, and how you’ve hung the whole exhibit.  Those shiny gold animals are glorious, by the way.”

“Are you sure you won’t allow us to take a few shots of the art?”

Bette shook her head.

“But you can shoot the rest of the gallery, including the decorations, if you want.  Please mention the designer, Xavier Cortez if you do,” Bette answered.

“What about you?,” Sonja stepped closer to Bette, ran her finger seductively on the bare forearm of the brunette, “You are, by far, the most stunning piece to photograph in this gallery,” she purred.

Bette looked down on the finger caressing her arm, then up at the smoky eyes of the raven-haired beauty. She smiled slowly, and then shook her head.

“Ohh…that’s disappointing,” Sonja pretended to pout, and stepped even closer to Bette.  “I know exactly how to make that up to me, though.”

“Hmm…how?,” Bette asked, smiling still, taken aback by the aggressive flirting.

“Dinner…tonight,” Sonja murmured huskily.

Later, after dinner, Sonja suggested they drop by the rooftop bar of a hip downtown hotel. Bette was shaking her head.  It also had many dark corners that were conducive to um…exploring.  She’d gone there often when she’d been dating a beach volleyball pro before she dated Jodie.