“I’ll see you Bette.”

“Alright. Do you want to stay and help you clean up?” Very sly Porter. She must have read my mind after I kissed her on the cheek. Still as tempting as having her stay over sounds.

“No, thanks, I’m good.”

“You’ll call me if you need anything?”

“Yes, I will definitely call you if anything of importance comes up, fair?” I figured I had her by the opened door leaving, so torturing her a bit would be safe.

“I see you don’t play fair, Tina.”

“I always play fair. I just play a little rough, that’s all.” Take that. That’s for all the times she made me blush. I see it’s working because that big smile just got bigger, if that’s possible. I wonder what she’s really thinking. Then her face fell momentarily when I widen the door for her.

“Eric hey.” Bette squeaked out. Oh god, I did not see him there. Was he just standing by the door like a weirdo, listening to our conversation.

“Oh, hey Eric, how are you?” I ask while he stares down Bette.

Finally after he’s done scowling he turns to me. “I’m good Tina.” Then he turned back to Bette, whose face looks it just lost all if it’s color. Even her hand is starting to get sweaty.

“Hey, Bette, what are you doing here?” See there it is again tension. At this moment you wouldn’t believe these two are twins. He looks so ugly, so hurtful when he speaks to her in my presence. At least she still has an air of compassion when she’s angry at someone.

“Wel…well um… Tina here…*****, uh..” Poor thing. Her hand is sweating more. But I won’t let her go, she picked me up as I fell apart today. I should be here for her today. “Tina and Grace had a fight. So I came over here to see if she was okay.”

“Grace or Tina?” God is he always this way?

“Me. She came to see me. Grace was the one yelling like a crazy person and stormed out of here. Bette was just looking after her neighbor.” He nodded in understanding and Bette smiled appreciatively at me. I mouthed ‘No problem babe.’ to her, but I think she missed it.

Eric was discreetly trying to edge his way into the house but, he finally looked down and saw our clasped hands blocking with entry. Bette followed his gaze and dropped my hands. Too late I think he saw us.

“Tina, I glad you’re ok. So we’ll hook up later right….I mean you, me, Grace, Eric, and Alice of course. See you at home bro. Ok bye.” Then she ran. We’ll maybe not ran, but she walked really quickly to her yard.

“That was weird.”

“Yep.” was my only response.

“Tina I was wondering if I could come in for a few minutes. I’d really like to explain my behavior last night. I’m not really like that. Usually, I’m a really mellow guy.”

I nod, not actually listening to him. Plus, he is leaning really closely to me. Which I wouldn’t have minded last night considering the way we were dancing. But that was before he got into the fight with that woman and before his sister cast her spell on me. He certainly was a charming guy. While he leaned towards me I peaked under him and saw the lower half of Bette’s body standing on her porch.

Anyway, I do need an explanation for his behavior. Maybe he could tell me what’s going on between he and Bette.

“I know Eric. Sure come on in.” he breezed past me. That’s when I saw her. She may have ran to her own porch, but she was watching the whole time. Her arms crossed and her lips tight. I could tell she was completely jealous. I like that. A lot. I flashed her the biggest smile that my heart could give her and slowly closed the door to talk to Eric.