“That was beautiful baby. Who was that by?” As I live and breathe I didn’t think it was possible to embarrass Bette with a question that wasn’t at all sexual.

“I don’t wanna say.” Suddenly the ground becoming her focal point in the room.

“Well you have to tell me because the book is labeled ‘Bette’s Favorite Poems.’ C’mon just tell me. Maybe I like some of their other stuff.”

“Fine. Promise you won’t laugh.” Wow this must be good. Any minute I expect her to hold out her pinky to have me really, really promise.

“Now that’s not fair. What if it’s somebody ridiculous?”

“First of all, they are, but this means a lot to me. I heard on the radio in Philly a while back, and it really means a lot to me.”

“So it’s a song?”

“Yeah it is. Can we just drop this, please?” Please she says. No way. All the times Bette teased me for liking things that most would find corny or uncool, she can just forget me letting this go.

“No. Tell me.”

“JC Chasez.” Oh my God. Please tell me she didn’t say that. She catches my very, very sly smile and I’m sure eyebrow is as high as it could go. Still I need to make sure I heard her correctly.

“Excuse me, who?” I say trying to remain calm. I can feel my whole body begin to shake, with laughter.

“JC Chasez. You know as in Nsync.” She looks so horrified and well just horrified, so my laughter quietly subsided. When she finally mustered up enough courage to look in my eyes again, I hope all she could see is gratitude that she would share something so precious with me.

“Oh honey, that’s the corniest thing I ever heard. But because it means so much to you and it reminded you of this, us, it was beautiful. I love it.”

When I kiss her now, I feel like I have to prove to her that I love her as much as she loves me. She gave me a song and a poem. I’ve just given her doubt and fear. So I hope that this will be the beginning of her knowing that I love her unconditionally. That’s one thing that I could take care of with time. But after we eat, I have to catch up with my dear friend Gracie.