“I am James, I am…” Bette had said, adding a perfect spin, her years of ballet adding to her grace. She chuckled, “you should try it someday James, it’s a beautiful morning for dancing…”

He watched, dumbfounded as she walked past him with her long strides, her cell phone ringing, facing the day with her usual fast pace, things to do, people to see.

Bette checked items off her do-to list, done done and done. The only thing she was having a hard deciding was making plans for Valentines Day. She just couldn’t choose between a weekend getaway or a romantic sunset cruise or an overnight stay in a posh hotel.

She had a week to decide, plenty of time. So, she clicked on the link for the cruise, credit card ready… only to find to her horror that it was already booked solid. Same for the hotel and all their favorite bed and breakfast cottages along the coast. Fucking people, she thought, fucking people taking all the fucking things.

She texted the hotel manager, an old friend, who confirmed there were no reservations left and that there was nothing he could do. Would she like another night, he had actually inquired, and Bette had gritted her teeth, no she would fucking not.

Now it became competitive and she spent the afternoon furiously clicking on every possible Valentines adventure she could find within an hour’s drive of LA. Sunset kayaking, booked. Balloon ride, full. She was secretly glad about that one, the thought of being tens of thousands of miles in the air in a basket made her queasy. Picnic on the beach, catered and set up with a bonfire… no openings. Paddle boarding, bike tours, surf lessons, romantic wine and cheese hike in the Joshua forest.

Full, full, full. Fucking full.

Fuck. She said again, reaching in her drawer to pull out a granola bar and biting off the top with a vengeance. Epic fail.

At home, she pouted and moped but Tina floated around the kitchen in a thin tank with her belly peeking out and extremely short shorts. Irresistibly adorable. She exuded such happiness that Bette had to join her, coming up behind the blonde to snake her hands under the bottom of her tank to find soft skin along the waistband of her shorts. Jesus, no one should ever be that soft, it was sinful.