Previously:

Dakota moved  into the living room and sat on the couch, pulling a pillow into her lap, almost as a guard between her and her mother.  “Ok… tell me a story.”

***


Bette was sitting in her office of her gallery the morning after a long night where crowds of people had gathered for a dinner.  Her phone buzzed.

“Yes?”

“Bette, there’s a Tina Kennard here to see you.”  Bette’s assistant said.

“Tina?”  Bette said aloud, bewilderment spread across her face.

“Yes.”

“Oh – send her in please.”  Bette was flustered but composed herself.

There was a slight wrapping on the door and Tina’s head popped in.

“Hi Tina, come in.”

“Hi Bette.  Sorry to bother you, but – “

Bette cut her off.  “Don’t be ridiculous.  You’re not a bother.”

Tina stood awkwardly in the doorway.  “Well… I think I might have lost my earring here last night.”

“I thought I helped you put that back on?”  Bette asked as she leaned against her desk, propping her head up with her fist.

Tina looked away from Bette.  She felt the color rising in her cheeks but she didn’t want Bette to notice.  She desperately tried to hide it but Bette noticed.  Tina was feeling extremely uncomfortable, being in such close proximity as Bette… alone.  The dinner the night before was nice but she had Eric there to be with her.  Right now, it was just her and Bette and Tina wanted to do nothing except run out the door.  Her stomach turned nervously.

“You did, but when I got home last night, it was missing.”

Bette studied Tina for a moment, a soft glow resting in her eyes.  “Hang on just a minute.”  She moved back behind her desk and called her assistant.

Tina watched Bette’s brisk movements and perfect posture.  She held herself with an air of sophisticated dignity.  Tina thought she had never met anyone more intriguing.  As Bette hung up the phone she quickly looked away, but could feel Bette’s eyes burning into her.

“I just spoke with my assistant and she said she found an earring this morning.  I’ll be right back.  Please make yourself comfortable.”

Tina watched Bette leave but refused to sit down.  She shook her head and closed her eyes as she tried to make sense of the feelings inside of her.  Focusing on regulating her breathing, she took deep breaths and exhaled slowly.  Unfortunately, that brought in the familiar smell she noticed last night… the scent that reminded her of Bette.  Tina started to bite her bottom lip and wondered what was wrong with her.  She loved Eric.  She was sure of it.  Her boyfriend meant the world to her.  She wanted nothing more from Bette than her friendship.  

Tina moved closer to Bette’s desk to sneak a peak at the contents on it.  She saw a picture of Bette with a woman a little older who she assumed was her sister.  Everything was very neat and kept in its place.  She spotted another picture, except in this one, Bette was standing behind a woman with blonde hair, her arms wrapped warmly around her.  Tina’s stomach lurched again and Bette stepped back into the office.

“I have good news.”  Bette was smiling as she stepped closer to Tina.  She pulled the earring out of her pocket and held it out in her palm.  “I could’ve sworn I watched you put this back on last night.”

Tina could barely move.  Bette stood just inches away from her, and that smell…  she felt intoxicated.  Her heart started pounding at a ridiculous rate and she reached out and took the earring from Bette’s hand.  She was stuck.  She couldn’t move.  Her mouth wouldn’t budge.  Her tongue felt stuck to the roof of her mouth, her jaw wired shut.  No matter what she did, she couldn’t stop staring at Bette.  She wanted to cry and laugh at the same time, her confusion overwhelming her.  She knew what was going to happen but she couldn’t stop it.  Instead, she let it happen.

Bette started to lean forward and Tina had no voice to protest.  She suddenly lost her breath and Bette’s scent was wrapped all around her, binding her.  All confusion was gone and all that was left was a longing.  Her curiosity and desire to taste that scent consumed her.  Bette was now less than inches from her face.  One last push and their lips collided.  It was short and Bette pulled away.  Tina still couldn’t speak, but Bette didn’t need words to know how Tina felt.  Her eyes gave it away.

Tina wasted no time in leaving the gallery.  She had no voice but she quickly turned around and walked out the door.  Bette was at her heels.

“Tina – wait!  Please!”  She watched Tina leave the gallery entrance and walk down the street to her car.  “Can I at least call you?”  Tina still didn’t respond but she did look back at Bette.  In Bette’s mind, that look meant yes.

Tina started her car and drove away.  At the next street, she turned right and parked on the side of the road.  She placed her head on the steering wheel and cried.  She felt ashamed for what happened.  She was ashamed for letting it happen and she was ashamed for cheating on Eric.  But she was mostly ashamed for how she felt.  That simple kiss ignited her more than any other kiss ever had in the past.  She wanted nothing more than for these feelings to go far away, but as she cried, she knew they would never leave her.  How could she ever face Bette again?  What would she tell her friends?  Her parents?  Was she *****?  

Tina finally picked up her head and noticed the bright sunshine outside the windshield.  She held out her hand and studied the lines in her palm.  She couldn’t help who she was.  Inside her pocket, she pulled out her earring and let it rest with the fine lines on her hand.  She had a sudden urge to put it in her mouth, let it swirl around her tongue so she could taste it… taste Bette… her hand had last touched her earring.  

In a matter of minutes her shame turned to question.  She wondered why her initial response was shame.  Shouldn’t she be proud of who she was, regardless of who she cared for?  She then went from question to fear.  Every emotion possible toppled through her mind and her heart.  She clung to the earring and put her car in drive.  She was going home.

Once she stepped inside her apartment, she turned on her answering machine to check her messages.  As each one played through, she started making some lunch.  She suddenly heard Bette’s voice in the kitchen.  Excitement trickled down her spine and she froze.

“Tina, it’s Bette.  I know you just left my gallery but…. well…. I just wanted to say that it was nice to see you today.  I’m glad I’ve met you.  I’m sorry if I’ve made you at all uncomfortable today.  That wasn’t my intention.  I simply acted on my feelings.  Please don’t be offended.  I’m not sorry for what I did but I am sorry if you took offense.  I meant what I did.  That kiss meant something to me and – “

The machine cut off.  At this point Tina was hovering over the machine, a butter knife clutched between white knuckles.  She waited to see if Bette had called back to finish but the blinking red light on the machine had ceased.  She stared blankly, the butterflies in her stomach fluttering up to her confused mind.

***