Bette pulls me into an immediate hug.  God it feels good to be in her arms.  I wrap my arms around her back pulling her closer.  I messed up so bad losing this feeling.  I sadly didn’t have long to get lost in her embrace as she pulls back to look at me

“Are you ok Tee?” She asks in such a caring tone

“Yeah…I am…I just need to get myself together you know”

She nods rubbing my right arm with her hand “I totally understand”

I look around “Where’s Jodi” I ask her and she immediately removes her hand from my arm and sighs

“She went back to New York.  We ended our relationship but it was amicable Tee.  She and I still went to The Hammer together afterwards.  We want to retain our friendship.  It’s too important to throw away”

To hear her say that I can honestly be ok with it.  Jodi has been there for Bette and I’m glad she has her in her life but I can’t help that my heart is doing somersaults at the news that they are no longer together romantically.

“So it’s my turn to ask you now……Are you ok?”

She smiles at me and oh how I have missed her smile

“I’m fine Tee.  Actually I would love to tell you everything but I need to talk to Kit about keeping Angie for the night”

I look at her puzzled “Why?”

She looks back at the table where Helena, Alice and Dana were talking and then turns back to me

“I’m helping Helena out of her mess with that She-Devil…I’m going to San Diego”

I gasp “What?…Why?”

“I’m giving the woman a taste of her own medicine Tee”

I fold my arms “Well you aren’t going by yourself”

Bette drops her shoulders “Tina I need to help Helena ok..I promise I will be fine.  If I can survive New York I think I can survive an overnight trip to Sand Diego”

“How about I come with you?..I will watch Angelica while you are doing whatever it is you are going to do…You are going to tell me right?”

“You want to come with me?..I mean can you even get away?”

I smile “Yes.  Filming wrapped and I have off until we start casting for Jenny’s movie.  I was going to be preparing for a wedding and honeymoon which isn’t happening now so I’m up for a road trip.  It would give us a chance to talk and I can be with Angie”

“You don’t mind sharing a room?” She asks

I chuckle at her “Unless you want to get two separate rooms”

She thinks for a moment “I am ok with sharing if you are”

“Well then it’s settled” I say then look at her seriously “So what is it that you are going to San Diego for?”

She smirks at me…..God I love her sexy smirk

“I’m going to challenge Catherine to a high stakes poker game”

I gasp and drop my folded arms to my side “You are going to what?” I ask not believing what I just heard and trying to keep my voice down. “Bette you only play casually.  This woman eats novice players like you for breakfast”

She chuckles at me “Well good because I’m going to make her purge afterwards” she says leaving me intrigued as she and I walk towards Kit’s office

***************