“Tina?”

The voice was so familiar, but Tina was sure he wouldn’t be hanging out here, not in West Hollywood. She looked up from her table and it was him. “Eric,” she said, giving him a smile.

Ever the one to skip formalities, Eric seated himself at the table. “Mind if I join you for a moment?”

As if she really had a choice. “No, please.” She motioned towards a chair.

“Well, Tina. You’re looking good. Really good.” He leaned closer to her. “But a little chunky.”

Tina tried to recall if he could be this clueless when they were together. “Eric,” she started, trying to keep a reign on her temper.

“Yes?”

“I’m not ‘chunky.’” She made air-quotes with her fingers. “I’m pregnant.”

Eric’s eyes widened. He leaned forward to see the rest of Tina. “Wow, you sure are, aren’t you. How does that happen?”

“Excuse me?”

“I mean, I know Bette Porter can out-butch me in some ways, but,” he pointed towards Tina’s belly, “that’s not one of them.”

“It happens for us just like it happens in your world. Except perhaps with a few less six packs and a little more planning.”

“Ouch.” Eric feigned getting struck in the heart by one of the daggers shooting from Tina’s eyes. He turned on the thousand-watt smile. “I suppose I deserved that, though.”

She couldn’t help but return the smile. “I suppose you did.”

Even after all these years, there was something about Eric that still got to Tina. Maybe it was the way they ended things. He knew she was seeing Bette, even though they were still sharing an apartment. Recent events put more of an understanding on Tina of what that must have been like for him.

“I’m sure Bette’s very proud.”

“Actually,” how to say this and not go into too much detail. “Actually, I’m doing this on my own.”

“Excuse me?”

“Bette and I.” Tina could feel the tears welling up, yet again, in her eyes. “Damn hormones,” she mumbled. “Bette and I are separated.”

“Oh honey,” Eric laid a hand on Tina’s. “I’m sorry to hear that.”

“Really?”

Eric flashed a smile. “Well, if you’re going to turn down me, you might as well be with second best.”

Tina dabbed at the corner of her eye with a napkin. “Thanks, I think.”

“How about your family? What have they said.”

Tina shrugged. “They don’t know. We haven’t really been close since, well, since Bette. You know how they feel about that.”

Eric nodded. He’d heard enough crying to know that Tina’s family had, effectively, disowned her after their relationship ended.

At the time he felt some small measure of satisfaction in that, knowing that she, in the blossom of a new romance, was feeling a rejection even deeper that hers of him. Now, however, he knew how much that separation must still hurt. Especially with Tina’s current situation.

For Tina, this was so different from the last time that she had sat down at a table with Eric. Then, it had been all jumbled and confusing. At least for her, probably for both of them, though, when she really considered it.

She remembered that day, over seven years ago.

“There’s the keys.” She pointed to the set on the table.

They had decided to do this final exchange at a diner. Somehow, it seemed easier being out of the condo that the two of them had shared for almost a year.

“And you’ve cleaned out the guest room?” Eric snatched the keys off the table and shoved them into his pocket.

“Everything’s gone,” Tina stated. “And if I forgot anything, trash it, it’s not important.”

“So?” Eric asked.

“So?” Tina countered. “What?”

“Now, you just go off and play the little wifey, and I’m the guy who’s fiance left him for another woman. Do you know how that makes me feel?”

“I didn’t do this to hurt you, Eric.” Tina thought that they had hashed this out already. At least, it felt like they’d tried, in so many ways.

But there was a point with Bette where it all became obvious that that was who Tina belonged with. She could love Eric, but she couldn’t be in love with Eric. Things had changed too much once Bette had walked into Tina’s life and captured her heart.

“I’m sorry that’s the result.”

He took hold of her hand. “I’m sorry, too.”

The two sat in silence, although Tina could tell from his fidgeting that Eric had more to say.

“What?” she finally asked.

“Is she, you know. Better?”

“Better?” Tina hoped that Eric wasn’t going where she thought he was.

“In bed. Is she better,” he cleared his throat. “Better than me.”

Tina took in a deep breath, and hoped that the most honest answer wasn’t emblazoned on her face. “It’s different, Eric. I can’t compare.”

“I mean, I tried, you know I did. Did I not do enough. Foreplay? Oral?”

Now they were well onto a path that Tina did not want to pursue. She rubbed at her eyes with her hand. “Eric, please understand. I can’t explain it, but I know being with her is right.”

He leaned back and crossed his arms. “I suppose it’s not really logical, anyway. Otherwise, we’re the perfect couple.”

Many of their friends, and others, had made the comment about them. The lawyer, the entertainment professional. Both attractive, intelligent. From all outward appearances, they were the perfect couple.

Deep in her heart, Tina knew it would have never lasted. Even before meeting Bette she was feeling something was lacking in her relationship with Eric. Through Bette, she came to understand that, if she wasn’t strictly speaking a *****, she was very much a bisexual. And, all things equal, probably preferred women.

“You know, if she ever hurts you, I’ll be there for you, right?”

Tina smiled. There was the reason why she had, and would always love this man. “I know.”

Now, in the present, here he was. Even without her asking.

“What are your plans today, Eric?”

“Well, I was thinking of a little lunch. Mind if I join you? We can catch up.”

“Of course not,” Tina agreed. She grabbed hold of his hand. “Thanks. I don’t know how you knew I needed to see someone. But, thanks.”

“What are ex-boyfriends for, if not for hot rebound *****.” Eric knew he’d opened himself up for another round of daggers. “In theory, of course.”

“In theory,” Tina agreed.

Eric had, Tina thought, the most goofy grin on his face. “What?” she asked.

“I’ve never been with a pregnant woman before,” he admitted.

Tina rolled her eyes. “I thought you and whatshername were planning a family.”

“Melinda?” He asked. “We were, I just thought it’d be with me as father. It seemed she had other thoughts.”

“I’m sorry.”

He shrugged. “Like you’re finding out, you never know.”

“I am seeing someone,” she admitted, her voice quiet.

“Oh? Do tell.”

“Her name’s Helena.”

“I think I’m glad you haven’t gone back to men. At least this way I get to know that I’m your last.”

“You’ll always be special to me, Eric.” Tina rested her hand on Eric’s arm, and found herself playing with the fabric.

“What does she do?”

“She runs her family’s foundation. She funded some work I’m doing at a non-profit.”

“Helena. Helena as in Peabody? Of the Peabody Foundation?”

“That’s her.”

Eric let out a whistle of appreciation. “I’ll hand it to you. You do know how to trade up.”

“Eric.” Tina playfully slapped his hand. “We’re just dating. Besides, until things get settled with Bette, I don’t know.”

“A little bit of the Peabody money would make your post-Porter life easier to take.”

Tina frowned. “That’s not why I’m seeing her.”

Eric leaned forward. “But it can’t hurt.”

Once the brat, always the brat, Tina thought. She did have to admit, thought, there were advantages to keeping company with Helena.

“True. Now, as you were saying. Lunch?”

“Of course,” Eric agreed. “Lunch it shall be.”

Over at the coffee bar, Alice stood unseen by the couple, just watching. She jumped as she heard a voice behind her.

“Just what are you doing?” Bette wondered aloud.

“Um, try not to freak.” Alice kept her eyes on the couple. She wasn’t quite sure what Bette was doing.

“What’s Eric doing with Tina?”

“I don’t know,” Alice admitted. “I just got here. But they do look cozy.”

Bette’s face fell to a frown. “A little too cozy. Alice. I thought Helena was bad enough. But what if she’s thinking of going back – and taking our baby – to him?”

(not sure if this merits more)