“There’s something else I have to tell you” Tina told Bette as they were getting ready for bed

“What’s that?” Bette said taking off her jewelry before getting into her PJ’s

“Remember that one night fling I mentioned before we got back together?” Tina looked at Bette nervously

“Yes” Bette said slowly looking just as nervous

“Well, she’s social worker at the center” Tina got out as fast as she could, she turned and opened the drawer to get out her PJ’s, but she was actually avoiding Bette’s stare

“Wait, you fucked someone from work?” Bette went back to the dresser forcing Tina to look at her

“No, she started there after we fucked” Tina told her “It was a week before I went on maternity leave; Oscar was looking for someone, so I recommended her”

“Where did you meet?” Bette asked watching Tina as she moved toward the bathroom to change

“At a strip club” Tina said ultra fast before shutting the door just as fast

“Was it a date?” Bette’s muffled voice sounded from behind the door “Who the hell takes a date, a one date at that, to a strip club?”

“No she wasn’t a date” Tina opened the door and stood faced to face with her “she was a stripper” Tina told her about Monique and her situation.  The whole time she was carefully watching Bette’s expression gauging it to see how she was absorbing everything.  After everything was said and done Tina waited for Bette to respond, in which she carefully exhaled before saying.

“I forbid you to take this job” Bette told her firmly

“Excuse me” Tina did shook her head

“You heard me” Bette challenged

“Is there a back hand to follow that statement” Tina shook her still not quite believing that Bette was spoke to her in that manner “We’re not we living in the nineteen forties Bette, give me a fucking break” Tina went to the door “I’ll be sleeping in Angie’s room, you can hibernate in your fucking cave” she turned the door knob to leave when Bette’s hand stopped her.

“Wait” Bette hugged from behind “I’m sorry I disrespected you like that” she desperately said