Bette scooped up the receiver before Tina’s call went to voice mail. “Hi T,” Bette said in a pleasant tone.

“I need you to come get me. I’m sick,” Tina said.

“*****, are you okay? Where are you?”

“No, I’m not okay. I’m having an attack,” Tina barked into her cell phone.

“Did you take something yet?”

“Yeah. Just come get me, Bette. I’m near the Starbucks on Doheny and Santa Monica. Ah, *****, I have to pee. Meet me at the Starbucks,” Tina said before slapping her phone shut and hurrying down the sidewalk. Her legs were wobbly, but her urge to pee was powerful and almost beyond her control. She yanked on the glass door and walked into the chilly, coffee-coated air. The cool air hastened her urge. She trotted toward the restroom door and felt relieved that the door was not locked.

Bette heard the slapping disconnect ring in her ear. She stood for a moment not sure what to do first before she grabbed a bottle of Pellegrino out of the refrigerator and then her sandals and keys. Bette drove the ten minutes to Santa Monica and Doheny. The top on the Saab was still down from the ride back from the CAC earlier that afternoon. The marine-layered early evening air felt refreshing against Bette’s face and bare arms. She thought about picking Tina up and continuing the drive down Pacific Coast Highway to Laguna Beach and staying overnight at that bed and breakfast she had heard about. But it was Sunday night, she had no overnight bag packed, and Tina would be coming down off of an anxiety attack. She knew no impromptu get-away would fly with Tina tonight.

Bette parallel parked her car a block from the Starbucks. She carried the Pellegrino with her as she walked toward the corner. Tina sat at a table in the window, an empty water cup and the Complimentary Water pitcher sitting in front of her. “Good, she’s had her water,” Bette thought. She entered the store and sat down across from Tina.

“How are you feeling?” Bette asked.

“Like *****,” Tina said, her pursed lips and scowling eyes finishing her sentence.

“Do you want some more water?” Bette asked, pushing the Pellegrino toward Tina.

“No,” Tina said, moving herself away from the table to leave. “Where did you park?”

“I’m up the street,” Bette said, gathering her keys and picking up the Pellegrino.

Tina turned away from Bette and walked out the glass doors, leaving Bette sitting in her chair. Bette watched her, knowing that a glance from Tina would be the all-clear, that Tina was over her anger and appreciated Bette for picking her up. Tina passed in front of the window without looking at her. A tiny shriek of fear shot up Bette’s back before landing in her stomach. She quickly followed Tina out the door and up the sidewalk. Tina was a store-length away from Bette as she quickened her pace. “T, Tina?” Bette called.

Tina didn’t answer. She reached Bette’s car, opened the passenger door and got in. When Bette arrived at the car she dropped the Pellegrino in the back seat, slid in, started the car and looked at Tina who had closed her eyes and turned her head. Bette wanted to rest her right hand on Tina’s knee, but thought better of it. “I just need to get her home,” she thought. “I wonder if the Xanax has kicked in”

The two drove home in silence. Bette felt as if they had hit every red light, which added to what already felt like a long drive for a short distance. She continually peeked over at Tina to see if her distant demeanor had softened, but Tina held her head stoically. Bette pulled into the drive way and put the Saab in park.

“Do you need help getting out, T?” Bette asked.

Tina glared at Bette and then opened the car door, got out and and slammed it shut. Bette jumped at the “womp” of the car door. She watched Tina head for the front door, her own anger beginning to bubble up. “Goddamit,” she thought as she got out of the car and followed Tina inside.

Bette shut the front door and was surprised to find Tina sitting slightly slumped on the coach, her legs spread wide and arms crossed. Bette placed the Pellegrino on the coffee table and sat across from Tina in the upholstered chair. The two stared at each other. Bette waited for Tina to say something, to give her an opening so that she could start to mend the evening. Bette’s fortitude during arguments with Tina was her strength. She continued to stare at Tina whose jaw was set and her brown eyes were fixed and glassy. Bette’s fear began to buzz at her fortitude like a mosquito in her ear. She began to take deep, rhythmic breaths to prepare herself for what she knew was coming next.

“Well?” Bette said.

“Well what?”

“Is there something you want to say to me?”

Tina blew out a “pish” and turned her head to look out the window.

“What kicked off your attack?” Bette asked and then immediately regretted asking the question.

Tina snapped her head around to look at Bette. “Are you kidding me? Let’s see, Bette, what could it have been? The fact that I quit my job, I can’t seem to carry a baby, you have a new job that you don’t particularly like, we haven’t had ***** except for trying to make a baby in God knows how long, and you just kissed one of your employees.”

Bette winced, but said nothing so that Tina would continue.

Tina leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees, her ***** heavy and her cleavage in view. Bette’s eyes fell there, but she quickly worked to make eye contact with Tina.

“I need to know if you had ***** with her,” Tina said, her voice steady and her eyes locked onto Bette’s.

“What?”

“I need you to tell me if you fucked her,” Tina said slowly, her tone measured.

“Tina, I told you it was just a kiss. It was a mistake. I didn’t sleep with her. Jesus,” Bette said, incredulously.

“How do I know that was it?”

“I’m telling you that’s all there was.”

“I just can’t believe that you would let her kiss you.”

“Tina, I”

“Why did you let her?” Tina demanded.

“I told you it was a mistake. I’m sorry, T.”

“Why?” Tina screamed.

“Because . . . because, she wanted me,” Bette said, surprised by the longing in her voice. “She wanted me.”

“I want you,” Tina shouted. “How am I supposed to compete with that, Bette? I can’t be new. Our firsts are over. Why can’t I be enough for you?” She stood up and walked over to where Bette was sitting.

Tina towered over Bette who looked up at her. A single tear ran down Bette’s cheek.

“Have I already lost you? Are you gone, baby?” Tina asked, her voice small and scared. She cleared the tear away from Bette’s cheek and held her head with both hands.

“What did she make you feel that I don’t?” Tina asked as she bent down to open Bette’s mouth with her tongue. Bette exhaled sharply and surrendered her mouth to Tina. Tina worked her tongue deep into Bette’s mouth and Bette responded in kind before Tina abruptly pulled away.

“Was it like that?” Tina asked, still holding Bette’s head. “Did she make you wet?”

Bette let go of a whimper as she reached up to pull Tina’s head back to her own. Bette opened her mouth expecting Tina to do the same. Tina grabbed Bette’s shoulders as she fell to her knees and pulled Bette to the floor. She pushed Bette onto her back and then straddled her body, sitting on her pelvic bone. Tina yanked her T-shirt over her head before dropping her hands to the floor near Bette’s shoulders.

Tina’s hair had fallen forward, framing her set jaw and fierce brown eyes. “Do you feel the want coming out of me and into you, baby,” Tina asked as sweetly as she possibly could without belying her anger and fear.

“God, Tina, not like this,” Bette pleaded.

“Then like what? What do you want Bette?”

“Tina, please, I’m sorry. I want you,” Bette said, her voice quivering.

“How would I know that?” Tina asked, her voice small and distant.

Bette cupped Tina’s ***** and opened her mouth inviting Tina in for a kiss.

Tina stared at Bette.

“Ah, T, please kiss me. It’s you I want,” Bette begged.

Tina covered Bette’s hands with her own and pulled them away from her *****. She stood up, leaving Bette lying on the floor. Tina stepped toward the coffee table and picked up the Pellegrino bottle. The snap of the bottle’s lid echoed through the room. Tina turned her back to where Bette laid, tipped the green bottle to her lips and guzzled the sparkling water. Bette lay perfectly still, unsure what Tina would do next. Tina’s unpredictability ignited an intense fear that pinned Bette to the floor.

“I don’t believe you, Bette. And what’s worse, I don’t trust you,” Tina said, her voice cracking and her eyes burning from the tears that meandered down her cheeks and neck, along her clavicle and over her *****.