“You’re right, I did want to hold you today and I didn’t because that is something we have to work toward. It may not be easy for me not to touch you but I can and will do it. I don’t want you to have any guilt at all. You’re making nothing harder for me. I got to spend time with you and Angie today and that is something that I’ve missed more than you’ll ever know. I  kissed you when I walked in. You took my hand after I was thinking about Dana. Those little gestures mean more to me right now than even taking you to bed and making love to you for hours. Believe me when I tell you that I was not just talking last night when I told you that I will give you whatever time you need. I want you to be  sure about us before there is an us. I will wait and in waiting, that’s my choice. All of the other stuff is a part of my choosing to wait while you figure out what you want.” The tears that were building in her eyes were now running down her cheeks and I released her hand and wiped away her tears. “Tell me why you’re crying.”

“I’m seeing that sweet Bette that was willing to wait forever for me when we first met. You made me feel so safe because you didn’t put any pressures on me. I’m so afraid of fucking everything up.”

“T, you aren’t going to fuck anything up. You are going to make decisions that are best for you. Hopefully they will include me but you have to do what is going to in the end best benefit you. I promise that I’ll be ok if you decide that being together is not what is best for you. Please don’t agonize over that. Just take the time to figure out what you want and need and let me know what I can do to help you.”

“Being here now helps. I wasn’t sure if you would come over. I was not always on the top of the priority list and I know it was last minute so I would have understood if you had already made other plans.”