Tina had invited Bette over for dinner to celebrate that the work was done. Her apartment was now how she wanted it, and Tina knew Bette was the only one she wanted to celebrate with.

It was Friday and Tina just got home from a meeting at Alphaville. She had been handed two scripts that she was given full responsibility of developing. She felt quite exited about the fact that the studio still seemed to have great faith in her abilities. And the pay she was offered was excellent. Tina felt really good about herself for the first time in ages.

Bette was at home getting ready for her dinner with Tina. The last two weeks had flown by. Bette had seen Tina about four times a week just the two of them or with the whole gang. Mostly they had just been hanging out, fixing up Tina’s place. It wasn’t the way Bette would have chosen to spend their time, but in some way it was good for them to do something practical together instead of talking all the time. It was nice to be around each other on a regular basis, without constantly having to deal with serious issues. Bette had missed just being in same room as Tina and if painting walls and sanding doors were what it took to get her there, she would happily do so. Bette could tell that Tina’s mood went up and down. She recognized instantly what sort of day it was for Tina, when she caught her eye. Some days it was like Tina wasn’t really there, her thoughts obviously somewhere else. Other times she seemed happy, almost giddy about moving on. Bette hoped tonight was one of the days where Tina felt at ease.

Bette walked into her closet dressed in underwear to select what to wear to Tina’s. Tina was going to make dinner and it was just going to be the two of them. Bette had been looking forward to this the whole week. Tina hadn’t cooked for her since they lived together and it felt like tonight was a big step in the right direction for them. At least that was what Bette hoped for. Bette let her hand run over the suits that hung side by side in the closet. She discarded the idea of wearing a suit and went for the more casual choice, jeans, a taupe top and a slightly darker short jacket. She looked at herself in mirror as she put in her earrings. She saw the look of expectancy and excitement in her own eyes. She knew she had to pace herself, but it was hard not to want more, when she spent so much time around Tina. Bette held back all the time. She wanted to lean in and kiss Tina’s sweet lips, when she smiled at Bette from across the room. She wanted to slide her hand over Tina’s perfect backside, when she bent down to pick up a paintbrush or a roll of sandpaper. She wanted to give her a long tight hug when that look of confusion and loneliness came over Tina’s beautiful features. Bette wanted to feel Tina respond in arousal to her, she needed to know that she could still trigger a physical response in Tina. Bette didn’t know if she still had the same effect on Tina, that Tina still and forever would have on Bette.