Chapter 23

“Kit this is great that you did this for me.”  Al exclaimed as she kissed Kit on the cheek.  With all the birthday shots being bought for her, Al was starting to get even more jovial and talkative.

“My pleasure girl.  Actually it was Bette and Tina who planned it.”

“I just love those two. Where are they anyway?”  Al asked with a slight slur from the alcohol.

“I don’t know.  I haven’t seen them since the dance floor.”

“Yeah, wasn’t it great seeing them like that again?”

“Yes.  I know Tina’s trying to get Bette back but I just hope she doesn’t hurt her.  I can’t believe Jodi’s not here.”

“Me either.  That girl is all kinds of stupid knowing that Tina is after her woman.”

Kit looked curiously at Al.  “Jodi knows?” 

“Sure Tina told her all bets were off after she found out about Jodi and Nicky.”  Alice supplied.

Kit jerked back.  “What??!”

Al realized through that haze that she had given something away that she shouldn’t.  “Oh fuck.” 

“Al, what the hell happened.”

Alice knew the damage was done and proceeded to tell her about how she and Tina saw Jodi and Nicky and then had their initial beliefs inadvertently confirmed by Jodi.

“Why hasn’t Tina told Bette?  She knows how it feels to be cheated on.

“That’s why she hasn’t told Bette.  She doesn’t want her hurt but she decided then she wasn’t going to take the high road and leave Bette with Jodi.”

“Fuck” was all Kit could say.

“I don’t suppose it will do any good to ask you not to tell Bette?”  Alice tested.

“No.  I’m definitely not going to let her find out on her own.”

Al took hold of Kit’s hand.  “Then can we at least make a deal?”  Kit looked at her suspiciously, waiting.

“Can you at least give Tina a week?  If you don’t and they end up back together, Tina will wonder if Bette was with her for her or because she couldn’t be with Jodi.  And if Tina succeeds than what Jodi does won’t matter.”  Al argued her case.

Kit thought about this for a long moment, weighing the pros and cons.

“Ok.  One week.”

Al jumped and hugged her.  “Thank you.  You’ve just bought me another week to live.”  

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 Chapter 24

Bette sat on the couch to rest her shaky legs. Tina sat beside her – close but not touching.

“Bette, what are you feeling?”  Tina asked.

Bette leaned over on her legs and rested her forehead in her hands.

“Confusion and fear.”  She answered simply, quietly.

Tina gently stroked her arm.  “Why babe?”

Bette looked up at Tina suddenly.  “Why?  How can you ask that?  You left me Tina – for a man, and now that I have someone else, you want me back??”

Tina sighed then took a deep breath.  “I’m sorry Bette.  For what I did, for what your feeling but I won’t apologize for loving you. And I promise with all that I am, if you give me another chance, I will love you for eternity.”

Bette just gazed at Tina.  She knew she was crumbling and knew it could be the end of her if she gave into this.  With her last ounce of self preservation, she got up. “Tina I don’t know what I should do.  I only have your word that you love me again.  I don’t know if it’s enough.”

She looked down at Tina, beautiful and sad – she knew she was hurting her. 

But she turned slowly and walked out.