Chapter 2

Tina watched the screen of her cell phone light up again for what must have been the tenth time within that hour. It was Eric again, he had been trying to contact her since he finished work at five but she had just avoided his calls. It was unfair but she didn't want to face him right now, didn't want him to kiss her or come near her. She had been getting sick of him anyway but after the mornings events she really didn't want to date him. Splitting up with him would be so much hassle though, he'd probably strop because he had some strange notion he was Casanova. What would she say to him, how would she explain? 'Hi Eric, I think I'm a closet lesbian?' 'Eric you do nothing for me but that gallery owner makes me feel seriously hot and bothered?' Maybe she should just stick to the classic it's not you it's me line and miss out the part about Bette Porter.

Not that she had decided what to do about the aforementioned gallery owner. All she knew was that the elegant Bette Porter had probably ruined her for life as no one was ever going to live up to that instant surge of attraction that she was unashamedly feeling.

Tina had drove straight home from the gallery and foregone the planned shopping expedition. She had spent the whole afternoon sat on her comfy leather sofa staring at her phone and the small piece of note paper on which Bette Porter's number was written.

Tina had been reluctant to ring the gallery owner so soon and sense told her to leave it till at least late evening if not the next day. However, temptation was welling up inside of her as she thought more and more about how she was going to split with Eric. She made the decision to ring the number and see where it led, it was nearly half six so she's waited a few hours at least. She picked up the cell phone and began to dial the number Bette Porter had given her but before she had time to finish the door bell rang. Tina had a horrible feeling she knew who was on her door step. She made her way to the door and opened it slightly, not surprised to find Eric on the other side.

"Tina!" he exclaimed "I've been trying to ring you for ages"

He made an attempt to enter but Tina kept the door half shut so his route was blocked. He looked at her with a puzzled expression before the look turned to suspicion.

"Am I interrupting something?" he asked, trying to glance round her into the house. He obviously thought she was hiding the fact someone else was there.

"No" Tina said honestly "I just ... I'm sorry, I don't want to hurt you but I can't do this. I don't want to continue seeing you, I think you're a nice guy but I'm just not that attracted too you"

Tina waited for him to react, she had tried to say it in the nicest possible tone but there was never really a nice way of saying it. He nodded his head slowly in response, obviously digesting what she had just said.

"Okay" he eventually replied in an even tone "whatever, it's not like I can't walk into work and pull a handful of co-workers."

Tina tried to suppress a smirk at the slightly childish response but she knew it had crept up onto her face. Eric didn't seem interested in speaking about it any further though and he just turned and swaggered off like nothing had happened. Tina had suspected he had seen her more as a trophy girlfriend than anything else, she was intelligent, successful and some found her good looking. Even if this strange little dalliance into the world of women didn't work out at least she would know some good had come out of it.

She went back inside her house and made her way back to the sofa, turning a lamp on en route so she was no longer sitting in an unlit room. She finished typing in the gallery owner's number and then paused to stare at the screen for a while, wondering if this was really a sane course of action. Sane or not it was the course she seemed to have put herself on so she took a deep breath and pressed the green call button and placed the phone to her ear. She waited for it to connect and then there was one ring, two rings, then a third and a fourth and she wondered if Bette Porter would even answer. Then there was a second of silence as the other phone picked up the call and finally she heard the exhilarating art lover's voice again.

"Bette Porter" her voice stated politely, although she sounded slightly hassled. Tina struggled to speak but managed to force out some simple words.

"Hey, it's Tina Ken..."

"Tina!" Bette's tone was suddenly brighter as she cut her off in her tracks "I've had one work based phone call after another so this is such a welcome relief!"

Tina couldn't help but smile at the gallery owner's eagerness, it made her feel strangely attractive and she felt that strange feeling she had experienced the night before creeping back over her.

"Are you still in work? I could call back?" Tina said hurriedly, worried that she had rang back too soon.

"In all honesty I'm trying to escape" Bette admitted "I planned to leave about an hour ago."

"Well I'll block up your phone line whilst you make a run for it" Tina replied cheerfully, feeling much easier now they were talking.

"That would be gratefully appreciated" Bette chuckled "Where are you?"

"At home" Tina replied instantly "I'm off for a week, well, I'm doing a few small jobs from home."

"Have you eaten?" Bette asked, her voice still cheerful but it held less confidence than before. Tina couldn't quite believe that she could make a woman like Bette Porter doubt herself at all.

"No" In fact Tina hadn't eaten since breakfast which was surely not healthy. Food had not crossed her mind though as she sat on the sofa considering where life was suddenly taking her.

"Do you fancy going to grab some food from somewhere?" Bette asked, keeping the invitation light and not pressing.

"I'm still in what I was wearing before" Tina blurted out "I'm a bit underdressed for a meal"

"I'm still in what you saw me wearing before!" Bette chuckled again "You looked great"

Tina's heart raced at the calmly delivered compliment and she racked her brain to try and find a solution. Bette was wearing a smart trouser suit and was well dressed but Tina was in jeans and a casual shirt. She could get changed into something else quickly; she had plenty of smart outfits that she used for work.

"You've twisted my arm" Tina said playfully "Where do you want to meet?"

"I'll pick you up" Bette offered "What's your address?"

"25 Park Avenue, Venice Beach" Tina replied, surprised that Bette would want to make that much effort.

"I'll be about 40 minutes because traffic will be hell" Bette stated, excitement evident in her voice.

"Okay great" Tina answered, unable to hide the excitement from her voice either.

"See you then Tina" Bette said softly, making Tina's spine tingle.

"Bye Bette" Tina responded, letting the gallery owners name linger on her lips slightly. The phone went dead and Tina said the gallery owners name again, enjoying the sound of it coming from her own lips. It sounded 'right' coming from her lips, it didn't sound like she was just saying someone's name. Then it dawned on her, the lovely Bette would be there in 40 minutes and Tina needed and wanted to get a quick body shower and change.