He gave a wry laugh. “I did. I explained things, debated with her, heard her arguments, pleaded my case. But that girl is too much like me – too stubborn for her own good.”

Ahh, now I really know where this is going. “You want me to talk to Tina about talking to Bette..” I put two and two together.

“She’s the only one my daughter listens to.”

I nod in agreement, my Tina does seem to have a powerful hold over the young Porter. “I know, but I can’t promise you anything. I believe those two decided for themselves that they would be going to USC together. That’s their decision, we just have to stand back and support them.” Even if we believe that there is a brighter future for them somewhere else. I keep the last thought to myself.

“I know.” He sighs. “The two of them want to be together, I understand that. And I’m not trying to break them up.” He shook his head to the side, emphasizing his sentiment. “But can you just.. run a few things by Tina? Tell her that I’m willing to..”

——

“TOUCHDOWN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

Ken was brought back from his thoughts by the commentator’s excited yelps. He took a long swig of his beer and sighed. He was looking straight at the TV but he wasn’t really seeing what was happening on-screen. All he could think about was the thing that he had to bring up with his daughter this coming weekend.

This weekend..

Shit, and it was just Monday. He groaned inwardly. He knew that something as important as it should’ve been discussed earlier, but there was no point in talking to Tina about it while she was going through one of the most stressful weeks in her high school life. The last thing that he wanted to do was to increase his child’s load. So for the meantime, his conversation with Melvin Porter was only his burden to carry.

So until then, five sleepless nights to go.

———————————-

A few doors down from Ken’s apartment..

Through a tiny gap in the curtains, the first signs of a new day began to manifest itself inside the darkened room. Feeling trickles of the early morning sunshine hitting her face, a young, oversexed woman began to stir. A creamy white hand snaked up to a pair of hazel eyes, protecting the orbs from the sun’s relentless assault. A contented sigh and a lazy smile found its way to her lips. The sun, though pounding on her face with minuscule rays of light, had nothing to do with the kind of encompassing heat washing over her body. Something – or someone – else was guilty for that one. “Mmm..” She moaned appreciatively. She loved waking up like this. She was pretty sure she’d never tire of it. Behind her, Bette was spooning her, holding her close until no space was left between their naked bodies. No, Tina Kennard would never tire of it. She closed her eyes once more and sighed, leaning deeper against Bette’s chest, reveling in their unrestricted closeness. She would always lose herself in this wonderful feeling of safety and warmth that Bette’s hold seemed to bring – her arms wrapped around her in a way that told her how much she was fiercely protected and passionately loved.