Reparation (12 page)

Tate took off down the hallway, grabbing her coat as she went out the door. Jameson caught up with her on the porch steps, following her down onto the driveway. She had been the last person to use the Jaguar, and the keys were still in her pocket.

“I have to talk to him,” she breathed, when Jameson asked what she was doing.

“Jesus, Tate, you can call him, you know,” he pointed out.

“I know. But I have to talk to him about this in person. After everything that's happened, I don't think he'd appreciate a phone call,” Tate explained, unlocking the Jag and opening the driver's side door. Jameson shut it again.

“This is fucking stupid. All this because -,” he started. She stood on her tip toes and kissed him, as forcefully as possible. He looked a little surprised when she pulled away.

“Just stay here and finish the damn whiskey,” she told him, then she hopped into the car.

She didn't know if Ellie had already called him, or even if she'd be at his place, but Tate had a hunch she wouldn't. Ellie wasn't a “feelings” kind of person, it was probably what had drawn her and Jameson together – something in common. When Tate pulled up in front of Ang's apartment building, she didn't see Ellie's car anywhere. She figured it was a good sign. She shivered on his stoop, pressing the buzzer for his apartment until he picked up.

“What the fuck!?” his voice crackled over the intercom.

“It's freezing out here, let me in!” she shouted back. There was a buzz, and she yanked the front door open.

His apartment was on the fourth floor, and the elevator was broken. By the time she got to his door, he was holding it open for her. He was yawning, standing in only a pair of pajama pants, his hair completely standing on end. She glanced at her watch as she walked in the door. Eight o'clock at night.

“Yeah, yeah, I know. I was filming all last night, some crazy kinky fetish take on Pride and Prejudice, and then I had to waiter some wedding this morning. I was so fucking asleep,” he grumbled as she went straight to his room.

“Kinky Pride and Prejudice?”

“'
Pride and Pre-Ejaculate'
.”

“I don't want to watch that film.”

“What's up, sweetie pea? You usually don't come slum it anymore,” he yawned again, stretching out on his bed. She patted his stomach.

“No sleepy-time Ang. Up, up, up,” she instructed. He pulled himself up so he was resting back against his headboard.

“Is someone on fire somewhere? Oh god, you're not gonna tell me there's some other incident you've been festering over for like the last year,” he groaned. She actually laughed.

“Shut up! No. Has Ellie called you?” Tate asked. He frowned and glanced at his phone.

“No. I haven't heard from her since the day before yesterday, actually. I tried to call her last night, to tell her all about your little melt down, but she never called me back,” he explained. Tate licked her lips nervously.

“Why didn't you tell me? I mean, if your relationship with her is just based on sex, why did you let me feel so guilty for trying to break you up?” she blurted out. His eyebrows shot up.

“What the fuck are you talking about? Based on sex? Tate, two weeks ago, we talked about me
moving in
with her,” he said. Tate winced.

“You and her? Or just
you?
” she stressed.

“If you came here just to be a bitch, you can go right back home to Satan, I'm sure -,” Ang started, moving to get off the bed.

“She was just at my house. She said she's only using you for sex, and that she would never really '
be with someone
' like you,” she rushed out all in one breath. He paused for a long second.

“You're lying. You just thought that your little show last night would -,” he was angry, obviously. Tate held up her hands.

“I'm really not! I promise! We got into a huge fight, I almost beat up a pregnant lady for you. Ask Jameson. Ask
Sanders
, he had to carry me out of the room. I told her she had to tell you, or that I would,” Tate explained.

She watched as Ang warred with his emotions. He had known Tate longer, but she knew she had been weird lately; trust was shaky between them. He was sleeping with Ellie and calling her his girlfriend, but he knew that she was capable of being almost as shitty as Jameson. It was a tough call to make.

“If I call her, and she denies all of this, I am going to be very pissed,” he said slowly, picking up his phone.

“Not fair! What if she denies it just to prolong it!? Call Sanders!” Tate demanded. Ang held up his hand and pressed his phone to his ear.

“El? Hey, Ang. Uuugggg, don't call me that, I hate my full name. I know, but he's the devil. Yeah. Yeah. So, something really weird happened ..., uh huh. Uh huh. She ..., called,” his eyes moved to stare at Tate. “Uh huh. I see. I see. Really. Really? Ooohhh. I didn't realize. No. No, not at all. Just glad to know how it is – I totally feel the same, I just thought you would freak out. No, we're totally cool. You're sure about this? Yes, I'm fine. Yes, she told me. No. No. I told her it was cool, she's coming over so I can chill her out. Yeah, I will. Don't talk about her that way, you know I don't like that.
Sure. See you then. Okay.
Okay
. Bye.”

Tate was a little shocked. He had seemed so angry a moment ago – he was really okay with it? Why hadn't he said that from the beginning? She felt very confused. Up until a couple days ago, she had been plotting the destruction of their relationship. If she had just chilled the fuck out, it would have dissolved on its own, anyway.

“Wow, Ang, I had no idea you felt the same way, I'm sorry I -,” she started.

“No! Fuck that! I was fucking lying through my teeth! That fucking bitch! Used
me!?
  Came between you and I? Shit, Tate, what if that's what this has been about this whole time, her just pissing on you!?” Ang snapped.

“I don't think it was. Really. I think something happened between you two, she liked it, she kept it going, then it got out of hand and she didn't have the balls to back off. She could never be like us,” Tate said quickly. He shook his head.

“I'm so pissed. Do you know how many women I could have been having sex with? This whole time?”

“I'm sorry, Ang,” Tate said softly, rubbing her hand against his leg. He sighed.

“I was stupid. You O'Shea girls, I swear,” he grumbled. She nodded.

“I know. Who ever raised us,
that
was Satan,” she joked.

“Totally.
God
. I could
really
use that revenge fuck now,” he groaned. She laughed.

“You had your chance. Should've taken it.”

“I mean ..., just ..., what the fuck!? I haven't had a legit girlfriend in like six years, since I was nineteen. I haven't had sex with one single other woman since I got with her!” he snapped.

“Such a waste. The world is missing out.”

“I know! Fuck. Fucking bitch,” he growled.

“I know.”

“I thought ..., I thought she liked me,” he mumbled, running his hand through his hair. Tate frowned.

“If it makes you feel better, I don't think she knows how to like people. Not for real. She was still talking shit about me stealing Jameson. It's insane. She's sleeping with you and pregnant with another guy's baby, and she's
still
obsessed with him. Half the time, I feel like I can't get rid of him, and here she is, wanting him,” Tate laughed.

“Kitty cat?”

“Hmmm?”

“Could we, just this once,
not
talk about the goddamn devil?”

“Of course.”

Ang suddenly scrambled to get off the bed, almost knocking her over in the process. She ducked under his legs and stared as he hurried to pull clothing out of a hamper. He changed into a pair of expensive looking jeans, dug a little more, then pulled out a really nice, slim fitting, button up shirt. He rolled the sleeves up to his elbows then bent to look in a mirror, raking his fingers through his hair.

“How do I look?” he asked, hopping into a pair of shoes. Tate blinked up at him.

“Uh, really good, actually,” she replied. He held out his arms.

“Like how good? Fuckable good?” he asked.

She let her eyes wander over him. She had always thought Ang was sexy, since the first time she'd ever met him. In a completely different way from Jameson, Ang wasn't predatory at all. He was more subtle. Like the guy who would've snuck in her bedroom window and stolen her virginity, right before her prom date was supposed to pick her up. He had a naughty-fun smile and his hair always looked like some woman had just clawed her hands through it, not to mention that his lean body just looked built for fast times. Tate nodded.

“
Very
fuckable. Why?” she asked. He grabbed her hand and pulled her up, practically dragging her out of his bedroom.

“I just can't believe her,” Ang grumbled, letting go of Tate's hand and stalking around the apartment. She watched as he undid the bolt lock and chain lock from the door. Then he ducked down to stare out the peephole.

“Ang. What the fuck are you doing?” she asked. He waved an arm at her.

“Shut up. She's gonna be here any second,” he mumbled, leaning to the side, obviously trying to look down the hall.

“What?” Tate was a little shocked. “Ang, maybe I should go. It's, like, between you two, and I don't want to get arrested for beating up a pregnant woman.”

“You won't beat her up, I just want to -,
shit! She's here! She's here!
” he hissed, and hightailed it back to her side. Tate could hear the sound of a key in the lock.

“Good god, Ang, you gave her a key!? I didn't even -,”

She couldn't finish her sentence, however, because his tongue was suddenly in her mouth. She gasped as his mouth completely enveloped her own. She was vaguely aware that the door was swinging open and then Ang was dipping her slightly, raking his fingers down her back before grabbing onto her butt. She squealed against his mouth and pushed at his shoulders.

“What the hell is going on!?” Ellie's voice squeaked from the doorway.

I have no fucking clue.

Tate finally managed to shove Ang off, breaking the kiss. But he kept his arms around her, swinging her around so his back was to Ellie, Tate almost bending in half backwards. She glared at him, shoving at his hand as it worked its way over her breasts.

“What are you doing!? Jameson is gonna kill you!” Tate hissed, all while Ellie shouted behind them.

“Just go with it!” Ang growled, then kissed her again.

“
Angier!
” Ellie shrieked.

Tate shoved him hard, finally gaining arm distance between them. She glared at him, wiping at her mouth. He smirked back. Ellie fumed in front of him. How come when Tate wanted to break them up by having dirty, nasty, fun time with Ang, it wasn't okay – but suddenly he wants to suck her face off to make Ellie mad, and it's fine!?

“What's up?” he asked casually, turning to face Ellie.

“Are you kidding me!?” she demanded before turning towards Tate. “And you! I thought this was, like, against the rules or something! You're such a slut!”

“Hey!” Tate snapped. “Technically, what I do is none of your business. And second of all, pretending to like some guy just to fuck him is pretty goddamn slutty!”

“It becomes my business when you make out with my ...,” Ellie's voice trailed off, her face turning red.

“
Your what
, Ellie? You just explained to me how I'm nothing more than sex to you,” Ang pointed out.

“No!
We
just said that's all we are,
to each other,
” she stressed, waving her purse between them.

“Yeah. So, I think that means I can make out with whoever I want,” he replied, coiling his arm around Tate's waist. She began smacking him in the chest.

“This is sick. You two are sick. I'm getting out of here. I hope you're happy together, you ..., sluts,” Ellie cursed, then stomped out of the apartment, slamming the door behind her.

“That was pretty awesome,” Ang laughed, still holding onto Tate. She shoved at him.

“No it wasn't! A little warning, maybe, next time you feel like shoving your tongue clear down to my stomach!” she snapped at him.

“Oh c'mon, you always loved lots of tongue,” he reminded her. She snorted, trying to pull free from him.

“Shut up. This is so fucked, you know that, right? I try to sex you up to piss Ellie off and I'm a bad person, but you get to do it and it's no big deal!?” she pointed out.

“It's completely different. You and I are a team – you can't make plays against me.”

“You're retarded.”

“Shut up.”

“
You
shut up!”

He grabbed her then, pulled her into a hug. Tate was a little shocked at first, then she wrapped her arms tightly around his waist. Ang sighed into her hair. He had really liked Ellie. Shocking. No one seemed to like Ellie, and Tate's best friend had gone and fallen in total-like with her. She was a little miffed at being used, but her heart hurt a little for him.