pinky promise - jamie tartt

‟ WHAT YOU NEED „

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"Alright, I'm going, but you can let yourself out?"

"Wait, wait." Callum interrupted, pulling back slightly from the goodbye kiss Tate tried to give him. He looked out of place in her shitty apartment, dressed in his button up and tie and expensive dress shoes. "Can I give you a ride to work this morning?"

"But Jamie is already waiting outside." Tate's brows pinched together, phone clutched in her hand that displayed the 'I'm here' text that Jamie sent her every morning. Callum huffed, pulling away with a roll of his eyes, his reaction poking at her temper.

"Don't you think that you shouldn't spend so much time with other guys?"

Anger twisted Tate's face, rooting her to her spot as she considered his words. Since Callum had met the team the previous week, he had been making small comments about her relationships with the boys. Richard was the only one she understood him being upset with, since the Frenchman still teasingly hit on her every chance he got, but Callum had practically accused her of having a thing for Sam.

"What is your fucking deal?" She shot back, heat in her tone. Callum refused to look at her, focused on pouring his tea into a travel mug. "You haven't had a problem with me being friends with the boys until you met them."

"I didn't realize just how in love you are with them. Especially Jamie." Callum's voice sounded condescending, and Tate clenched her jaw tightly. "I don't fucking like the prick. Trust me, he's just trying to fuck you."

Tate was practically seeing red, though she forced herself to turn from her spot without saying anything. Slamming her apartment door behind her, her mind was crashing with thoughts about just how upset his words made her.

Callum knew how important the boys were to her, how they had been there for her in her darkest times and never failed to put a smile on her face. And whatever his personal problem with Jamie was, Tate would be forever grateful for all the care Jamie gave her in making sure she got to and from work safely.

And if it came down to a choice between her boys and her boyfriend, she knew which she would pick.

"You alright?" Jamie's voice dragged her from her thoughts as Tate climbed into the passenger seat. Her face was pinched in a frown, and she didn't even try to hide her anger.

"'M fine." She grumbled, buckling her seatbelt as Jamie pulled away from the curb. Though he was driving, he gave her a pointed look, as she was so very clearly not fine.

"You're a shit liar." There was no accusation in his tone, just acknowledgment that knew she wasn't fine, and that he wouldn't press any further if she didn't want him to. But by the concern on his face, Tate knew that he wanted her to explain.

"I'm great at lying, I'm just really pissed off."

"At?" Jamie prompted, brows raised expectantly. Tate fiddled with a loose tread on the hem of her coat, bottom lip caught between her teeth. "Y'know, I talk about my shit to you enough that you can talk to me, too. Promise."

"I know," She sighed, her anger flooding out of her longer she sat with Jamie. "It's just... Callum said... something... this morning that I really don't like."

Callum's declaration about Jamie's intentions with her echoed in her mind, and Tate couldn't get herself to voice them. She didn't believe him, in the slightest, but she knew that once she told Jamie, he would never forgive Callum.

"Fuck that," Jamie's face scrunched in annoyance, and Tate couldn't help the chuckle that fell from her lips at his instant reaction. "No, I'm serious, what did he say?"