The Betting Game

Chapter 35 - Over Angelica's

Later that evening, Angelica was packing up the kitchen when she heard the doorbell. It was Austin. He pushed his way inside.

"Didn't I tell you to be at my place at 7:00?"

"And I told you I had to finish packing!"

"What the FUCK is your problem? What kind of games are you playing?"

"I'm not playing any games, ASSHOLE!" she said walking towards the kitchen.

"Now I'm the Asshole?" he asked following her.

"Yes, you are!"

Austin grabbed her and said, "Was this a joke to you? Was your master plan to fuck me over?"

Angelica reached into the kitchen drawer and grabbed her Glock 9mm pistol. She pointed it at his temple and said, "Let this be the last fuckin' time you think about putting your hands on me."

Austin immediately let her go.

"It's not loaded," he said being cocky.

She grabbed the magazine and inserted it. Then said, "It is now."

Austin stopped messing around with her as he saw a disturbed look in her eyes.

"Stop playing, Angelica. Put that thing away. I just want to talk."

"Now you want to talk? I'm not the one playing games. I wasn't the one that bought me a house, a new car and ate my pussy before going on a date with another woman!"

Austin didn't say another word. He finally understood Angelica's behavior and calmed down.

"I saw you that night after you left me. You were at the Charlotte Tower in Uptown with an older, beautiful woman. I saw her kiss you and you kissed her back. Then, you grabbed her by the waist and went inside. So don't fucking come over here talking about playing games when you crushed me...you FUCKIN' ASSHOLE!!!"

Austin put his head down. He had no idea she saw that.

"And no I wasn't following you. I stayed at the new house for a while looking around. So, I didn't know where you were. But on my way back here, I decided to pick up dinner across from the EpiCentre. As I was going around traffic, there you were. So, I parked and got out. I wasn't going to think the worst of you at first. She could've been anyone. But when I saw all of the kissing and touching, I was sick to my stomach."

"Angelica...I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. Please...you have to forgive me."

"No, Austin! I don't and I won't."

"Angelica..."

"You know the part that hurts the most? We just had the time of our lives. You opened up to me, you told me you loved me and you wanted to be with me. And not even 24 hours later you're with another woman. So no! I don't have to."

"It wasn't what you think. I didn't sleep with her. I didn't do anything with her. I actually broke it off with her. That's what that dinner was about."

"It didn't look like it to me."

"It's the truth."

Austin had been dealing with this older woman for a while. They were also really good friends aside from lovers. He told Angelica the truth about what the other woman meant to him and explained that what she saw was their normal behavior. That was until he broke it off. She cursed him out in the restaurant and threw a drink at him. He even had to pay for the dishes she broke.

"It's whatever, Austin. I've decided to concentrate on myself and what I want, like getting this new position. You can do what you want. I'll do the same."

"No! Angelica...you can't do this! We've come too far."

"You did this, Austin! You! I was perfectly willing to give us a fair chance! But now I don't trust you again! Now my wall is back up and will not come down for you! You don't deserve me!" she said tearing up.

"Baby, please..." he said hugging her. "Don't do this to us. I swear I didn't do anything. And I promise I was trying to make things right. I was trying to do right by you and get rid of all of my female friends that I'd been dealing with. I want you and only you...I want us."

"You should've told me," she said breaking free and lighting a blunt.

"I was trying to do it on my own. I was trying to prove to you how serious I am about this relationship."

She stayed quiet and just looked at him. Then said, "That's why Paris and London were so great. You didn't worry about people. You held my hand, took me sightseeing and ate lunch in public. No rules or restrictions. Freedom!"

"I'm not ashamed of you, if that's what you're getting at."

"I don't care anymore, Austin."

Austin heard and understood every word she said.

"How do I make it better? How do I fix it?"

"I don't know."

"Please look at me," he said softly turning her face towards him. "I love you and I promise I'm trying to clean up my shit. The only reason I haven't screamed that I'm in love with you from rooftops is because of work. I know how hard you've been working. But if you don't want that, please let me know. I'll withdraw your name right now and announce us to the world."

She was tired of hearing that same story, even though she knew it was true.

"Sweetheart, I hate to bring this up, but you agreed that our private and professional lives would be separate."

"You know what, Austin? You don't get it. Something inside of you should've clicked to where you didn't want to act your normal way with her. I should've come to mind...something."

"Baby, I'm sorry. I was just thinking hurry up and tell her so I can get it over with."

"I'm tired of love coming into my life with strings attached. It doesn't seem like it can ever just be. There's always something preventing it from fully blossoming into this great experience I know it to be."

"Tell me what you want. If you want the position, this is how it has to be for now. If not...Baby, we can do all kinds of PDA in the office, in the car, at the mall...wherever. But it's your decision. Tell me what you want and I'll do it."

Angelica thought about what Thad said earlier. She trusted Thad.

"I don't want you to do anything. Just leave things alone. I guess it'll work itself out."

"I'm not with anyone else, Sweetheart. I've spent this week getting rid of what doesn't fit into my new life with you."

She wanted to believe him.

"Let's go," he said.

"Where?"

"Does it matter?"

"No."

"So, you'll go anywhere with me?" he asked expecting sarcasm.

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Because I know you'll take care of me."

Austin grinned from ear to ear. He loved her response and she was right.

They went to a restaurant in Uptown. They walked in holding hands. He knew he had to prove himself.

He spent the next two hours making her laugh and trying to get back into her good graces.

When they got back to her place, they smoked and finished packing. They just hung out.