Just the three of us...

Chapter 15 Mel

I knock on the door to the housekeeping office, and Kelly looks up from her desk, smiling. 

"Hey Kelly. Alice still isn't feeling too good, so she asked me to tell you. It should only be another couple days. Hopefully." I add under my breath.

"Poor little thing." Kelly's brow furrows, her head tilted to the side. "I didn't realize you and her were friends?"

"Yeah. Um....Tag..." I trail off, rubbing my neck awkwardly. Tag's flirty reputation is well known. Kelly blushes slightly and looks down at her engagement ring. I'd forgotten Tag had pursued Kelly when she had first started too. "You know how he likes to make friends." I shrug.

"Well, then. Ok. You tell her to feel better soon." 

Tag is leaning up against the bonnet of the car, cigarette in his mouth as usual. He absentmindedly rubs a hand up his throat, over the phoenix tattoo there, following its wings round to the back of his neck. I'd hated the idea of the tat when he'd first talked about it, but I have to admit it's pretty fucking sweet. Its long tail swoops mid-way down his chest and becomes part of the flames of the sacred heart he has there.

 "Kelly says hi." I say with a smirk, and he coughs on his mouthful of smoke. 

"Bitch."

"Shitbag!" I retort, bumping him with my hip. "Now lets get outa here and see if our friend has woken from the dead yet."

Alice's car is parked in a different spot when we pull up, and when Tag unlocks the front door we are hit with the sound of her singing along with Soundgarden. Tag raises an eyebrow at me, and we walk round the corner into the open plan living room/kitchen of our shitty little flat. 

Alice is stood in front of the stove, back to us, wearing a cute black skater dress which from the looks of it has little pink cats wearing spectacles on it. Her hair is slightly damp, pulled into a rough pony tail, curly tendrils just resting on her shoulders. Tag quietly walks over the small kitchen table, which she's set for dinner including a jar with a few flowers in. He sits down, stretching his legs out, crossed at the ankles, and clasps his hands behind his head, grin on his face as he enjoys the sexy wiggle Alice is doing in time with the beat. 

I roll my eyes, and clear my throat. Alice spins round, eyes large.

"Oh! You surprised me!" Her hand flutters up to her chest. "I thought I'd make you guys dinner. To say thank you for....well everything!" She forces out a little laugh. 

Tag grabs her hand and pulls her down to sit on his lap, giving her quick kiss on the forehead.

"Thanks babes! That's really fucking nice of you." Alice blushes furiously, and squirms in his embrace.

"Let the poor girl go, you prick." I walk over and clip the back of his head. He grins wider, but lets her stand up. I pull out the chair next to him, and Alice turns back to the stove. "You've been home." I state.

"How did you....?" She looks at me, and for a moment I loose myself in her stare.

"Your clothes." I look her up and down, and she blushes again. Nervously she chews her bottom lip, looking at me through her eyelashes, and I feel myself get a little wet. Tag shifts a little in his seat, and I know he's feeling something from her look too.

"Yeah. He wasn't there. I needed...well you didn't seem to have any...um..." She gestures to her chest.

Tag bursts out laughing. "Yeah, Mel doesn't have much need for bras." I feel my own cheeks redden, and punch Tag in the arm. "Ow!" He continues laughing as he rubs his arm.

I stand up, but before I can stomp out of the room Alice catches me by surprise, wrapping her arms round my neck and pressing herself up against me.