Authors: Donna Gallagher
JT was easy to be around. He had happily worked at something on his laptop or made phone calls while she’d worked. He and Brodie had trained every day for hours on end, and Caitlin and Mandy had caught up at those times. They had made plans for Mandy to sit with Riley on Friday and watch the game. Caitlin would be singing at Mia’s, so Mandy was going to text the details of the game to Caitlin’s new mobile, courtesy of Brodie. Both she and Caitlin were feeling a bit down at the thought of their men being away, but both had agreed that it was a comfort that they’d have each other for company.
Mandy kept herself busy after JT left, trying not to worry about his worrying about her. She restocked her plastic tubs with new jewellery pieces ready to sell on the Friday and Saturday markets. She tidied her flat, changed her bedding, even cleaned the glass in the French doors.
Sleeping in a bed without JT seemed too hard, so on Wednesday night Mandy just worked through.
On Thursday morning, she fell into bed, exhausted…
* * * *
On Friday, Mandy was up early to repack her van with products for the day ahead. She hoped it would go fast, already excited about the thought of seeing JT, even if it was just on the television.
Mandy was missing JT so much she was shocked at how her body ached for him. No other person in her life had impacted on her as he had. Mandy didn’t even want to think about the other occasions he would be away. Every time her phone rang, Mandy prayed it would be JT just so she could hear his voice. True to his word, JT rang her often during the day.
That night, Mandy sat with Riley in front of the television, nervously waiting for the action to begin. Mandy recognised the sports commentator Trevor Hughes—she had met him right in this very flat, during that terrible, drama-filled period for Brodie and Caitlin. He had seemed nice enough and was obviously a friend of JT’s. Trevor was talking about the Jets team being favourites to win the game. She listened, interested to hear what he was saying.
“Jets’ stalwart props, James and Thomson, are in the best form in years. It seems as if they have found a new lease of life. The Townsville forward pack should be prepared for a hard encounter if they plan on stopping the Jets’ momentum.”
Mandy smiled, wondering a little smugly if she and Caitlin might be to thank for Brodie’s and JT’s ‘new lease of life’.
“The Jets’ halfback, Mitchell Harris,” the commentator continued, “is really maturing as a player and young man under the guidance of the Jets’ coaching staff and strong mentors like James and Thomson. In fact, I have been informed by a reliable source that a few days ago, Harris went to the aid of a young woman who was being assaulted.”
Mandy’s stomach dropped when she heard Trevor comment about what had happened to her and Rookie. She was not really happy that it was now public
.
“At least my name wasn’t used, though,” she murmured at the television screen, relieved.
The game was harder for Mandy to watch than she had expected. She had thought seeing a game live at the ground was bad, not realising that the close-up shots of the action would make the play look even more brutal, not to mention the slow-motion replays that showed every tackle, hit and knock. Mandy could even hear the sounds of impact as bodies slammed together. The North Queensland team remained in the lead for most of the game.
Mandy nearly fell off the sofa when a very close-up shot of JT showed blood streaming down his face.
“Oh, my God!” she cried out as the image was displayed on the television screen. Riley—bless his heart—took her hand and told her it was all part of the game, and that JT had bled many times. Riley’s words didn’t really help Mandy all that much. She could not imagine how, if it had been Brodie bleeding the way JT was, she’d be able to describe that, over the phone, to Caitlin in her promised match update.
The game went right down to the last minute, when a player accurately nicknamed ‘the Flash’
scooted away and scored what ended up being the winning try. The siren sounded soon after, ending the game. The Jets had won.
Mandy was jumping around the room, high-fiving with Riley, looking like some sort of madwoman, when Riley stopped and pointed to the image of JT on the television screen. Mandy listened to her man’s deep voice as he answered questions about the game—he sounded so sexy.
Mandy’s heart skipped a beat when she heard JT ask if he could send a shout out to his woman at home.
“Love you, Mags. See you and Riley soon, gorgeous.”
Riley bounced around the room, going on and on about everyone hearing JT saying his name on national TV. Mandy felt exactly the same—she didn’t even mind that JT had called her Mags.
* * * *
The month of July saw Mandy and JT settle into a familiar pattern—Mandy working while JT went to training, him accompanying her to sell her art at the various markets around Sydney when he could, and Mandy to the league games played at the Jets’ home ground. The happy couple socialised with Brodie, Caitlin and young Riley at least once a week. They ate dinner with JT’s father regularly, and the odd breakfast.
Riley had stayed over with them one night so Brodie could have a special night out with Caitlin. JT had a ‘cat that swallowed the canary’ look about him all night long. He definitely was a shocker at keeping secrets, Mandy had decided. With all the fuss and secrecy involved, she’d guessed that maybe there was a wedding proposal in Caitlin’s future.
Just as Mandy had surmised, after a romantic dinner at one of the finest restaurants in Sydney, Brodie had in fact proposed to Caitlin—down on one knee with a pink, heart-shaped, diamond solitaire gold ring held out on offer, Brodie had vowed to look after Caitlin and Riley forever, if she would have him. When an excited, squealing Caitlin had rung to give the good news that she had—of course—said yes, describing the night and Brodie’s promises, Mandy had become so emotional she’d begun to cry with happiness.
Mandy and JT remained incredibly passionate. A single touch or look made her melt, and her mind usually erupted like a volcano, spewing colour like molten lava. Mandy’s breasts, so used to being aroused, just remained full and almost painful to touch these days. JT always appeared to be hard and ready for her, his appetite insatiable. The busy schedule did take a toll on Mandy, though. By the first week of August, she just couldn’t shake off a tiredness that was draining most of her energy.
JT had travelled away for two games over the last month, but Mandy was getting better at dealing with his absences. Caitlin and Riley kept her company. One night, when the Jets were away, some of the players’ partners got together at Mia’s to enjoy dinner and Caitlin’s singing. Mandy, although not hungry, as food seem to unsettle her sensitive stomach, did enjoy the company. She felt more and more like a part of JT’s rugby league life, and often wondered how she had managed before JT.
Unconsciously, Mandy was changing. She didn’t hide behind so many layers of makeup now, preferring to spend the time she used to take to create her dramatic image in bed with JT. Her all-black clothing was slowly being replaced with more feminine-looking shirts, and even a pair of jeans. Mandy had thought her large bottom was not suitable for jeans, but JT’s enthusiastic encouragement and continued caresses of her denim-clad bottom convinced her otherwise.
Her artwork was also changing. The dark, brooding images that had often appeared in her paintings had now morphed into softer, happier lines and colours—vibrant sunsets and shimmering moonlit scenes were among her new work. Her jewellery line now consisted of romantic, swirling fine designs, as opposed to the chunky harsh lines of the pieces that used to make up her sales inventory.
Chapter Sixteen
JT was worried about Mandy. She seemed to be pale and tired all the time. He knew he was asking too much of her sexually, and every night he promised himself that he would just cuddle her and let her get a good night’s sleep. But then JT would see Mandy’s sexy, curvy body, and he would forget any promises he had silently made. Mandy never needed any coercion—she was always hot, wet and eager for him, and often the aggressor. Those nights were particularly popular memories for JT.
It was Mandy’s
twenty-sixth birthday in a little over a week, and luckily for JT, it fell on the day of a home game. He was going to make the day one that Mandy would never forget. He had arranged that he and Mandy would arrive earlier than necessary to the ground, and as they headed inside, the electronic score board would be programmed with the words to ask Mandy the big question, while JT knelt down on one knee in front of her.
He had it all planned. His father had given him his mother’s engagement ring. It was perfect for Mandy, the rose gold ring’s antique design very different to today’s modern rings. It was a large and unusual chocolate-coloured diamond, surrounded by small, brilliant diamonds. The larger diamond’s hue reminded JT of one of Mandy’s uniquely pigmented eyes.
JT had known he wanted to marry Mandy from the first night they’d spent together. But he was now nervous that she was becoming ill and might not be up to such a public proposal. Unsure of what to do and thinking that maybe he needed a woman’s view, JT decided a chat with Caitlin might help him to soothe some of his fears.
He knocked on the downstairs door first, hoping Brodie would not arrive for a few minutes so he could have a little privacy. JT was already feeling slightly embarrassed at the thought of speaking about Mandy and his plans at all, let alone to another woman—and he certainly didn’t need Brodie making fun at his expense.
He explained his concerns over Mandy’s continual tiredness to Caitlin, even overcoming his embarrassment and mentioning Mandy’s unusually tender breasts. He also spoke of his hopes to propose to Mandy on the Sunday of her birthday.
JT was a bit annoyed at the wide grin forming on Caitlin’s face—she seemed to not be taking JT’s worries seriously. He was about to tell Caitlin to forget anything he had said and walk away when the pretty, young redhead finally stopped grinning and spoke.
“JT, you look so fierce. I’m not laughing at you, sweetie, I’m just happy.” She patted JT’s bulging, tense biceps and continued, “Mandy has become very dear to me, and I really wasn’t looking forward to leaving her when Brodie and I get married. For some reason, Brodie doesn’t want to live here,” she said, laughing. Then, looking more serious and slightly uncomfortable, Caitlin asked JT a direct and very personal question, adding her own diagnosis of what was ailing Mandy.
“JT, honey, do you and Mandy use…ummm…any protection when you, you know, make love? Could Mandy be pregnant? She hasn’t said anything to me, but I have noticed she isn’t eating and does seem tired all the time. At first I thought maybe you two were just too nocturnal, but now I think it’s more.” Caitlin quickly looked away, seeming embarrassed to look at JT directly.
She could have knocked JT over with a feather.
Could that be it? Could Mandy be carrying our child? Does she know? Why didn’t she tell me?
he thought in a rush of questions, but with no clear answers.
“I don’t know, Cait. I think she has an injection or something. I stopped using condoms and Mandy didn’t say anything about it. Do you really think she could be…?”
After more discussion, JT and Caitlin decided it was best to give Mandy more time, let her tell them when she felt more comfortable. JT wasn’t sure how long he would be able to keep quiet and under control, and hoped she would tell him soon. Although, he hoped he had time to propose first, so she wouldn’t confuse his reasons for wanting to marry her. JT loved Mandy more than anything else and he wanted her to be his in every way possible, including legally.
It was going to be a very long week.
* * * *
JT did manage to keep from asking Mandy about the possibility of her being pregnant, but he tried to make her rest more, even complaining he needed to catch up on sleep as a cover. Her little disappointed face nearly broke his resolve, but he pulled her close and held her all night, hand splayed protectively over her abdomen. Hoping.
Finally, the Sunday of Mandy’s birthday arrived. JT was awake early, watching for the first signs of her waking. As her eyes sleepily opened, he pounced on her mouth, licking at her lips with his tongue until they opened for him. JT kissed her passionately, thinking of what the day would bring. The promise he hoped she would make him.
As they started exploring each other more intimately, a loud knocking started at the door to Mandy’s flat. JT, grouching about lousy timing, went to see what was so urgent as to disturb them so early, pulling on sweat pants over his very prominent erection, on the way.
Standing in the doorway were Caitlin and Brodie, with Riley trailing behind, each carrying wrapped gifts and what smelt, to JT, like breakfast.
“Didn’t interrupt anything, I hope, mate? We all want to wish Mandy a happy birthday! Where is the birthday girl?” Brodie chuckled heartily, poking his head around JT as he spoke.
“Yeah, right, laugh it up—you’re a funny man, Brodes. You know exactly what you’re interrupting and if young Riley wasn’t here I’d make you sorry for the intrusion…” Behind the grumbling, unhappy JT, a robed Mandy arrived. She was probably worried that he would just shut the door in their friends’ smiling faces, and he contemplated the idea of doing just that very thing so he could take her back to bed.
Mandy started to say something, and JT turned his attention towards her.
“Hey, you guys are the best friends ever…” But she stopped suddenly.
Something must have happened to her, because the next thing JT knew, Mandy was sprinting off in the direction of the bathroom, leaving him, Brodie, Caitlin and Riley standing stunned and motionless in the doorway, watching her flee.
Chapter Seventeen
Mandy had wanted to say more in welcome, but as a waft of the food’s aroma had reached her, her stomach had rolled over. She’d known she was about to vomit, and she’d had to hurry to the bathroom so as not to make a disgusting mess in front of her friends.