With only three weeks to go until the wedding and Sam playing Iceberg with me, I wasn’t overly enthused that Johnny had organised a corporate box for us at a Western Force home game. He’d planned it two weeks prior to the blow up between Sam and I. At the time, I’d thought it sweet that he’d arranged it so that everyone in the bridal party would be in attendance but, now, it sort of decreed I had to be there too. I didn’t want to. I wanted to stay out of everyone’s way so I couldn’t cause any more friction and I told him so when he’d rung to remind me. But Johnny was adamant that I was going. If Sam wanted to be a big girl’s blouse, let him but we couldn’t turn the opportunity down. I supposed he was right. If the Force had been near the top of the ladder there was no way we would have got that box.
Sam picked me up in a taxi on the Saturday night of the game. The boys had been playing away that day, so I hadn’t gone to their match. I would have felt like an idiot cheering him on, as a dutiful rugby girlfriend should, especially when he wasn’t talking to me.
I opened the door to find him standing on the doorstep wearing his sea blue Western Force jersey and cap that had been signed by the players at the pre-season function. I stood for a second thinking how lucky I was to have such a handsome man for my own. His dark hair was freshly washed and his whiskers newly shaved. A waft of vanilla aftershave filled the air around us. A brooding crinkle of annoyance that made me want to kiss him had taken up residence between his brows. Why, oh why did he have to be so hot when we were having a fight?
“Ready?” Sam asked, his green eyes shifting this way and that. No hello, no kiss, no nothing. Clearly, he was still very cross.
“Yep.” I pulled the front door closed and followed him down the steps to the car, knowing that at some point we had to have a discussion but wondering when that moment would be. Not in a Swan Taxi with Rambo in the front seat and Johnny in the back, that was for sure.
Our problem was that we were both so stubborn. Sam would never apologise for calling me a bitch and I wasn’t going to back down on what I’d said about his mother. Then there was the added tension caused by me being seen with Josh at the foreshore. If only Sam had let me explain.
I climbed into the backseat of the taxi and shuffled along the seat.
“Hi Rambo.” I tried to sound cheery. Inside I felt like I was stuck on one of those rope bridges over a ravine with rabid dogs on one side and man-eating bears on the other. No matter what I did, someone was going to lose.
“Hey, Millie. You excited for your first live Force game?”
Sam slid into the back seat and slammed the door. He maneuvered his body so that he was practically sitting on the armrest of the door, putting as much space between us as he could. I don’t know how he did that. The taxi wasn’t the widest of vehicles.
“Um, yeah. You bet,” I replied, trying to ignore the fact that Sam was staring at the headrest in front of him like a kid whose fun had been taken away. Seriously, how could I look forward to it now?
“Hey,” Johnny said, with a raise of his eyebrows and a nod in Sam’s direction.
“Hey yourself,” I said.
“How’s it going?’
“Could be better.”
From my left side, where Sam sat, I heard the sound of an aggravated grunt.
“Should be a good night,” Rambo said, oblivious to the tension that was swimming around in the back seat. “I’ve got five bucks on the Force to score first.”
“I took the Force to lose by twelve or more,” Johnny replied. “Two hundred bucks coming my way in a couple of hours.”
Next to me, Sam was suddenly alert. He leant forward across my body, his eyes widening in disbelief. “You bet against the Force?”
“Why not? The odds were good and they haven’t got a hope against the Stormers. If I’d had my head on straight, I would have put a couple of bucks on a try by the Stormers in the first minute. It’s bound to happen.”
Sam sunk back in his seat, looking more dejected than ever. “But it’s the Force, man.”
“Yeah. And they suck. I think its time we faced that and got a bit of therapy. Maybe they can include it in the membership fees? We get fuck all for our money as it is,” Johnny laughed.
“You can always switch to watching AFL, fellas,” the taxi driver chimed in.
Sam grunted. “I’d rather watch Simmo pashing that-slut-Courtney.”
Now there was a name that hadn’t featured in the conversation lately. Thank heavens.
I sat listening to their banter as we drove. Everyone seemed in good spirits and if I hadn’t been able to read Sam’s body language so well, I’d have thought he was too. But his body went as stiff as the goal posts at Rugby Park if I got close. He wouldn’t touch me. He shirked his knee away from my hand. God, he needed to get a grip. This was ridiculous.
It took about twenty minutes to get to the ground through the traffic. We hopped out and Johnny paid the taxi driver. Then he dug in his pockets and fished out three lanyards for the VIP area, handing one to each of us.
“Awesome,” Rambo said, putting his around his neck. “Prime seats, free booze and free food. A win would finish the night off nicely.”
“Or a shag,” Johnny added. “Is Mel coming tonight? She’s been looking like she’d like to get a leg over lately.”
“I heard she’s got a new found love for a certain part of your anatomy after the girlie night,” Rambo said.
“All these years, I’ve been telling her and she wouldn’t listen. Now she’s seen the evidence with her own eyes. I am irresistible.”
Sam coughed into his hand. His eyes were darker than a stormy sea. Then, without a word, he slipped his lanyard over his head and walked towards the gates without me.
“Sam,” I called to his retreating back.
“Not now, Mill’.”
I looked at Johnny. He looked at me and shrugged.
“At least he spoke to me,” I said. “That’s a start.”
“He’s a bloody idiot.”
“What’s up?” Rambo asked, twigging something was wrong.
“Nothing,” I replied and stalked off after Sam. It was going to be a long night.
When we got to the Corporate Box, the girls and Alex had already arrived. Like Sam, Sasha and Mel were wearing blue Western Force jerseys and jeans. Kirby was too, but hers was hot pink. God knows how she’d managed that. Alex had dressed for the occasion and though she wasn’t wearing a team shirt, she did have on a lovely royal blue fitted top. I smiled, leaning in to give her a hug.
“I want to apologise,” she said as we drew apart.
“What for?”
“I was rude to you the other day.”
“That’s okay. You were busy.”
“No, its not. I should have made time to listen. You obviously wanted to vent.”
“Oh well. Whatever. Friends?”
“Forever, Chica.” She turned to face the boys who were doing their best to empty the mini bar fridge that came as part of the deal. “Now, which one of you lovely men are going to get a girl a drink and explain how this game works.”
I went to talk to the others.
“Hi girls.”
“Hey, Millie. Like, nice top. Is that from Kookai?”
I nodded ‘yes.’ I still amazed me how Kirby seemed to know every piece from every fashion label. She was a walking department store of knowledge.
“Your top’s cute, too. I didn’t know the Western Force wore pink.”
Kirby waved me away with her hand, “You’re, like totally, the funniest person I know. The Force doesn’t wear pink. This is, like, the limited edition Breast Cancer jersey. There’s only one hundred in the world.”
Of course.
I looked around the tiny space. “So, somebody could have told me there was a dress code. I feel like a fish out of water with you in your jerseys.”
“Sam was supposed to let you know,” Sasha tutted.
“That’d be if he was talking to me, I guess.”
“Oh God. What the fuck’s wrong now?” Mel groaned. “Seriously, that boy needs a fucking lobotomy. He’ll be lucky to get up the aisle at this rate.”
I couldn’t bear to talk about it or even think about it. Besides, it sort of felt like I was being even more of a bitch if I spoke about Sam when he was in the room. “Long story. I’ll tell you later.”
But Mel would have none of it. She took Sam by the arm, swivelling him to face her. “Why didn’t you tell Millie to wear a jersey?”
I could have sworn I saw him flush.
“Er, um. I forgot?”
“No fucking excuse. Get down to the Merchandise stand and get her one pronto. She feels like a Nancy-no-friends and it’s your fault.”
With a roll of his eyes, Sam drank down the rest of his beer and put the empty glass on the top of the mini bar. His groan was louder than the man on the loud speaker. “Is this really necessary?”
“Yes, it is. Now, scoot,” Mel replied, pushing him towards the open door. “And make sure you get the right size.”
“But I don’t know what size she is.”
“You’ll figure it out.”
After closing the door Mel turned back to us. “Now, anything else we need to sort before we get down to having a good night? Honestly, you people couldn’t organise your way out of a fucking wet paper bag.”
“Thanks Mel,” I said.
“That’s what bridesmaids are for.”
Though the way she’d bossed Sam around and he’d obeyed I couldn’t help but think that maybe she should be marrying him. Only for a second.
About ten minutes later, I was sitting in my seat on the balcony of the box, feet up on the seat in front, a plate of food balancing on my knees when Sam returned. He was carrying a large blue and white plastic bag, which he tossed in my general direction, knocking the plate flying and slopping coleslaw all over my new heels.
“Don’t say I never do anything for you,” he muttered, taking the steps back into the Box in one stride.
Oh for Pete’s sake, what the hell was wrong with him? I didn’t deserve to be treated this way. I flipped a few bits of stray cabbage and carrot to the ground. I licked my finger and rubbed a bit at the stain but that only made it bigger. It was lucky Sam had bought me a new shirt. I was wearing my dinner over this one. Enough was enough.
Swiping the bag from off the ground, I got up and stepping over the broken pieces of china, headed in Sam’s direction. He’d gone inside to the bar, where Rambo and Johnny were deep in a conversation about whether or not the Hornets would win the Premiership again that year.
I poked him in the arm. “I need to talk to you. NOW.”
Sam turned and looked down at me. His face was angry. How long was he going to keep this up for? I took his elbow, pulling him outside the door of the box. Yes, the wall was made of glass and everyone could see us, but at least they wouldn’t be able to hear us. They might see me strangle him, though. I felt like I wanted to.
“What the hell is your deal?” I yelled, indicating my stained top and coleslaw-covered shoes.
“Sorry.”
“Sorry? That’s it? You’ve been treating me like I don’t exist for the last three days and all you can say is sorry? God, Sam. If you don’t want to get married tell me now. I’ve had it up to here.” I flung my hand into the air. The massive rock Sam had bought me caught him on the bridge of the nose. Blood began to trickle from his nostril.
“Oh shit, oh shit. Fuck.”
That was the catalyst. Every tear that I’d been trying valiantly to control over the past few weeks came pouring out. It was like the drought had broken, filled the dam and then overflowed. I couldn’t stop. I cried and cried and in front of me, Sam just stood staring with blood running from his nose. His eyes misted over and his lip was wobbling. Was he going to cry too? That was all I needed. I fished in my bag for a tissue and handed it to him. He scrunched it up and wiped the blood away before tearing a piece off shoving it up his nose.
Taking a step forward Sam pulled me into his arms. “Don’t cry, Mill’, please.”
“But it was an accident. I didn’t mean to hit you. Oh shit.”
“Shhh. It’s okay.”
I felt the big lump of sadness begin to melt as he held me. This was where I belonged. This was the reason why I wanted to marry Sam. I could feel his love bolstering me up right down to my salad-stained shoes.
“I didn’t do anything, I swear,” I whispered into his chest.
Sam sighed and hugged me harder. It was like he didn’t want to let me go. “I s’pose I knew that. I got caught up in everything, that’s all. We had a fight and the first thing you did was go racing to Josh. I was so jealous, I wanted to punch him in the head. And when Amanda said you were ‘pashing in public like a couple of bogans,’ I didn’t know what to believe.”
It must’ve taken her approximately three seconds to get on to the phone and let Sam know she’d seen me. Cow.
“Charming.”
“You’ve got to admit, it’s not the first time. I think I had a bit of a right to be concerned.”
“Did she also tell you I had the children with me? Seriously? You think I’d be carrying on some type of affair with Paige watching? It’d be like taking out an ad in The West Australian.”
I felt Sam’s fingers relaxing into my back. He was beginning to come round, to understand that I wasn’t the villain in this movie.
“She didn’t.”
I could have taken that further, but decided to let it rest. Sam’s family’s distaste for me was something we’d have to tackle later. Right now, I need to convince him I wasn’t shagging Josh on the side.
“Look, I needed to vent,” I explained. “Everyone was busy. Josh was the only person left. Either him or Johnny and I sort of got the feeling you’d be a lot angrier if it was him. All I wanted was someone to talk to.”
“So, apart from that massive cake you ordered, what else’s wrong?”
“This whole wedding is a disaster. It’s nothing like we wanted. That got lost after your mother invited Today Tonight to follow me round for a day like I’m Princess Mary.”
Sam gave a small grin. He seemed to soften, as if hearing about my problems out loud was making him understand what it had been like for me. He rubbed my back. “That was a bit over the top.”
“You reckon? This wedding isn’t fun, Sam. I wanted it to be a time for us to remember because we enjoyed it, not because we were fighting every second. The pressure is making me sick and I never get sick.”
Sam frowned.
“What Amanda saw was me kissing Josh’s cheek, like I’ve done a million times. We have a history. I’ve known him since I was four but I don’t want to marry him. I want to marry you. You know that.”
“I s’pose so.”
“Please don’t make more of this than there has to be,” I said, snuggling against him.
“I was being a bit stupid.”
“And about the cake…. I’m sorry.”
“I deserved it. I haven’t been much help, have I?”
Wow, who was this humble creature? It was like he was listening to what I was saying. For the first time in months, I was more important than Nathan Sharpe’s upcoming farewell match. I stared past the swelling on his nose and up into his eyes. He was being so sweet.
“I could have done more. I’m so sorry I dumped this on you Mill’. And I shouldn’t have left my mother to you. It wasn’t fair.”
My eyebrows shot to the top of my head. Was that an apology? Oh my God, the ‘s’ word had just come out of Sam’s mouth.
He must have sensed the change in my body because he continued, “And yes, that was an apology. And don’t you go telling all and sundry or my reputation’ll be ruined.”
He hugged me for what seemed like hours then, at last, he pulled away with a kiss to both of my eyelids.
“So, we’re okay?” I asked.
“Yep, as long as you stop this ridiculous ordering of over the top things. Right now.”
“You’ll back me when your mother starts hounding again? You know she will.”
Sam paused, putting a finger to his lips in a mock thinking pose. “Hmm. I guess so. On one condition.”
“What?”
“That you run through Hyde Park with me in your knickers after the wedding.”
God. I was never going to live that down.
He pulled away from me. Inside the box, the girls were whooping and cheering. The boys, of course, had given up on the entertainment and were back to the task of drinking as much of the free booze as possible before the game started.
Sam picked up the plastic bag with my Western Force jersey in it. “The game starts in about five minutes,” he grinned. “That should give you enough time to race to the loo and put this on.”
“Ta,” I said. I opened the glass door, walked through the box and promptly tripped down the stairs.