by PRATT, S.
‘Not alone. My parents and friends have helped too.’ He smiles.
‘But it’s your baby, I can see that. I’m so proud of you and what you have achieved, and I want to help. Help you in any way I can to keep the memory of your sister alive and assist other people like her – like me.’
‘I’d love you to. This charity means so much to me and I’m so grateful that you want to be a part of it. I wanted you to meet Rachael tonight because she is one of our family friends that have been so instrumental in getting this program and charity the funds it needs to help others so they can become survivors too.’
‘She seems really nice,’ I smile, saying a silent thank you to Jonas for his words of wisdom. If he hadn’t stepped in, I could very well be having an argument with Tyler right now, accusing him of flirting with the pretty blonde.
‘She’s a gem and nobody gets this charity like she’s does, which I think in part is because she’s a survivor of the disease too.’
‘Really? She seems so …’
‘Together?’
‘Yeah.’
‘She went through a rough trot when she was a teen. Her step-father started abusing her pretty badly around the age of fourteen. It affected her body image so badly that she stopped eating, thinking that if she made herself unattractive then it would keep his attentions at bay. But it became addictive – she couldn’t stop,’ he almost chokes as he get this last bit out. He’s clearly emotional and I don’t know what to do to comfort him.
‘But she did, right? She stopped, and Tyler, I stopped. I know you weren’t able to save Kelly, but what you’re doing is so important. You are helping so many people who just need to talk, who want help, and if you’ll let me, I’d like to be a part of your charity. I want to do what you do. I want to help you make a difference.’
He brushes a stray tear away with the back of his big hand. His blue eyes shine from the tears, but there is happiness there. He reaches for my face, cupping my cheeks and bringing my lips close enough to his to kiss. I close the whisper of air between us and kiss him so deeply it hurts. In this second I want him to feel every bit of my compassion and love for him. When we come up for air, he takes me in his gaze, focusing on my lips as he says the sweetest thing I have ever heard.
‘You know, Mackenzie, I don’t know how I got so lucky in having you, but sometimes when I’m with you, I feel Kelly’s presence close by – kind of like she’s cheering me on, ya know? I feel like you’re my destiny, you’re my everything, and I think I have her to thank for that. Don’t ever leave me, okay? ‘Cause if you do, I think you might just take a bit of my soul with you.’ I kiss him again, holding his large frame as tightly as I possibly can in my small arms.
‘I’m not going anywhere, Tyler, I promise.’ He holds me close, not afraid anymore that I will break in his arms. ‘Come on, big guy, we better get back to the party. You’re the star of the evening and all your fans will be missing you,’ I chide.
‘Okay, but do you know what Mack?’
‘What?’
‘It means nothing without you.’
Chapter Thirty-Five
Mackenzie
It’s Tyler’s twentieth birthday today and Levi and I have organised a huge celebration for him at Sydney’s Centrepoint Tower. Name dropping some of our guests from the Rabbitohs made it easy for us to secure a reservation, booking out the entire restaurant for this evening. I wanted to wear something sexy and sophisticated but winter in July, especially in Sydney, brings with it strong westerly winds that can cut you to the bone. I have no desire to feel like a popsicle, so I’ve been rethinking my wardrobe.
Eventually I settle on wearing the little black dress I want to but I add thigh high stay-up pantyhose and a wrap that I can ditch once inside the restaurant. Despite my black attire, my underwear is a blood red cherry colour that’s going to make Tyler’s eyes pop when he undresses me later. He’s coming to meet us at our apartment and we’re all going to take a taxi into town. Tyler’s parents were unable to make it back to join us, but all of his extended family and my parents will be there with us. Tyler’s family friends, Tom and Willy from the mechanic shop, are also coming. With the eclectic mix of his footy and high school friends, it should make for an interesting night.
I’m just putting on the finishing touches of my makeup when a knock sounds on my bedroom door.
‘Come in!’ I yell, stroking mascara onto my already lengthened lashes. A loud whistle drags my eyes away from the mirror and into those of Tyler, who is staring ravishingly towards me.
‘Hey foxy lady, you look … beautiful,’ he breathes. His hair has grown a little, allowing a bit of his dirty-blonde hair to fall across his forehead. It makes him seem younger, even though today he is a year older. His smile makes me feel completely naked under his stare. I don’t know how he does it, but he always makes me feel like he’s lit a flame beneath my toes, working its way up my skin until my whole body is on fire.
‘You look pretty hot yourself, birthday boy.’
‘I look like a big thug next to you,’ he grins, flashing his dimple on his unshaven cheek.
‘I like thugs, makes me feel safe in your company.’ I delicately run my fingers over his stubble.
‘Shouldn’t a thug have the opposite affect?’
‘Maybe with a stranger, but not with you.’
‘I’m glad. Come ‘ere.’
‘Okay, but only since you asked so nicely,’ I smirk.
With as much grace as I can muster in heels, I walk the floorboards until I’m in his arms. His large hands smooth my long hair down my back before cupping my arse.
‘You know this isn’t fair right?’
‘What’s not?’ I ask, mesmerised by his lips as they move.
‘You.’
‘Me?’
‘Yes, you. Looking and smelling this damn good, makes me want to explore every inch of your body. It’s not fair I have to go out to dinner and pretend that I’m enjoying myself when all I want to do is have you to myself.’
‘You’re going to have the best night of your life; I’m just the icing on the cake for later.’
‘Promise?’
‘Wild horses wouldn’t keep me away,’ I laugh as he nuzzles my neck.
‘Did you call the taxi already?’
‘Levi did just before you got here.’
‘We better get out front then, before I change my mind and pike on my own party.’
‘Okay, but before we do, I want to give you your present here.’
‘I thought you were my present,’ he grins, waggling his eyebrows at me.
‘I am. But there was something else I wanted to get you.’ Tearing myself away from him, I reach for my bedside drawer, eager for him to have the present I picked out for him.
His eyes watch me thoughtfully, eager to see what I’ve got hidden amongst my underwear.
‘You didn’t buy a vibrator for me to use on you, did you?’ he asks hopefully.
‘Ha ha. You wish! I’ll keep that in mind for next time, though.’
Pulling out the little square box, I turn to face him. Teetering on my heels, I hand him the gift-wrapped present and wait anxiously while he opens it. He pulls the tissue paper open and reveals the solid brass key that rests amid the wrapping. White satin ribbon is looped through the end of the key, which he links through his finger and pulls the key from the box to admire it more closely. It swings in front of his face, enticing his eyes to follow the movement.
‘I know it seems like a strange gift, a key and all, but this key is more a promise.’
‘A promise?’
‘Yes, from me to you. It symbolizes the key to my heart because honestly, since I met you Tyler, you’ve always had my heart. I can’t ever imagine being with anyone else and I just wanted you to know that. I love you. I care about you and your happiness. So this is a promise from me to you. As long as you have that key, you have all of me and I promise that I will never resort to escaping my problems like I used to
. I know sometimes you worry about me and it has to be on the back of your mind that I might relapse. But I won’t. I know your sister’s death really affected you and I won’t ever be selfish enough to make you feel pain like that again. Okay?’
His eyes have misted up, and his jaw is working overtime to stop his emotions getting the best of him. I’m not sure if I should say another word. I know this is a sensitive topic between us, but I’m ready to live my life to the fullest. I want Tyler to know that I’m going to grab every single opportunity that is presented to me with both hands and run with it. And, of course, I couldn’t be happier that he’s in my life to run with me. He pulls me into his strong arms and crushes me to his body. I can feel his heart hammering against his chest, his masculine smell comforting me as I lean into him. When we pull apart, he loops the ribbon around his neck, tucking the key beneath his white shirt.
‘Thank you, Mackenzie. I won’t ever let you down. The faith, the trust, the love you put into us – well I’m promising you I’m never gonna fuck it up either. I know it’s probably not quite so eloquently put as you have said it, but I mean it. You being mine, I couldn’t be happier. And your promise means as much as you think it does. All I want is for you to be healthy and enjoy everything that life has to offer you, so you promising me this makes me feel a calm come over me that I haven’t been able to enjoy since Kelly died. I love you too and thank my lucky stars that I can call you mine.’
He reaches up, fingers pulling the back of my neck towards him while his thumbs hold my chin up, so I’m looking straight into his eyes. God, they always make me forget about everything else. Time stops and it’s just him and I. With the pace of a snail, he locks lips with mine, slowly, seductively teasing them apart so his hot breath can induce frenzied limbs. I sag against him, melting from his touch alone.
‘Do you two need longer to make out, or can we get going so we can start celebrating this mug’s birthday?’ Levi and Jonas are grinning at us from my bedroom doorway.
‘I think I need longer to make out,’ says Tyler seriously.
‘We’re coming,’ I grin.
‘Good, because any more mush from you two and I think I’m going to die from a sugar overdose,’ teases Jonas.
‘Agreed. Besides, it’s wine o’clock by my watch and I think we need to toast the birthday boy.’ Levi smiles at Tyler, offering him a glass of champagne. I know he hates the stuff, but he dutifully drinks it as we all wish him happy birthday. I’m only halfway through my glass when we hear the taxi beep its horn from the street.
‘Time to go, guys!’ I yell. We all head out the front door for the night of our lives. Something tells me we’re not going to forget it in a hurry.
****
The restaurant looks amazing. I leave my wrap with the cloak room, showing off the backless design of my dress to Tyler. He runs his fingers down my spine leaving chills shooting through me to my very core. I give him the look – the one that says, ‘Don’t start something you can’t finish.’ Reluctantly he takes his hands off me and surveys the crowd of people already milling around the bar. Tyler’s pretty hard to miss, his tall frame noticeable the minute he enters a room. Pretty soon he’s swamped by well-wishers, inundating him with presents, hugs and handshakes. Tom and Willy offer me a kiss on the cheek before pushing through to embrace Tyler. When he notices me edging away, I mouth to him that I’m just going to get us a drink. He nods, placated by the reason for my absence and goes back to his friends’ attention.
As I slip away, I spot my mum with Jim, talking to my dad at a table reserved for family. Sydney’s skyline twinkles behind them, the lights of the buildings already contrasting against the twilight sky.
‘Hey guys.’ I offer each of them a kiss on the cheek.
‘Where’s the birthday boy?’ my dad asks, looking around me. He’s alone tonight, with Jessica attending an inter-state conference for work.
‘With his fans,’ I joke, referring to the mob of people waiting to get a moment with him.
‘I’ll go buy the big guy a beer,’ he offers.
‘Okay, I’ll come with you.’ We leave mum and Jim to enjoy appetizers that are being brought around to guests by the waitresses.
An hour later, I’ve had three glasses of champagne and feel my head starting to spin. I need to eat and am thankful when our meal is served. I’m not normally a big drinker, but tonight I feel like letting loose a little. By the time Tyler’s cake is cut, I’m feeling completely bombed and don’t care one iota. This feeling that is running through my body is amazing. I’m happy as hell and don’t even care that Marla, Chuck and Benson are here, enjoying Tyler’s special night. There is a part of me that feels completely uninhibited and wants to let loose on the dance floor. The restaurant has cleared tables from the middle of the room and erected a makeshift dance floor. With alcohol, Dutch courage and the sound of Avril Lavigne’s latest song ‘Here’s to never growing up’ flowing through me, I’m ready to dance my arse off.
‘Come with me?’ I grab Tyler from the throng of football players that are propping each other up at the bar.
‘Yeah baby,’ he grins. We dance recklessly, with complete and utter abandon. We’re hot and sweaty and don’t give a shit in the least that everyone has their eyes on us.
… with the boom box blaring as we’re fallin’ in love.
He twirls me around, making the lights from the outside skyline blur along my vision.
Here’s to never growing up!
We take turns dancing with Tyler’s aging rellos and younger cousins. Hell, I even dance with Willy, who seems quite fond of dipping me every five seconds. I soon have to pass him over to another willing participant because if he dips me for much longer, I’m sure I am going to lose my dinner on his shoes.
Eventually he returns to me for a slow number. As we’re getting cosy, Marla interrupts us with her whiny voice.
‘Can I cut in?’ It’s not a request. She’s presumptuous and confident enough to use her body to start wedging her way between us. Tyler gently grabs her by the top of her arm and physically removes her away from us.
‘No, you can’t,’ he says firmly, ‘I’ve got everything I need right here.’ I grin. I know I shouldn’t, but I do. As we got lost in each other again, Marla’s pouty face recedes to the background – just where I like it.
With the night wearing on, most of the younger crowd have decided to head to one of the clubs down in town. Tyler and I decide to say our farewells to family and continue the party with friends who’ve already left. My dad looks a little like the third wheel sitting with my mum and Jim, so Tyler asks him if he wants to come to the club with us. I don’t think it would normally be his scene, but the alternative of staying with my mother soon has him out of his chair and in our wake.
On the ride in the lift, Tyler and my dad start tossing back and forth the football he received as a gift from the Bunny’s trainer, Mick Williams. We all had to laugh when we saw what it was – because honestly, which footballer player doesn’t want another ball to kick around. Difference is, this one was signed by their club’s owner, Russell Crowe. It’s actually lucky Mick is good friends with Russell, or he would have been booted off as their trainer years ago. Mick has a penchant for cheerleaders and receives more publicity over his sex life than he does his ability to coach the team. Not that he’s not great at what he does, he just can’t keep his pecker in his pants. Oh yeah, and the cheerleaders talk to the press for a dime all the time.
When we exit the lift, my dad seems to think that I need to join in their boisterous game of catch. Being drunk, I’m in, although I’m by no means co-ordinated in any way. I miss the catches, stumble along the footpath, just about run into a garbage bin and almost knock the side mirror off a parked car. Tyler is laughing hysterically at me, enjoying my dulled reflexes more than he should. Cars and buses stream past, seemingly unaware of what fun we’re having as we barrel down George Street. Dad’s running on ahead, waiting for me to pass to him.
&n
bsp; ‘Go long, Mack!’ he yells at me.
‘Yeah Mack, go long!’ Tyler encourages.
Gripping the ball as tight as I can, I try to focus on my dad. I wait a minute for my blurred vision to clear before throwing the football as hard as I can. I’m mesmerized as I watch it in slow motion, flying through the air. It’s not only going long, it’s going wide too. Tyler’s hollering seems to drown out the rest of the city noises. All I can hear is his excited yells as my dad runs to catch it. The ball flies over the parked Audi that hugs the curb, but dad just runs between the cars, his intoxication making him oblivious to oncoming traffic as he goes to make the catch.
I hear the screeching of rubber on the asphalt first. Someone is applying their breaks – hard. The next thing I hear is the thud of a body against crumpling glass. I can’t see my dad anymore and that scares the shit out of me. What I can see is a red Metrobus, at a complete standstill and holding up traffic. The light is still green up ahead. There is no reason it should be stopped. But I know. I know even on the surface that something horrible has just happened, yet my mind is not willing to go there yet.
Tyler is running fast. He rounds the front of the bus and I see his hands grip the side of his head, anguish written all over his face. He just stopped. Dead. It must be bad. Real bad. But I’m drunk enough to believe that this could be a horrible dream I might just wake up from if I shake myself really hard. I stumble carelessly towards Tyler, willing myself to keep moving, forcing each and every step so that I can keep putting one foot in front of the other. Please be okay, please be okay.
I’m almost there, but already a crowd is gathering, halting my access to Tyler and my dad. I push through them; not hard, but I just keep moving.