where it goes

chapter 9

cw // minor sexual scenes, mostly suggestive

The Greyhounds tied their game against Chelsea, and the coaches owed Mandy 5€ except Ted who knew better than to bet against her.

The next week, they played Liverpool and won 3-1. Things were going well for the club and for Mandy. She had made significant progress with Dr. Sharon. She was beginning to feel closer and closer to her true self by the day. This didn't go unnoticed by her friends, either.

Rebecca and Keeley were constantly gushing about how confident she was, and the team recognized her strength as well. Jamie aimed to make his compliments more private and intimate, constantly offering her rides home after training.

And of course, she said yes every single time. This Thursday night though was a bit different. Instead of offering Mandy a ride home, he asked for her company.

"Listen, I've just been having a tough week and I know that I preach about carbs and all 'at bullshit, but I need some shitty chips Mandy, and I don't want to eat it all alone. Can you please come with me?" Jamie confessed as the two sat in his car, still parked at the stadium. His voice sounded a bit whiny, like he was begging for her company.

"Jamie, you had me at 'can you come with me,' honestly." She said bluntly and turned to him with a soft smile. "Though I do like hearing you beg," she winked.

"When you say things like that Mandy, be careful."

"Why, Jamie? Do tell?"

"Because it's already hard enough to not fuckin' kiss you everytime I see your face. Don't make it harder."

There was silence in the car, but the two were examining each other. Jamie had his eyes locked on her soft lips, and Mandy had her own bouncing from his lips to his gaze. He leaned forward, but she stopped him.

"How about we uh, go get you those chips first. Half the team's still here, and I'm not too keen on them watching us kiss," Mandy gestures to Richard's car parked next to them.

"Good point, as much as I'd like to continue this slightly sexual staring contest, we have food to eat. At your place?" He asked and she nodded in agreement.

They arrived at her flat and Jamie set to exploring since it had been his first time actually being able to look around.

He saw her desk was covered in different plays and ideas she had jotted down on napkins from the Crown and Armor. There was a picture of herself and her mom hanging on the wall and a press photo of her and the team on the field after her first official game coaching.

While sitting on her bed when Mandy went to the restroom to change, he found a photo that she kept on her nightstand. It had a young Mandy with horrible bangs and a jersey on, with the number 9 written on the side of the sleeve.

"You're number was 9 as well?" He asked when she came back into the room in her pajamas. "Also isn't it like 5 o'clock? You're ready for bed now?"

"First of all," she said sitting next to him and plucking the photo out of his hands, "9 is still my number. Always will be." Mandy then stood up and walked off to the living room and continued speaking while he curiously followed her.

"Second, I'm not going to wear uncomfortable clothes if I don't have to. Go ahead and judge me, I'm still adorable." She smiled as she plucked a crisp from the bag along with the cheeseburger she ordered.

"I can agree with you being adorable, and with the comfortable clothes part too." Jamie said, taking the crisp out of her hand and eating it himself. She rolled her eyes and fed him another before eating one herself. "What don't you agree with then?"

"The number 9. Kind of my number, sorry." He shook his head and scoffed. "Sorry, Tartt, if you'd told seven year old Mandy Donnelly that, you'd have a black eye." She shrugged and smiled at him.

"Ah, so you've always been this feisty," he teased, feeding her a fry as they sat on her couch. She curled up in her knees and placed her feet on the couch so she could look at him from behind the safety of her legs.

"Maybe I have been. Never been one to take any bullshit. And I've always kind of just gone for what I wanted when I could." She felt her face heat as she spoke. He was getting closer to her, causing her to cross her legs.

"Well love, what do you want?"

"Hm. Depends."

"On?"

"Whether or not I enjoy this," she said quickly before closing the gap between the two, kissing him passionately. She rested her hands on his shoulders, connecting them behind his back. His thumb brushed her cheek and his other hand gripped onto her waist. He slowly pulled her on top of his lap and continued kissing her before slowly nibbling and biting at her neck, pressing gentle kisses in between each bite.

She let out small moans as he did, enjoying the sensation. She had missed this intimacy so badly, and she was enjoying every moment with Jamie. They made out for what felt like hours, but was only about 15 minutes. He finally broke the kiss after she nibbled on his lower lip, causing him to groan.

"What? Didn't like that?" She asked teasing him and wiggling her hips a bit against the growing bulge below her.

"A bit too much actually, maybe we should cool it for a bit, love. As much as I'd love to, and I'd love to, I'm a bit distracted and you deserve my full attention." Jamie replied as Mandy climbed back to her spot next to him.

"Would you like to tell me what's going on then?" She asked, brushing through his hair with her fingers.

Jamie shook his head at first, before remembering what Dr. Sharon suggested: to try and be honest with the people he loves.

"Actually, yeah. Well the first Man City game is coming up soon and I- I have to see my dad. Which is a sore spot seeing as I haven't seen him since I punched him in the face after last season's Man City game."

Mandy reached for his hand and rubbed his palm gently, "that sounds hard. He deserved the punch though from what you've told me before." He nodded and relaxed a bit as she played with his hand. "D'you think I should forgive him for being a prick and move on? I mean, he's my dad."

"But is he really your father?" Mandy asked causing Jamie to look a bit puzzled. "I mean, like, to me a father is someone who's around for the wins and the losses. Someone with who you can have a quick chat with or deep dive into conversation. Someone who you can trust to be there who loves you unconditionally. Is he your father?"

Jamie shook his head as small tears began to run down his cheeks.

"Yeah, my dad wasn't any of those things either. And I'm not planning on forgiving him if I ever meet him either. But, I have always planned on being the best person I can be so that he can never hurt me or my family again." She smiled softly and wiped the tears from his cheeks. "Sometimes you have to protect yourself from the people who hurt you. It's okay, Jamie, really."

"It's not just him anymore either. The team's terrified to face Nate and Rupert. Nate betrayed us and Rupert is a prick." He said as he leaned his head on her shoulder, his palm still in her hand.

"Well, Nate will see his wrongdoing, I'm sure of it. Ted has a way of making sure that happens in some form. And Rupert is three years from being senile so he can fuck off as well okay? We're Richmond. We're a team United and a team with enough talent and support that we can beat those cowards over twice." Mandy says before pecking his hand quickly and releasing it.

Jamie smiled at her and laced their fingers together, smiling a toothy grin. "You always know what to say. I'll have to start calling you Coach Wise."

"If you ever call me that, I'm benching you," she threatened with a playful grin before feeding him another crisp. "How's the whole 'I'm the death of you' thing going by the way?"

"I'm somehow still alive, but you make it trickier everytime I see you."

"Fantastic. We'll be in hell before you know it."

"I 'ate you."

"You wish you had I'm sure."

"Whenever and if ever, I know you're more than worth the wait, love."