They lay on my bed. I sat in the armchair to watch the movie. An hour into the film, a knock sounded on the door. Adam said he would come over, but I thought it would be later. The knock sounded again.

Daniel said, "You gonna answer that?"

I took a deep breath and prayed it was Percy.

It wasn't.

As soon as I opened the door, Adam lifted me and grinned.

Daniel yelled, "What the fuck?"

I turned my head to see him jump off the bed.

Adam put me on my feet, stepped inside and closed the door behind him.

I stood between them. Belinda attempted to grab Daniel's arm and cried, "Daniel!"

He ignored her and glared at me. "What the hell is this, Jasmine? After what he did to you!"

"Daniel, it's alright. We sorted it out."

"You're not serious! Tell me you're not fucking serious! I should smash the prick." He came closer.

I held my hands up. "Daniel, please don't do this."

Adam lifted me from behind and put me aside. "No. Let him do this." To Daniel, he said, "You want to take it outside."

Belinda clutched onto Daniel's arm. I shoved myself between them. "Stop it, you two! Don't do this. If you do, I'll hate you both! I mean it!" They eyeballed each other. I yelled, "I mean it!"

Daniel ran his hands through his hair. "Sometimes, Jasmine, I can't believe how stupid you are. You let guys do this shit to you all the time."

"I don't!" I hissed. "You're no different? How many girls have you dumped this year alone? Do you think none of them would have been upset?"

He shook his head and held his palms out to me. "Fuck, Jasmine this is different. Does this prick know what he did to you?" He faced Adam. "Do you? Fuck...!" he yelled and clenched his fists. "Belinda and I nursed her for a whole week, cleaned up her vomit and had to force-feed her to keep her alive. Shit!" Daniel seized his hair and then punched Adam in the mouth, knocking him to the floor.

I grabbed Daniel's wrists. "Please, Daniel, don't do this! I love him. I love you. I love you both. Don't make me choose."

His arms relaxed.

Adam got off the floor, shook his head and rubbed his jaw. "Okay. I had that coming. If you want to hit me again, do it. I'd do the same if I were her brother." Adam took his eyes off Daniel and focused on my face. "I didn't know you had to do that." Then he looked back at Daniel. "I'm sorry it went that far. I didn't know, so if you want to hit me again, do it." He paused and fixed his eyes on Daniel's face. "I promise you it won't happen again. I'll give you the gun and even dig the shallow grave if it does, but you have to understand this isn't a game to me. I love Jasmine and didn't mean to hurt her. I'm not going to force her to choose between us because I know she loves you. So, if you're going to be the dickhead here then it'll be my turn to punch you."

Daniel sighed and sat on the edge of the bed with his head hung. Belinda knelt beside him and rubbed his back. He touched her face, rubbed his fist, then smiled at me. He focused on Adam and scowled. "I broke my fucking hand you prick. Next time I'll use a hammer."

They yanked their heads at each other.

I threw my arms around Daniel's neck, shuffled onto his lap and squeezed him tight. "I love you. Thank you for sticking up for me and taking care of me." I put my arm around Belinda. "I love you, too. You're my best friend." Tears streamed down my face.

Daniel saw them and shook his head. "Oh no, you don't." He lifted me and tossed me into Adam's arms. "Tears. You deal with it. She's your girlfriend. I need a beer." He went to the fridge while I buried my face into Adam's shoulder. Daniel said, "Do you want one, wanker?"

Adam's chest rumbled with laughter. "Yeah, dickhead. I do."

Adam sat with me on his lap. Daniel and Belinda relaxed on the bed. Daniel rewound the movie. Belinda winked at me. I cried because I was so happy.

Adam laughed. "Do you cry this much, Belinda?"

Before she could answer, Daniel cuddled her. "No. Thank Christ. But then she hasn't got a cunt for a boyfriend." He grinned and then jerked his head at me and added, "The truth is she's always been a sook."

Adam smiled and brushed my cheek with the back of his finger. "I'll try real hard to stop being a cunt," he said and then added, "If I killed your brother, would that be considered cuntish?"

Daniel sneered and jerked his head again. "I'd like to see you try."

Adam ignored his comment and kissed me. He whispered, "Stop crying or I'll have to take advantage of you."

I laughed in his ear. He grinned and took a mouthful of his beer, then offered me the bottle. I shook my head. "I don't like beer."

Adam touched my face again. "Do you want me to get you some wine?"

"Yeah, that might be nice." I kissed him on the side of the mouth. "Belinda. Do you want to share a bottle of wine with me?"

She raised her eyebrows and nudged Daniel. "Are we going to watch the footy here or go home?"

Daniel shrugged. "Does..."

Before he could continue, Adam said, "Yes, fuckhead, dickhead, wanker and cunt all watch the footy."

Daniel laughed and got off the bed. "Then one of those dudes better take me to the pub so I can buy some more beer." He jabbed me in the ribs. "Stop using him as a hanky and get some food happening."

I climbed off Adam's lap as Daniel said, "Collingwood and the Western Bulldogs are playing. Who do you back?"

Adam stood. "The Brisbane Lions, but I'll go for the Dogs."

Daniel slapped him on the back. "You really are a stupid prick, aren't you?"

As they closed the door, I heard Adam say, "I'll give you a week to call me by my name, if you don't, I'll..." I didn't hear what he was going to do, just Daniel's loud laugh.

Belinda eyed me as soon as the door shut. "So?"

I grinned, shook my head, opened my eyes wide, then repeated, "So?"

She laughed, then gave me a stern look. "How did it come to be, and are you sure this is the right thing to do?"

I laughed, put some party pies in the oven and said, "Yeah, it's the right thing. I love him so much."

She scrunched her mouth. "But he said those things."

I bit my lip and then told her what Adam had told me, why he had said those things.

She looked horrified. "So, Daniel was right. He is part of that gang. Jasmine, are you sure about this?"

I touched her face. "I've never been surer in my life." I shrugged. "Daniel's not completely right. He admitted to being involved with something. I'm not sure it's that gang. I don't understand any of it, but he said it'll change soon. I probably sound naïve and stupid, Belinda, but for some reason, I trust and believe everything he's said. He's the one." I giggled thinking of Trinity and Neo. "I'm going to marry him or have his babies, whatever comes first."

She shook her head and laughed with me. "Maybe we could have a double wedding because Daniel's my one. He doesn't know it yet." She beamed. We did a silly girly dance in the kitchen, and then hugged each other.

I went to the toilet to discover I had my period, so I was in the shower when Adam and Daniel returned. Belinda and Daniel were on my bed. Adam sat in the recliner. I checked the pies.

The Bulldogs scored a goal. Adam roared, "Go, you good thing!"

Daniel laughed. "Enjoy it while you can, sucker. I mean, Adam."

Adam grinned and held his beer out. "You're a fast learner, Daniel. Not a complete brainless dick after all."

I slipped my arms over Adam's shoulders. "Are you two always going to be immature and call each other names?"

They both laughed and said in unison, "Yes."

Adam steered me around the chair onto his lap. He kissed me and whispered, "Don't worry, it means we're bonding."

I laughed and kissed the side of his mouth. "I hope so."

"Daniel." Adam nudged his head. "Since I drove us to the pub, you have to pour your sister and girlfriend a glass of wine."

Daniel groaned but climbed off the bed and walked backwards to the fridge so he wouldn't miss any of the game.

Belinda said, "Check the pies."

Daniel swore under his breath but did as she asked.

Adam laughed, then jerked me off his lap as the Dogs scored again. "Yes!" He punched his fist in the air and grinned at me.

"You dumped me on the ground."

He lifted me, patted my bum and kissed my forehead. "Sorry, Honey."

A little while later, Daniel's team scored. When he cheered, he bumped Belinda's elbow, spilling her wine.

"Daniel! This is Jasmine's bed."

He shrugged and grinned. "Don't worry, she'll have to wash the sheets tomorrow anyway if dog breath stays over."

Adam laughed at Daniel's wisecrack, then yelled, "Play the mark, you bastard!"

I rubbed my ear. "I'll sit at the table until the game is over."

He didn't take any notice, just patted my hip as he peered around me and said, "Yeah, okay."

Belinda laughed and followed me. "Bloody football!"

I topped up our wine. "Do you want me to do your nails?"

"Hey, that's a great idea. Maybe we could do facials too."

I got my nail kit and started to file. "Are you and Daniel going to Mel's engagement?"

"Yeah...what gift should I take?"

"Money. Then they can buy what they want."

We continued to chat in between the guy's outbursts and laughed every time they did it.

Belinda raised her eyebrows at me. "I actually think Daniel likes him. He told me about that joke he pulled when they first met. I'm sure he liked him then."

"I hope they get on," I whispered. "It'll be horrible if they don't, especially since you and I do."

"Bastards!" Daniel stomped on the floor. "Shit! One goal in it."

Adam laughed and held his hand out. "Twenty bucks. No credit."

Daniel growled and pulled out his wallet. "You're not even a real Dogs fan. Shit. It kills me to have to give you this." He slapped a twenty-dollar bill into Adam's palm.

"Yeah, that'll teach you for messing with the big boys."

Daniel huffed. "Next week. Swans or Cats?"

Adam grinned and raised his eyebrows. "I'll go the Swans since I'm from out of state."

They shook hands. Daniel said, "Double or nothing."

Adam opened his wallet and put Daniel's money in it. "When do they play, so I can make sure I watch it?"

"Friday night."

"Alright," Adam said, "Double or nothing."

They shook hands again. Daniel turned to Belinda and said, "Are you ready? I want to go home and cry."

She drained the last of her wine and grinned. "I love it when he cries."

"So, he takes after his sister," Adam smirked. "A bit of a sook."

Daniel scowled, kissed my cheek and then nudged his head at Adam. "See ya fuckhead."

Adam grinned, "Yeah."

I closed the door behind them to find Adam spread on my bed. "Don't worry, I'll clean the mess," I joked.

He pulled me onto the bed. "I'll help you in the morning."

Adam threw his leg over me and raised himself above me. "I just took your brother's money, so I'm pretty stoked."

"It could have gone the other way."

He laughed again and shook his head. "The TV broadcast was behind. I was going to bet the bastard fifty bucks, but I didn't have the heart."

"You knew the score?"

Adam grinned. "That'll teach the prick for punching me."

I couldn't help but laugh and wondered if Daniel would find out. Adam kissed me. I turned my head away. "Your breath stinks like beer, and before you get too excited, I've got my period."

He cocked his head and laughed. "So...you're not pregnant...fantastic!" Adam put his mouth on my neck as I laughed.

"It means we don't have sex."

He let his weight fall on me, groaned, then rolled us over. "This is the first time I've known you to have your period. Why's that?"

"You weren't around the last time."

"Ah...right." Adam touched my face. "Is it all right if I stay over, or do you prefer to be on your own?" He shrugged. "Some girls are weird about it."

"I don't mind if you stay over, but I won't have sex, so it's up to you."

"I'm okay with it. I just want to be with you. Wake up with you."

I kissed him because that was the perfect answer.

He tapped my bum and said, "Let's get some sleep."

As I was scrubbing my teeth, I heard him putting the empty stubbies in the bin, and then the tap ran. By the time I was finished, he had washed the dirty dishes. I patted his backside. "I could get to like having you over."

Adam climbed into bed and put his arms around me. "Jasmine, can you cook?"

"Yes." I laughed. "Why?"

"Just making sure you're completely perfect."

"I didn't say I was a good cook or what I could cook."

He growled against my neck. "You better be able to cook because my biggest fantasy is coming home to my woman dressed in sexy gear, bending over the stove with a hot meal waiting for me."

I huffed and faced him. "Adam, I hope you're not serious because you have the wrong woman for that fantasy to come true."

He laughed against my neck. "I'd like it if you cooked something for me one day."

My lips found his in the dark. "I guess I could do that for you. One day."

"I love you," he whispered.

"I love you, too."

I'm glad that worked out, but I'm also very happy that Daniel punched Adam.  How about you?

I hope Jasmine hasn't made a mistake. ox

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