Ain't Shady Baby, I'm Hot

20

Correction, I had it taken care of.

I was bouncing between the boxing and the weights side of the gym, floating and helping wherever I was needed.

Not too many people were in on a Sunday afternoon so it worked out in my favor. Until, it didn't.

"Hey! X!" I gave Ethan two more hits before telling him to break as I pulled the pads from my hands and looked at the newcomer.

"Hey, Kelce, what's up?" I asked, dabbing the male up as I bent down and grabbed the water bottle with my name on it.

"Topper and I wanted to come hit the weights, thought Murphy would have been here today." I nodded looking behind him to see Topper standing a ways away. I smirked waving at him before taking a swig of my water. "It's why I invited Rafe, too."

The water that had been in my mouth came spewing outwards as I choked. Some of the stream landing on Kelce as the rest got stuck in my throat.

"Oh shit, Breathe, X. It ain't that deep." I glared at him as I finished coughing.

"You can't tell me that asshole is going to be at my gym that I work and train at while I'm in the middle of drinking water." I ground out as I squeezed the pads in my hand. I sighed. "Just, keep him occupied with the weights. I trust you know what you're doing, so you don't need me. I won't help." Kelce just laughed and walked away, giving me a taunting salute.

"You're the boss."

"Uh, X, we good to resume?" I turned with a smile as Ethan bounced on his toes.

"Yeah, we will go for three more then you and I are hitting the ladder for ten." Ethan grimaced but nodded anyways. We both shook out our arms and I raised my padded hands.

"Begin."

_______•*•*•*•_______

"Despite," Ethan took a deep breath in, "the fact- that I'm exhausted, and sweaty, tired, and I hate you--"he inhaled deeply again, "I'm glad you do this with me." He slightly smiles at me, panting. I gave him a smile back as my stomach and chest rose and fell.

"You're welcome-" I breathed in, leaning back on my palms, "I know how it sucks to have a trainer who just watches. Plus, it gives you a break and gets me my reps. But you still owe me five minutes of jump rope." I reminded him, Ethan's face fell as he groaned. His back colliding with the ground as I laughed breathlessly. I laid back as well, the two of us just staring at the ceiling for a second.

"Whoa- what do we have here?" My happy mood was stomped on as the voice approached us. Annoyance rising as I pushed myself back into a seated position. My eyes moving past the intruder and on the guilty party behind him.

"You had one job, Kelce. One job." I hissed, glaring at the male.

"You know Rafe. He doesn't listen to anyone." Kelce tried to defend himself but I wasn't having it.

"You better hope I forget about this the next time we spar." I ground out through a false smile as I slowly rose to my feet. The height difference between Rafe and I lessening as I looked at Rafe blankly. "How can I help you?" I monotonously ask as Ethan stood up behind me. "I still have to train, can this wait fifteen minutes? Or forever?"

Rafe grinned devilishly. A plan brewing behind his eyes as he looked between me and Ethan.

"I can wait fifteen. You have any more training slots afterwards?" I narrowed my eyes at his question.

"No. They didn't get filled. Ethan's my last one." As those words left my mouth and his face changed, I realized my mistake. And by the time I went to add to my sentences, I was interrupted.

"Wonderful. Is there a trial for the first one? Or should I be expected to be getting the full treatment." I'm certain all four of us had similar expressions. Ethan and Topper were confused, Kelce shocked, and I was struggling to not be a stuttering mess.

"You, uh, wait. What?" I shook my head trying to regain my thoughts. "You want me to train you?"

Rafe gave a soft smile and nodded, his face sweet but his eyes held nothing more than horrid promise.

"Today?" He nodded again.

"Jeez, I figured you would be quicker than that, Xena." My fist clenched as he said my name.

"Very well. Do you have any boxing experience?" It took a lot out of me to stay civilized.

"Nope." Smug bastard.

"Then do tell me, Rafe, why are you wanting to take lessons?" I heard Ethan cough at the tension between us two as we had somehow managed to move closer.

"Interest. I'd like to try it out." A plan formed in my head. I pretended to think on his reasoning for a few seconds.

"Okay." Everyone was shocked.

"Wait? What!" Kelce shouted as he approached Rafe. "Bro, you don't want to do this."

"Kelce, it'll be fine." Rafe tried to reason with him. But Kelce knew how brutal I could be. And I wasn't even going to spar.

"Yeah, Kelce. It'll be fine. Rafe, we can do a thirty minute trial session." I watch him smirk, pleased with the way it had turned out. "I've got to finish up with Ethan. Be ready to go in twenty."

When I turned I noticed Ethan's pitying glance towards the cocky bastard.

"I take it that's the guy?" I nodded, my eyes gleaming with mischievousness. "Poor bastard." I shook my head the two of us walking over to the jump ropes.

"No. I can assure you, he is a rich bastard. But a bastard all the same."

"You going to have enough energy?" Ethan asked as we both grabbed our own ropes.

"Oh, trust me, I'll always have enough energy when it comes to him." We both paused. Ethan staring at me trying not to laugh as I shook my head.

"That's not what I meant, and you know it." I pointed at him. "You keep your mouth shut. You laugh about that and we're pushing." Ethan settled for a smile as he put five minutes on the clock.

"You got it boss."