Ain't Shady Baby, I'm Hot

32

"Let's go! Come on!" I grunted as I pushed myself at Murphy's encouragement. My arms straining against the bar I was currently pushing upwards. My skin flushed in pink as I fought the weight.

With a last ditch effort, I exhaled and dug my back into the bench below me. My arms effectively shoving the metal bar up until Murphy helped hook it onto the rack.

"Oh fuck." I huffed as I let my arms hang below me.

"Hey, that was the last thing. You're done with your session." Murphy reminded me as he brought my water bottle to me. I gave a tired smile as I used the bar to pull myself up. My muscles aching as I finally managed to sit up to grab my water.

"Just a few days left of burnout right?" I asked taking a gulp of water.

"Just two. Then you'll break before we do technical training leading to the fight." I nodded as I slowly rose from the bench.

"I'm gonna shower. Then I'll see you in two days." He nodded using a hand to help me stand.

"You take care of yourself. Tomorrow is a yoga day, nothing crazy or I will personally beat your ass." I scoffed but agreed nonetheless. In the state I was in he'd just need one good hit and I'd be out.

"Please tell me your mom is picking you up."

"I'll give her a call. But yes. I didn't bring my bike."

"Good. Take a cat nap on the way home. You sure you don't want to take an ice bath here?"

I thought about it. It would be easier but I also am very vocal when doing ice baths. So it probably wouldn't be the smartest thing.

"I don't need the entire gym knowing I'm getting into an ice bath so I'll just take one at the house." He laughed as we reached the front desk.

"Very well. Go shower, stinky."

I stuck my tongue out before walking to the locker room. A hand on the walls as I concentrated on not falling to my doom.

This was going to be a long day.

_______•*•*•*•_______

"We're coming to your house. I don't care that you're in an ice bath."

"JJ, I'm literally not able to move right now." I argued back with the blond who was coming through speaker phone.

"Which is why we are coming over." I rolled my eyes. "Are your goods covered?" I nearly choked.

"Yes, JJ. My goods are covered." I answered sassing him.

"Good, cause we are coming up." I glared at my phone.

"What do you mean- oh for fuck sake!" I groaned as the door opened to reveal Kie and the rest of the gang. I should have heard them coming up the stairs.

"Hello to you too!" Kie sassed as she walked over to the edge of the bathtub and sat down. The other boys were respectful and sat against the far well.

"I should have known you bastards were already here." I groaned as I went to move.

"Whoa, don't get out on our account." John B voiced as he rose his hands upwards.

"Yeah, you said you still had twenty minutes left." Pope added making me glare at them all.

"Fine. But don't be shocked if I fall asleep. I'm actually so beat." I laid back, whimpering at the cold as I let it rise higher.

I heard them stifle a laugh as I shut my eyes, my head resting on the lip of the tub.

"Did you at least bring me a smoothie?" It was silent making me open one eye to see JJ holding a drink out to me. My mouth dropped into a smile as I caved.

"We figured if we were going to intrude we'd get you something." Kie added as she grabbed the drink from JJ and set it beside me on the flat edge.

"Hmmm. Y'all are forgiven. Especially if someone would be willing to give me a massage after?" Kie and I let out a bark of laughter as the three boys hands shot in the air.

"Y'all were wayyyy to quick on that." I joked as I made eye contact with Pope. "Especially you, Pope. What happened to the nervous kid?" I teased making the others laugh as Pope puffed his chest out.

"I do have the most experience with massages. And these two horndogs would probably make some snide comments. So I figured it would be safer if I did it." I grinned nodding at his words.

"Smart thinking." I pointed out.

"As always." He shot back.

"Sorry B, JJ. Pope's the one." The other two scoffed but I know that we were all just playing around.

After all, absolutely no Pogue on Pogue macking. Especially as I saw this group as my little siblings.

I just got a chill thinking about that. And I know it wasn't from the ice.

_______•*•*•*•_______

"Bye Ms. Bayford!" Pope and Kie waved as they left the house, my mother quickly rising to send them off.

"Please call me Marie!" She shouted as she waved them goodbye.

"Bye, Marie." My eyebrows rose at JJ's tone, my hand already grabbing the folded umbrella as I started to smack his ass to get him out of the house.

"That's my mother you prick!" I fake yelled making him shriek and run to the Twinkie.

"Thank you for dinner, Marie."

"Of course, John!" John gave my mother a hug that lasted way too long for my comfort level making me also chase him away with the umbrella.

"You fucker, B! Get going." I whacked him softly like I did with JJ but hard enough that they also understood my mother was not for their teenage crushes.

I glared playfully as JJ and John B as Kie and Pope laughed along with my mother.

"Marie Bayford is not available!" I shouted as I closed the door on my laughing mother and moved towards the Twinkie, umbrella still in hand.

"You two better be careful or it won't be me with the umbrella- it'll be Gray." I watched the two shiver at the thought making me laugh. Everyone had met Gray when he was over for a week around Christmas. And everyone took a liking to him and vice versa. But apparently he had told the three boys away from us girls that if anything were to happen to me or even Kie- it was their heads he was coming for.

The boys' words not mine. And when I asked Gray he denied, denied, denied.

"Be safe getting back home. Tomorrow after training we're going to go shopping for match day attire." I said as I shut the sliding door and gave the Twinkie a little pat.

"Bye Xena!"

"Bye Babe!"

"Bye T!"

"Bye Wifey!"

I rolled my eyes as I called out to them and waved. These Pogues man- they've already worked their way into my heart.