Ain't Shady Baby, I'm Hot

19

Pope, JJ, and I were huddled around the monitor as Kiara and John B swam with the water camera. The same device JJ had almost got shot and bit trying to get.

"What's this right here?" JJ reached a hand out acting like a two-year-old as Pope and I both slapped him away.

"Don't touch that." Pope said continuing to fidget with the controls, "I'm trying to work this thing."

"I swear sometimes you act like a toddler, JJ." I scolded playfully as I leaned my upper body onto his back. The blond supported my weight as we watched John B scrubbing his teeth.

"I do love my juice boxes." I snorted rolling my eyes.

"Your juice boxes and a child's juice boxes are very different." We continued to watch Pope manipulate the device before Kiara and John B surfaced.

"God bless geeks, Pope. Truly, man. What would we do without you to control the drones?" I slid off JJ's back and hopped up to sit on the railing.

"Technically it's not a drone," Pope said not looking away from the controls.

"Shut up." JJ quipped trying to stop Pope from talking.

"It's an ROV." I grinned finishing Pope's statement for him. JJ groaned as he looked at me.

"Not you, too." I pat his shoulder.

"Don't worry, Hubby, I still love you. Even if my intelligence is too much for you." The blond perked up at my words and tackled me in a hug.

My shriek catching everyone's attention as JJ pulled me free from the railing and spun me around. His arms wrapping around my waist in a bear-hug.

"SHE SAID SHE LOVES ME!" I laughed as I saw the utter happiness in his expression. The other Pogues watched unable to not smile at the absolute dork behavior.

"Alright, JJ. Let her down." Kie spoke shaking her head at us.

"Oh don't be so jealous, Kie."

"I've got nothing to be jealous about." JJ put me on the deck and gasped.

"Was I not the first?" I couldn't help it.

I cocked my head, raising a hand to his cheek and gently shook my head side to side. I held a sorrowful look but couldn't help bursting out in laughter.

"Was I at least the second?" I bit my lip as Pope piped up from the monitor.

"Nope." His pronunciation placed emphasis on the 'p' making a popping sound.

"Oh come on!" I laughed going to sit back up on the railing.

"Don't worry, JJ, I love you all." I fiddled with my nails as I spoke, the topic kind of touchy.

"We love you too, T." I turned my head to the water as John B gave me a gentle smile. "You're one of us now."

"Yeah, forever." I laughed as JJ pat my knee.

"Anyways, once we get footage of the wreck, we'll bring it to a lawyer in town and file a formal claim." John B brought us back on track.

"It's bullshit. Why do we have to do that?" JJ crinkled his beer can.

"Well, there is maritime salvage law." Pope started propping himself on the railing next to JJ. "We can't just go to the ocean floor and scoop up a bunch of stuff."

"I know. I know. It's just, lawyers aren't cheap, bro." I pursed my lips thinking. I knew just the person.

"As soon as they see the footage, they'll work for a comp." John B added.

"How do you know all of that?" Kie asked wadding in the water.

"Cause my dad said it like a million times."

"Well, when the time comes, I've got a lawyer we can go to." The four turned to look at me, all wearing a similar shocked expression.

"Oh come off it, I work at a gym in Kooklandia. I may not have friends at school, but I've got plenty of acquaintances there." JJ and Pope glanced to one another and shrugged.

"To Xena's networking." JJ mocked raising a toast with his can. I pushed his arm back down, shushing him.

It was quiet for a moment until Pope.

"This tether is, like, really long. In the wrong weather, it could get pushed around." Out of habit, I looked up at the sky. The clouds were a light grey, thunder off in the far distance.

I swear sometimes shit happens on cue. Like it's already pre-planned to go a certain way at a certain time. I just hope that means good news for us when we need it to be.

"Then we'll go at dead calm." John B declared. All of us quickly agreeing as Kie started to climb up.

"At slack tide."

"So now, we just gotta wait around for the right weather." I frowned.

"And today, is definitely not that day." I added onto Pope's statement.

With a sigh, I hopped off the railing. Eyes on me as I sighed.

"I've got to get going. Murphy needs me at the gym for a few hours."

"So much for your day off." I rolled my eyes, wrapping my arm around JJ's shoulder.

"Don't worry, I'll be back this evening. Do we want to go surf?" JJ froze while I kept walking.

"You want to go surfing?" I shrugged my shoulders turning around to walk backwards as I stared at the four of them.

"Why not? Guys, it's only if I'm down past ten feet. We surfed last summer when y'all taught me and I was fine." JJ and John B high-fived as the other two gave short whoops.

"I'll bring my extra board for you." I blew Kie a quick kiss before going to my bike. A quick thank you to my past self for asking John B to stop by my house before we got to the Château last night.

Saves me so much time.

"I love all four of you! I'll see y'all after four!" I slapped my visor down and started up my bike. The engine drowning out their shouts back as I turned and burned down the dirt road.

"Damn it's good to be me." I couldn't wipe the grin from my lips as I drove to the gym. Not even after Murphy took me through a workout then had me clean.

I was thoroughly enjoying my day until I saw Pope.