Ain't Shady Baby, I'm Hot

51

"Hey, weren't you supposed to go on break?" I looked up from the computer as Rafe stood to the side of the desk, drinking from his water bottle. My eyes follow the bead of sweat tracing the length of his neck running from his forehead to his compression shirt. Damnit.

"I got sidetracked. But yeah. I'll just eat after my shift." I commented turning back to my work at hand.

"Oh, after I shower and change I'll go out and grab something for us." I dropped the binder I was writing time logs inside surprised he was offering to help me out.

"I-uh- sure. I'll cover it." I offered, bending down to pick up the binder.

"No, don't worry about it. I'll take care of it. Consider it a thanks." I stood up, eyes wide as Rafe gave me a smile before patting the top of the desk. "I'll be out in fifteen. Think about what you want. Make it good." I rolled my eyes as he walked towards the men's locker room.

What the hell is going on?

My eyes drifted from him to find Murphy watching me from where he worked one-on-one with Ethan. He had him running the speed ladder giving him plenty of time to cock an eyebrow in my direction.

I shrug waving him off and returning to the computer to finish out the time entries from the last two weeks so Murphy could get pay out by tomorrow afternoon. I kept Roy's after-hours call off the log and sent him a message telling him I'd send him whatever he usually was owed.

Murphy hadn't asked why Roy and I had come in after-hours. He either trusts the both of us enough to know we weren't doing anything illegal and that we'd only come here if it was necessary. Or he didn't feel like getting into the discussion yet.

With all the mayhem that has been surrounding me, I wouldn't be surprised if it was the later.

"Hey, so did you decide on a place?" I turned my head as Rafe laid his arms on the counter to my right, waiting for me to reply. His biceps pushing the fabric of his navy polo as I trailed my gaze from his fingers to his face.

"It's a toss up. A smoothie sounds awesome but so does a sandwich." He hummed.

"What if I went and grabbed both?" I shook my head. "Why not?" I stared the blond in the eye as he rose his eyebrows, challenging me.

"First off, Genius, you don't have a car. You're on your dirt bike thingy."

"It's a motorbike." I rose my eyebrow.

"Love, please. It's a dirt bike. Secondly, you are not spen- what's that look on your face?" I asked getting distracted when he leaned closer, a smirk quirked on his lips.

"Because you, Darling, just called me Love." I rolled my eyes. My hand coming up to push his face away from mine playfully.

"I said it during Midsummers, too, don't take it too seriously. I watch way too much British media." It was true of course. "But back to what I was saying, you are not going to go and buy two different things for me to have. I'll just do an oven roasted chicken sandwich from Suzy's." He gasped, his hand over his heart.

"Suzy's? As in the Suzy's Sandwiches?" I nodded a little worried. "I freaking love that place. Do you want anything else besides the sandwich. A smoothie perhaps?" I shook my head.

"Literally just told you not to go and spend more on me. Just get the sandwich and no tomatoes, please." I called out as he started walking away.

"You want avocado spread?"

"Hell yes." I could almost taste the sandwich. My stomach rumbled as I came to realize I was hungrier than if thought.

"I'll be right on it. Be back in twenty." I watched him leave before turning back to the time-logs at hand. The sound of his dirt bike starting up was covered by the music playing inside the gym.

I spent another ten minutes going over the book before taking it to Murphy's back office and setting it in his desk drawer. I slowly turned around the room, my eyes looking at the pictures and awards plastered around his office. I did it every time I came back here. Plaques and medals and belts were in various locations around the room. Pictures of Murphy and his fighters, family, coworkers, and friends hung up around the room. He had a cork board filled with 5x7s in a collage format. It was cute considering he doesn't seem to be the type to be so sentimental.

I smiled walking towards the one of my Pogues and I after the fight in January. JJ and John B had me on their shoulders. Pope had my towel with my last name in front of him holding his pointer finger up in a "1" and Kie had my warmup hoodie in her hands stretched out so you could see my last name. They all looked beautiful while I was a sweaty mess.

My smile was brighter than other photos I had on here. There were a few from my fights while under Murphy, and some from training camps or employee events, but none where I was glowing.

My Pogues really did brighten up my life. I've gotten a little more laidback, more fun in a way. I laugh more when I'm around them. I smile more when I'm with them, I will say that sometimes my headaches are worse but that's the price in return.

"Hey, Kiddo, Rafe's got your lunch. He asked me where you went told him I'd check my office." I hummed turning away from the photo. "You know, I don't think I've ever seen you beam more than that night. Those friends of yours are some very special people."

"Yeah, they are." I grinned though Murphy cocked his head.

"Kiddo, as someone who has messed up a lot in life, take a little heed to my advice. Your real friends will love who you truly are. You weren't born into this turf war, and even if you were, you shouldn't be expected to just follow the rest. That isn't who you are Kiddo, you beat to your own drum." I felt a bubble swell in my throat. His words hitting a nerve I hadn't realized was there.

"Murphy, did you find her?" I moved back towards the door, squeezing Murphy's shoulder as I passed him.

"You got my sandwich, Cameron?"