Page 3 of Burn Bag

For a fucking grueling hour, we battled back and forth, trading punches in the pouring rain. We ended up in the mud more than once, and both of us were covered in blood that trailed down our soaked bodies. Our hits became weaker with every minute that passed, yet neither of us was willing to call the fight. My pride was on the line and his right to Isla was all he was fighting for.

I was chilled to the bone, barely able to move by the time the hour had passed. My footsteps were slow and lethargic, and all I wanted was a hot soak in the tub. But I would not be the one to call the fight.

Something slapped in the mud in the distance, but I didn’t dare take my eyes off IKE. “What is going on?” Isla shrieked.

I knew that voice anywhere. It haunted me at night. It reminded me of everything I lost, but I didn’t turn to her. I trusted my team to keep her out of it.

IKE charged at me hard in one final attempt to take me down. My legs buckled underneath me at the hit and we both crashed to the ground, mud flying all around us. Our ragged breathing could be heard over everything else as we both struggled to get the upper hand.

I had him in a weak headlock, and he threw punch after punch into my already broken ribs.

“Stop this!” Isla screamed, but neither of us yielded.

“Alright, this is getting pathetic,” Eli muttered. “They’re just lying in each other’s arms. Can we call it now?”

“Fuck you,” I hissed, slamming my fist one last time into IKE’s face.

He finally released me, flopping back in the mud as I did the same. Breathing hard, we both laid there staring up at the sky as the rain continued to assault us.

“I need a fucking soak,” I muttered.

“Same,” IKE said, climbing to his feet. He turned and held out his hand for me, and now that the fight was over, I nodded and took his proffered hand. He pulled me in for a hug that lasted exactly one second before we both backed away.

“What…what the hell was that?” Isla snapped.

“We’re working shit out, gorgeous,” IKE slurred.

“But…” Grunting in frustration, she turned and stomped away, mud splashing everywhere under her feet.

“Beer?” I asked.

He snorted. “Scotch.”

I shrugged, not caring what he drank. I just wanted that fucking hot tub. We both headed inside with everyone else trailing us. My bones ached and my body trembled under the weight of the fight we’d just endured. A hot shower would probably work just as well, but I had the feeling that I’d never get warm again unless I let my bones rest in some hot water.

As soon as we hit the locker room, I stripped out of my clothes and quickly rinsed the mud from every crevice of my body before heading over to the hot tub. Sinking down in the heat, I closed my eyes and finally relaxed.

“This is what I’m talking about,” IKE groaned as he got in across from me. “Fuck, you had to choose a rainy day to have it out.”

“Where the fuck is the beer?” I grumbled, already feeling my eyelids growing heavy. Fuck, I was exhausted, and not just because of the fight.

“So, we’re cool?” IKE asked, breaking the silence.

I nodded, not bothering to open my eyes. “Yeah, we’re cool.”

“Good, because I was taking it easy on you.”

Amusement slithered through me at his words. I felt the weight of his punches. He gave everything he had, just as I did.

“I’m glad it was you,” I admitted, finally peeling my eyes open. “I still fucking hate you, but I’m glad it was you.”

“Because of my pretentious three-piece suit?” he jested.

I stared at him with all seriousness and shook my head. “Because I know you’d fucking die for her.”

He nodded as the smile slipped from his lips. “Well, let’s hope it never comes to that. I would hate for her to go running back into your arms after I just kicked your ass.”

“Fuck you,” I spat. “I had you in the mud, begging for the fight to be over.”

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