Page 39 of Enemies with Benefits
"It'sthatbad you don't even want to piss me off?"
"Please, like pissing you off is hard, especially when it's me. But no, I'm not going to tell you because I don't need youfreaking out and acting like I was the one who said it when in reality I'm just the one delivering the news. So, can we move on from your totally not curiosity about the other side and get to why you're actually here?" I said, still enjoying the occasional needling of his nerves when I got the chance.
His nostrils flared, but other than flexing his fingers, he didn't give me too much of a reaction. "Fine,whyam I here?"
"You're here because it's a good gym, and you're here at this time because it's quiet and we won't be disturbed."
His eyes narrowed suspiciously, which I didn't blame him for. Coming from anyone that might have been odd, but coming from someone like me, I could see how it would sound insidious. "Why?"
"Because," I began, pulling my headphones from my ears and tucking them into their case. "I remember once upon a time, the only way you and I were able to get along without wanting to chuck the other through a window was when we were doing something physical."
He took a moment to respond, the crease between his eyebrows deepening. “Why do you remember that?"
"I have a good memory for things that are weird, and let's be honest, there's few things weirder in our lives than the two of us at peace with one another."
"Alright, fine."
"So, we can do just about anything you want, so long as it keeps our hands occupied."
"Why?"
"Why, what? Do you want us to fight?"
"You always want to fight."
I laughed. “You aren't any better, so get off your soap box and quit throwing stones at your glass walls."
He snorted. “You told me part of the reason I'm here, but not the why. Why do you care if we get along?"
"I don't," I said with a shrug, seeing no point in lying. "But for the sake of my sister and my nephew, I figure we might as well start somewhere. I don't know if you're even planning on sticking around, but just in case you do, we need to figure out some way not to want to kill each other. Well, and I figure you've got plenty of pent-up...feelings about the whole thing, and what better way than taking it out on your body?"
"What about someone else's body?"
"Mmm, I think we already established that you're too far in the closet for that, and I still have some dignity left."
He growled. “I meant boxing, or something like that."
That made me pause. “Well...there is a ring. Usually it's supposed to be supervised, but I'm sure I could convince them. Let me get this straight, you want to keep us from fighting...by having us fight?"
"Controlled fighting."
"You just want an excuse to hit me."
For the first time in a long time, he grinned. “Doesn't sound like a bad idea to me."
"Honestly? Not what I thought you'd say."
"What, thought I'd tell you to go fuck yourself and walk off?"
"Actually, yeah. Weird."
"What?"
"Just...weird having someone like you know me like that."
"I guess hating someone has its perks."
Well, yeah, but there was still something uncomfortable about having someone who couldn't stand me predict me better than my friends. "Right, well, anyway. If you want to warm up, you can just meet me there. Pretty sure you can follow signs...you can read, right? Never got a clear answer on that back in the day."
