Page 14 of Keep Your Guard Up
Ifist-bumped the last person in the line and began to walk off the mat when a wet, slimy body pressed itself up against me.
“JJ. You’re a real pal for letting me stay at your house and for ensuring I don’t starve to death or freeze out on the streets.” I sighed. “But for the love of god, will you get your sweaty ass the fuck off of my back?”
“Shh!” he snapped. “The lioness is still out of her cage.”
I followed his line of sight, straight over to … Mari.
She was grumbling to herself as she packed her bag. Sweat glistened on her skin, outlining each and every line of the spectacular muscle map of a back she carried. I wasn’t surprised she was in a foul mood or absolutelysoakingafter the brutalrounds of bag work, followed by intense sparring where I strategically placed her against quick and agile partners. It was enough of a punishment to leave a mark. A string of curses sounded from that mouth, and she quickly scurried off into the office, leaving her phone behind and slamming the door shut.
“Don’t even think about touching that,” JJ said, letting a dramatic breath loose. “With what just happened in there, you’ll lose a hand if you go near her or her toys.”
“Toys?”
“Yeah, the big cats like to play. Some in captivity will play with toys.”
“Since when did you become David Attenborough?” I filtered through my bag, placing a hand on the book. A small sigh of relief escaped me. It did every time I confirmed it was still in my possession.
“The only non-fictional animal I could ever describe Mari is as a lioness. Anyone who calls her anything else is just wrong.” He shrugged, pulling a fresh shirt from his bag. I cringed.
Dear god, that bag needs a wash.
“Non-fictional? What about fictional?”
“A fire-breathing, gigantic, human-eating dragon,” he answered swiftly, digging around for more clothes in his duffle.
“Graphic. Point made,” I replied.
“Come on, Chancey boy. Come hose me down.” He winked and strutted off towards the open showers.
~
It was midmorning by the time JJ and I had washed off the class and headed out for breakfast. Quickly, might I add, as JJ was ‘worried about staying too long in the lioness’s den’.
“Class was good this morning, man,” JJ said, making a left turn down a quiet street with well-maintained gardens lining either side. “Push-ups and all.”
“It’s kind of weird how much you like doing push-ups.” I returned the smile a local old man gave me with a curt nod.
“There’s no way I’m gonna let something as trivial as push-ups make me their bitch.”
I stared at him.
“What?”
“This is coming from the guy who cried when Monica proposed to Chandler onFriends.”
He stared right back, his face utterly blank. “What’s your point?”
“You let a TV show make you its bitch but—” I cut myself off. “You know what? Never mind.”
We continued walking and talking shit for what felt like hours, but in reality was probably around twenty minutes. The walk was flat and lined with old but well-kept houses. Most were made of bricks; most were surrounded by various greenery and flowers. Some had older women, who very clearly took pride in their yards, out the front with wide-brimmed hats on while they watered and trimmed their plants. Many of them gave JJ cheerful ‘hellos’, to which he responded to with flirtatious remarks.
“You’re like a celebrity around here.” I was already starting to sweat from the walk in the sun to wherever JJ was taking me for brekky.
“Jealous? Don’t be, Chancey boy. I’ll take you out on the town, give you a few good sightings.”
“Yeah, because that’s what I want. More attention on me.” I rolled my eyes. “So, are we going to eat in the next 24 hours?”
“Of course we are. We’re going to breakfast,” JJ replied with an innocent shrug of his wide shoulders.
