"Some days, I really hate you for making me get up early for this shit," Joey said, out of breath, as he finished the last push up of his warm-up, arms wobbling. Reese, his best friend, was already standing up, stretching out his shoulders.
"Eventually, it'll be second nature, and you'll look forward to it," Reese tried convincing him as he stood up. He shot him a look. Joey had started tagging along to Reese's workouts and was complaining at every opportunity he got.
"I doubt it. I like sleeping in," Joey said, pulling his arm overhead to stretch his tricep. Though he might not admit it yet, it was his favorite part of the day. He just really liked bitching.
"I know what'll make you feel better; taking attendance," Reese said with a growing smile. Having established a regular meeting time, the two of them had gotten to know the other gym regulars. Subsequently, they'd come up with code names for all their crushes so they could effectively talk about them.
"You're right. Okay, let's see. Is Gumby here?" Joey started them off. Gumby had a freshly 21, cheerleader-in-college type look to him. He earned his nickname because he was inhumanly flexible and clearly liked showing off at the end of all his workouts. And though that confidence sometimes tip-toed into arrogance, his ass more than made up for it. Even Joey, the self-proclaimed power bottom, had been caught ogling at Gumby's ass in a squat more than a couple times.
"Here. Squat rack; are we surprised?" Reese countered.
"No. Next."
"Daddy One?" Reese listed. Few men could pull off a beard quite like Daddy One could. His body was one you know would be like Heaven to cuddle, but you also know it wouldn't last too long before things started poking around.
"Accounted for. And Daddy Two is as well. Free weights," Joey said. Daddy Two's bald head was as smooth as ever, even from a distance. The two daddies seemed to have no explicit connection. They'd never been seen talking or giving any indication that they know one another, but they always seemed to show up and leave at the exact same time. Reese and Joey's working theory was that they were secret lovers who could only see each other from afar at the gym.
"And Adonis?" Joey asked, but you could hear the eye roll in his voice.
"Second inclined bench press to the right," Reese answered with a shit-eating grin.
Adonis was Reese's ultimate gym crush. It wasn't just that he had a body for the gods, or that his curly hair framed his strong jawline just right, or even that there was a happy trail that Reese wanted so badly to follow every time he lifted his shirt up. He had a quiet confidence about him that Reese just knew would translate well to the bedroom. When it came to Adonis, he could step on Reese, and Reese would say, "Thank you."
"Okay, stalker," Joey teased.
"What can I say? I have an internal compass that finds him," Reese replied melodramatically, bending over with wide legs for a hamstring stretch. Maybe there was a little extra arch in his lower back. Maybe not.
"I'm sure that's not the only thing in there," Joey said half under his breath, and then continued with, "Damn. Could you have found shorter shorts? If something pops out and you get banned, I'm gonna be pissed."
"Relax. Nothing's gonna pop out," Reese reassured.
"Yeah, you say that now, but I know how you are," Joey said giving him a knowing look, and Reese couldn't help but laugh at the callout. He lightly pushed Joey, but Joey winced dramatically, holding his arm with care.
"I'm still sore," he whimpered.
"Aw, poor thing... Let's work out," Reese said, taking delight in Joey's suffering.
Their workout had started with flat bench presses. Reese straddled the bench, and rested the dumbbells on his thighs, feeling the weight press down on him. He thought that if he just closed his eyes and used a bit of imagination, it could feel like a person almost. He decided against it though.
Reese's imagination had always been vivid. So much, in fact, that if he focused, it was almost as if the things he imagined would reach his senses. It was a blessing and a curse though. Sometimes, certain things were just too tempting to be left unexplored.
Right before he leaned back to lay down, a certain someone caught his attention. Adonis was walking by, and the light caught him at just the right angle to make his skin glow from his light layer of sweat. A few strands of hair were matted to his forehead, and his arms were pumped. Reese caught a glimpse of a hint of a bulge as he lay down, and Adonis walked away. That's all it took though.