I grunted as I strained against the weight atop of me, the muscles along my arms and chest burning as the weight slowly climbed inch by inch.

"There we go, push it!"

Spittle flew from my parted lips as I exhaled the last of the breath within my lungs, muscles contracting all the tighter as I fought against gravity itself.

"That's it! Nearly there!" Drake exclaimed as he guided the bar into the rungs, the metal clang echoing around me as I finally let go.

"Fuck,"

As I sat up on the bench, I turned to glance at the weight. 405 pounds. It was by far the heaviest I had ever bench pressed - the four repetitions I had barely been able to eek out a testament to that.

Even now I could still feel the muscle contractions within my chest, the ghost of the weight pressing down upon me as blood rushed through my body to fill the damaged tissue.

With a groan, I pushed myself to my feet. My arms and chest felt like jello, almost as if they were numb.

"Mind grabbing a twenty-five?" Drake asked, motioning towards my side as he slid the iron plate on to the bar.

I did as he asked, stating with no small measure of uncertainty: "I am never going to be able to press that."

"It's all good. This is my last set."

I nodded in response to his words, even as internally I felt a slight bristle of irrational anger towards the man. It was invoked by the knowledge that he was stronger than me - a wound to my masculine pride.

Although he was only an inch taller than me, he must have outweighed me by at least thirty pounds of hard muscle. Where I was built for speed, stealth and endurance, the man before me was all brute strength. Evidently so by the way he went about pressing the 455 pounds up and down with little strain, only grunting occasionally as the bar touched his chest.

"Seven... Eight... Nine..." I counted off each repetition, my fingers hovering just below the bar in case I needed to take the weight from him.

My caution was unnecessary, as I announced the tenth repetition for him he slid the bar back onto the rungs.

"You sure you don't want to go heavier?" I asked. 455 seemed far too easy for him, only the last several repetitions appearing to tax the man as his movements began to slow.

He dismissed my question with a shake of his head, "Nah. I don't want to risk a tear. Not feeling especially strong today."

"Could have fooled me."

With a grin, he explained "My upper body is definitely taking the brunt of me being afraid to workout legs super hard."

"Oh?"

As we went about stripping and re-racking the plates, Drake spoke. "I know that my leg is healed for the most part. At least as well as it will ever be...

"But it almost feels like it's..." he paused as he gestured with his hands, palms facing each other with a slight gap between them. "Like the bone that broke is no longer lined up. That if I were to put too much stress on it that it would just crumple and slide down the other part." He continued with his hands, palms sliding across each other as the bone would - as he believed.

"I get that." I answered with a slight nod. Pointing to my eye, I continued, "Ever since I got this lovely souvenir, any time someone even reaches towards me I'm flinching."

"When did you get it?"

As I slid the last 45 pound plate onto the rack, "Four years ago. We were in Kandahar at the time."

"It's why you always gotta use shaving cream when you use a razor."

"So that's what happened to your testicles, huh? Accidentally nicked em' off and now they are lost?"

Drake held me pinned with a sharp look, "Hey! They aren't lost! I know exactly where they are. In fact, Nicole even let's me open her purse and look at them from time to time." he offered in retort.

I couldn't help but laugh at the quick wit of the man, "She sure seems like a handful."

As we moved over towards the free-weights section, I noted the goofy smile that the talk of Nicole had created upon his face. I wondered if I looked like just as much of an idiot when I thought of Hayden.

"That she is... But she is my handful." Drake finally answered, his goofy smile only growing further.

Drake went about adjusting the bench, setting it to a 45 degree incline before plopping himself down. His eyes scanned across the dumbbells, his lips ticking up slightly in thought - no doubt pondering which weight he wanted to start with.

"You up to anything this weekend?" I asked as I leaned against the dumbbell rack, my eyes surveying the gym.

For a Saturday morning the gym was surprisingly quiet. Although maybe a third of the cardio machines were in use, there were merely a handful of people using the wide array of strength machines - and even less using free weights.

Of course there was one asshole doing curls in the squat rack, something Drake had been quick to point out with a snicker.

"Yup," Drake answered with a smile. "Matt and Sarah are going to babysit Syl tonight so that Nicole and I can have ourselves a date night."

"Any special plans?"

With a shrug, "Likely just dinner and a movie. It's been good for us to keep the romance alive with dates and such. Helps to remind us that we are still husband and wife, not just a father and mother."

"Sounds wise in this day and age. Don't want to have to risk having to date again."

"God no," Drake exclaimed, frowning. "Hell no would I want to have to go through dating again. Seems like a minefield out there."

"As someone who hasn't dated in a decade, please don't give me any nightmare fuel."

Drake almost looked repentant, asking me "What about you? Any plans?"

Nodding, "I, myself, have a date as well. Hence the no need for any nightmare fuel. Just what I would need is to wake up missing a kidney."

Thoughts of Hayden had an immediate effect, a goofy grin spreading across my face like wildfire.

Even now I could feel her lips as if they lingered against my own. Although we had done nothing more than kiss and cuddle yesterday, it had been one of the best days of my life. The way her smile would light up her face as I drew her against me, realization dawning in her eyes as I sought her lips once more.

Her kisses were addicting, and I hadn't been content with just one. I feared I wouldn't be content with a million either.

We had stumbled into intimacy with an easy grace - awkwardness forgotten as the step from friends to lovers now seemed inevitable.

I could still see the grin on her face as I asked her out, the delight so plain to see within her eyes as she nodded quickly - chanting 'Yes, yes, of course, you goof!'.

Her smile had faltered slightly, eyes now questioning, as I told her to dress casual - nothing fancy.

Ignoring her questions as to why, I told her sternly that I wouldn't hesitate to march her ass back inside if she came out in a dress or even a skirt when I picked her up. A sly smile had spread as my words sunk in, a finger emerging to poke me in the chest several times as she said 'Ooo, I could get used to you being demanding. So bossy,'.

Drake's voice drew me from my thoughts, asking "Oh? Who's the lucky guy?"

I sighed loudly, my head tilting slightly to regard him. "And I thought I was a dick."

As he hefted the 130 pound dumbbells up, he answered with a slight strain to his voice, "You are. But there's always a bigger fish."

As Drake let go of the dumbbells, the rubber clanging off the ground with a resounding thump, I asked "I keep forgetting to ask. How old is your daughter?"

"She'll be three in August." The man said, his voice that of a proud father.

Grabbing the 115 pound dumbbells, I quickly took Drake's spot on the bench. "Who does she take after more?"

I listened to Drake as he regaled me with tales of his daughter's antics, the stories helping to distract me as we went through the motions of working out. Although I was no slouch when it came to fitness, the bodybuilding style workout Drake led me through was something that my muscles were unaccustomed to.

My fitness regimen for the past decade had only one single purpose. Function.

The constant overload of my chest muscles, and chest muscles alone, as Drake took me through his gruelling workout routine had left me exhausted. It even burned just to raise my arms, a cramp blooming in my pectorals.

I was half tempted to urge the man to race me in a mile just to regain my confidence.

We finally finished the workout with some light stretching - the cramp only beginning to alleviate as we made our way towards the stairs.

I was exhaustion incarnate as I slowly climbed the staircase. The only thing that kept me going was the promise of a hot shower and a nap before my date with Hayden.

It wasn't until Drake and I reached the front desk that I noted the woman there, chatting animatedly with Amy, the weekend hostess.

"Well if it isn't the asshole." The woman said loudly as she turned towards Drake, her eyes narrowing in disapproval as she took in his disheveled self - nose wrinkling up. "You smell like shit."

"Christ, Mia. You're starting already?"

"I never finished boy!"

"Gray, this is Mia. One of my oldest clients. Both literally and figuratively-"

"Asshole."

Ignoring her comment, Drake continued, "She's lost... eighty pounds?" He turned to glance at her questioningly. Noting how many fingers she was holding up, he continued once more, "Eighty-three pounds. We got to her goal in just shy of a year, but over four years later she is still ruining my life."

"You should be thankful I am still throwing money at you. I am responsible for your lavish lifestyle." She said, turning her nose slightly up at the man.

Drake didn't look impressed, "Oh yes, because peanut butter and protein powder are so expensive." he retorted.

"I'm talking about the diapers for both you and your daughter."

"Oh... I don't buy those. They just show up in my house."

"Are we not going to talk about Drake wearing diapers? Anyone?" I asked, glancing around.

Drake turned towards me, eying me as he said in all seriousness, "How do you think I fill out these pants."

With a shake of my head, "I'm done with this conversation already."

"Be careful with this one though." Drake said steering the conversation back towards Mia even as his eyes narrowed in mock disapproval. "She has a tendency to lie."

Mia looked absolutely perplexed by his words, asking, "What?"

Turning towards me, Drake answered "She tried to have me believe that there is actually a country called Turkey." He chuckled, shaking his head. "Can you imagine? I bet it's right next to Roast Beef."

"Oh boy..."

"Are you an asshole too?" The woman asked plainly, an eyebrow arched - clearly opting to ignore Drake's comment.

Glancing quickly towards Drake, noting the appearance of a smirk, I answered. "No, ma'am. I'm a dick."

My answer earned me a shake of her head, eyes squinting. "Great. I'm now surrounded by dicks and assholes."

"Just your average weekend, huh?" Drake offered, his smirk growing into a full blown grin.

"Why do I put up with you again?"

"Because of trickle down punishment." Drake explained in all seriousness. "I punish you. And then you get to go home and punish Ted." Seeing my look, he elaborated, "Her husband."

"That reminds me - that riding crop I ordered off Amazon arrived yesterday. I can't wait to use it on him." Mia said gleefully, clapping her hands together in obvious excitement.

"And there it is," Drake grunted. "The crossing of the line."

Mia appeared to take far too much pleasure in Drake's blanched expression, her eyes glinting while she smiled in satisfaction.

Her smile faded as Drake replied "Go get your cardio started. I'm going to take a quick shower and get a shake in me - then your life as you know it will end."