Page 69 of The Shake Off

“Never better, my good friend.” I jumped up from the bench and opened my locker for a fresh pair of shorts. “Never better. Want to go for a run? I thought it was later than it is.”

He picked up his ball cap from the bench and tugged it on. “Come and spot me first, then I’ll run with you.”

I stretched my arms out as I thought about it. “Yeah, okay. You’ve got a deal.”

“Hurry up and change then.” He reached up and pulled a copy ofCosmofrom his locker, and sat back down.

“Is that mine?”

He shook his head and opened the pages. “No, the new issue came out today so I got it delivered to the apartment. Wasn’t going to be seen buying it, was I?”

Huh. Delivered. I hadn’t thought of getting it delivered. Reading it from the comfort of my own home, without having to hide it… very smart indeed. You could even take notes if you were so inclined, and no one would ask what the fuck you were doing.

“We should add it to the subscriptions.”

“Yeah,” Lux nodded, “good plan.”

“Anything in there?”

I stripped out of my sweatshirt and tee, pulling on one of the new workout shirts we had to wear. Along with our game uniforms which were lined with sensors, our workout performances were now being monitored to make sure we all stayed in peak fitness.

“More of those cartoon positions, and a guide on masturbation.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Interesting.”

“Yes, it is,” he looked up with a grin, “and I have a date after the game where I’ll be trying it out.”

“Oh yeah?”

“Yeah,” he nodded, hitting the back of his hand against the page. “Don’t know why you started reading this, man, but I think it’s probably the best idea you’ve ever had. This shit is gold.”

I dropped onto the bench to tie my sneakers, but threw my arm around him again instead. “I think you might be right.”

Lux chuckled and went back to reading.

“There you are!” Our heads shot up to see Parker walking into the locker room. “I’ve been texting.”

“Have you?” I snatched my phone up to find he had indeed been texting. A lot.

The Powers of Greyskull: Group Chat

Parker:Anyone awake?

Parker:What’s for breakfast?

Parker:What time are you leaving for the ground?

Parker:Srsly. Anyone awake?

Tanner:I am now you’ve woken me with all your goddamn texting

Parker:Put your phone on silent, you dipshit

Parker:Okay, I’m getting up

Parker:Srsly. Where is everyone?

“Oh, dude,” I grinned, “did you have FOMO?”

---