A lighthearted wager.

“Interesting?” Ashley inquired, raising an eyebrow as bounced from foot to foot, warming up. “You sound like you have something in mind.”

We both did, but I was the one who nodded, “Well, seeing as we’ve got the gym to ourselves, I don’t see why we can’t have a bit of fun.”

Ashley lowered her eyebrows at me, “And your idea of fun is what, exactly?”

I jabbed at the air a few times, then shook out my arms, “After I’m finished boxing your face in, I think I could use a nice back rub.”

My rival snorted dismissively at this, “Not gonna happen. After I,” She pointed to herself, “Box circles around you,” She pointed to me, “You’re going to get down on your knees and give me a foot massage.” She pointed one foot at me and wiggled it, for emphasis.

I chuckled, “We have our terms, then. First fall loses?”

Ashley nodded, “To start. Now get out here and let me punch that smug grin off of your face.”

My smug grin only grew as we stepped away from our respective corners towards the center of the ring, and I couldn't help but notice that Ashley was grinning, as well. We reached out and tapped gloves, and the dance was on.

While I technically had an active membership here in my brother’s gym, I was hardly what one would consider a boxer. Ashley, as I understood, had even less experience under her belt, but the fact of the matter was that neither of us really cared or intended to throw a punch with any real weight behind it. We circled each other at the midrange, and occasionally poked out with slow jabs or playful swats. It was more about working up a mild sweat and setting the scene. Eventually, with some nonverbal cues, we indicated that it was time for someone to take a fall, though. The one who got knocked off their feet would have a fairly innocuous, if mildly humiliating, task to perform, and we both knew who it was going to be.