The Personal Trainer's Ex-Girlfriend

What Daddy Thinks

Kehlani

Standing up from the couch after the ten minutes are up for Theo's toaster strudel to be baked in the oven, I put the mitten over my hand as well as pulling the oven down to get the pan out of the oven and turning it off, allowing the golden tan and crispy, yet soft treat to cool down.

"Key, what are you making over there? It smells good!" Blake compliments.

"A toaster strudel for Theo," I grasp for the spatula off the counter to remove the hot strudel from the pan and onto the plate while the packet of icing is softening in the temperature of the room.

"Is it the strawberry, apple, Boston cream pie, cherry, blueberry, or cream cheese with strawberry?" Blake inquiries.

"Nope," I shake my head, popping the p. "Cinnabon flavored."

Blake furrows his eyebrows. "I never tried that flavor before. Can I make one?"

"Yeah, I already bought another box of those at the supermarket." I mention.

"Speaking of the supermarket, I saw your Cousin Steven at Stop and Shop today. And he asked me when Chaiza would come out here again, saying that he hasn't had s*x since you and I... parted company." Blake titters while he scratches his jaw line.

"Yeah, I saw him at d**k's Sporting Goods with a girl and he even texted me that he and the other girl were knocking boots during work on the same day we saw each other." Scoffing, I shake my head because throughout the years prior and during my courtship with Blake, his cousin is known for being a player just like in the movie, How to Be a Player.

"Looks like Chaiza's gonna have to put a leash around his neck and reform him again." I snicker while I take the bag of the Buffalo chicken strips out of the freezer, taking a plate out of the cabinet and making a dish before putting it in the microwave for two and a half minutes when Blake brings up, "Remember the video of Chaiza trying to scare my cousin straight from one of the scenes of Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood where Loc-Dog and a girl named Keisha were in his truck and she turned into a demon? And we put it on YouTube?" I think about that day and laugh because it is one of the funniest memories I share with Blake.

"Yeah, I remember."

"Do you still have that video on your YouTube channel?" Blake queries. "Oh, yeah," I chuckle, excitingly nodding as I recall that day.

It is around the week before a specific holiday in October where eager tots, kids, teens, and adults knock from door to door in their various costumes in the breezy autumn time egging for candy. Exiting from the First Student bus and school is done for the weekend at William Floyd Middle School, my eyes shift at the bus driver and the doors of the bus along with the street before I walk to my house when Charlotte exclaims with shock in her voice, "Whoa! Is that a 2006 Lexus IS?!" Peering up at the silver Lexus parking in the front of my house, indicating that my friends are here. Pivoting, I turn to face everyone.

"That's because it's Adriane'sc ar. She got it for her Quinceanera five months ago." I explain and check the mailbox if we have any mail. I stare at the interior of our home mailbox that is unfilled.

"Blake, tell mom that I'm at Kehlani's." Charlotte tells and Blake nods, "Okay." Before he walks to the house across from us, the corners of his lips turn up with affection glowing in his eyes while his hands are shoving into the pockets of his hoodie. He walks towards me and the beat of my heart goes faster when I feel his arms wrapping around me. I could imagine myself melt in his embrace in the brisk afternoon. My arms swathe around him. "See you later, Kehlani." He says with a kind smile.

We pull away from each other and I wave my hand at him, turning my back as we enter the house. While Tyler is holding the door for Charlotte and me, I glance over my shoulder to catch Blake sharing glances with one another just before he enters the house across from us. Walking under the threshold, I am greeted with a group of arms hugging me as they yearningly clamor my name. "Hey, you guys! I knew you all are here because Charlotte pointed out Adriane's car." I mention and they pull away while I turn to Chaiza, wrapping my arms around her for a hug. "Happy birthday, Scorpio!" I nickname her by her zodiac sign.

"Thanks, girl!" The home girls and I walk to my bedroom to notice that they've been watching the My Super Sweet 16 marathon while they were waiting for me to get out of school since they have a half day of school whereas Adriane is just starting out as a freshman in high school.

"Charlotte, have you watch the show, My Super Sweet 16?" Giselle queries. "Oh, yeah, but I'm not throwing a sweet sixteen—" Charlotte's sentence gets cut off by a rock instrumental ringtone. She opens her flip phone, putting it to her ear as she begins to speak.

The girls and I continue watching the show when Charlotte hollers, "He did what?!" All six heads turn to Charlotte, who has her eyebrows knitting together. "That is crazy," she shakes her head and slaps her hand on her knee as it rests. She says a few words to the caller and hangs up. "Charlotte, girl, what happened?" Sasha queries.

"It's my Aunt Lauren. She told me that she caught my Cousin Steven boning some girl in his room." Charlotte answers. "What?!" We exclaim at the same time with an unhidden glare. This is crazy. This is really crazy because since he and Chaiza met through me, it seems to me that his philandering will never cease and has already begun.

"You know what, ladies?" Sasha furiously shakes her head while her eyes slam shut. "I think it's time to reform a player..." Sasha begins. "And make a player repent!" All six of us simultaneously declare, drumming our own breasts that have Charlotte giving us the puzzling expression.

"D-did you guys, umm... Did you guys just do that?" Charlotte stammers with her eyes squinting at us and her hand placing on her hip. I turn my head to the girls and then, back at Charlotte. "Practically, yeah." We shrug at the same time. "Okay, ladies, I have an idea!" Giselle claps her hands and have all of us huddled up together while she instigates her plan to us.

**********

It is seriously about that time for a player to repent! Subsequently to completing my first YouTube channel on my laptop, I ram my arms into the sleeves of my hoodie when I hear a knock on my door. "Who is it?" I query.

"It's Blake." He muffles behind my door. Holy mackerel! He's here! My skin begins tingling on my arms while my breath becomes hitched as well as the acceleration of my heart rate. A hand rests on top of my shoulder, shaking me out of my trance to see Laia. "KeKe, are you gonna get the door or not?" Laia asks.

"Yeah," I nod, so anxiously that I will have to face Blake again, even after school.

"Kehlani," he calls behind the door. "

You can come in!" I assure him and I witness the door knob turning as the door opens, revealing Blake in his black hoodie and straight jeans with a walkie talkie in his hand."Are you ready to do this?" He smirks. Just as I am about to answer, the door is kicked open just as an uncertain person all dressed in black wearing a white face paint with black surrounding their eyes and on their lips.

"Happy Halloween, bit—" Chaiza's sentence pauses when she has the urge to speak again. "Y'all aren't... We're not going trick or treating?"

"Hell, no!" Adriane scoffs, shaking her head with her eyes narrowing. "And, Chaiza, why do you have the Dead Presidents face paint on your face? We're not killing people and we most certainly don't want to serve a life sentence in the slammer!"

"Adriane, the only thing I got a life sentence on is to ride a disco stick... Steven's disco stick, to be honest. Bow chicka wow wow!" Chaiza sings. I turn to Blake, who is peering at me and we laugh around the same time a doorbell rings.

"Chaiza, wipe that paint off your face. The makeup artist is here." Sasha says while I'm preparing the get-up for the prank.

**********

Minutes later, the girls, Blake, and I observe Steven's lusty face with the help of installing the mini spy camera on her shirt. I cringe because I have to witness two of my friends getting it on in my thirteen year old eyes. "You know I'm turned on with being a love child, Steven." Chaiza seductively whispers.

"Well, show me what you got, baby." Steven grins with his voice lacing with ardor. "Okay, daddy." Chaiza giggles coyly. A sudden gagging sound takes place behind me and I turn around in my seat to see Laia's face twisting as if she's savoring one of the sour foods. Giggling, I listen to Adriane telling Chaiza through the microphone of the hidden spy earphones that her moment is now. Listening to her moans of ecstasy transforming into howls, Steven's expression on his face morphs from desire to confusion to consequential fear as it results in this loud high scream that nearly deafens all of us. The seven of us scream with laughter at Steven's reaction as it becomes one of the memories of Chaiza, Sasha, and I associating with Blake, Doug, and Steven.

"Ah, it's still funny to this day!" I laugh with my eyes shut before they open. "Yeah, it really is." Blake concurs while he's laughing at that memory. "Theo, your toaster strudel is ready!" I call. Within seconds, rapid footsteps roam closer on the carpet flooring while he runs to me just as I tower over him. I hand him a plate along with the frosting packet and he accepts it. "Do you need help?" I offer while I rip the frosting packet open for Theodore to decorate his toaster strudel. He puts his plate on the coffee table and I give it to him. "Thank you, Mommy." My eyes broaden and a smirk is threatening to appear on my face.

"Theodore Sean Davis." Turning to Blake clearing his throat, Theo widens his eyes with realization of what he just called me. Although I'm flattered because of my role as a mother figure, Theo can only have one mother. And I know there can be a substitute mother that can give a child the love of a mother since we are supposed to nurture, help, support, and advise our children and step-children.

"I mean, KeKe Lani." He then giggles deliberately while he frosts his strudel. I giggle to myself. "You're welcome, Theo. Do you need a chair?" I suggest.

"Mhm." Theo hums. "Well, Tessa has a table with chairs in her room." I remind him. "And please don't run with your plate."

"Okay, KeKe Lani," he nods and at first, he seems chary, yet he carefully walks to Tessa's room. Meanwhile, I return to the kitchen to get my dish of Buffalo chicken strips out of the microwave with a napkin in my hand before sitting down on the couch. Sensing a figure scooting beside me on the couch, I glance at Blake and avert my eyes to the TV screen. "So, Key," Blake begins. I turn my head to face him, but my eyes focus on his lips. "Yeah, Blake?" I query. Blake's eyes wander heavenwards as if he's trying to ask me something until the ringing of a phone occurs in the living room. At first; I look if it's Blake and he shakes his head, immediately realizing it's my phone. I tap my finger to answer the call without even looking at the caller ID first... How irresponsible of me!

Putting the phone to my ear, I respond, "Hello?"

"Is this Mrs. Brown, Tessa's mother?" A calm female voice questions. "It's Ms. Brown, actually," I correct. "May I ask who is speaking to me?"

"Yes, this is Patricia O'Brien and I am the mother of Chester O'Brien. The principal called me about the incident today in school and I just want to say I'm truly sorry about what my son did to your daughter. I don't know where my son got the idea of grabbing a girl's butt from, but he most certainly did not get that from his father." Patricia apologizes.

"That's okay, Patricia." I accept her apology. "Anyway, after his father and I picked him up from detention; the real reason he did that was because he wants Tessa to go out with him." Confused, all I think about is why touch a girl's butt to go out on a date with him? Because that's not how a young man should ask a girl out.

"I have a day off on Sunday." I mention just as Patricia exclaims, "That's perfect because I get off work at three in the afternoon from Pet Smart! So, how about you, your boyfriend, and Tessa join with me, Chester, and my husband out to IHOP?" Patricia suggests.

"Actually, Patricia, I don't have a boyfriend—"

"It doesn't matter. Please, Ms. Brown?" Patricia begs. "Okay." I give in, not expecting a loud squeal from her over the receiver. "Okay, we'll see you guys there at the one in Ronkonkoma. I hope you have a nice day, Ms. Brown." Patricia then hangs up, ending the call between me and her. Sitting back on the couch and beginning to eat my food, Blake queries, "So, who was that on the phone?"

"That was Patricia O'Brien, the mother of Chester. She called me to tell me the reason why he felt on her butt because he wants her to go out with him." I notify him. The expression on Blake's face remains focused at me as he begins blinking his eyes constantly, throwing his arms up in confusion.

"What ten year old boy cops a feel to our ten year old daughter's behind just to ask her out? That doesn't even make sense! A well-mannered boy should get to know her before asking her out, making sure that he takes a bath or shower, and being himself." Blake comments.

"Well," I inhale sharply and crack my knuckles in three positions. "The O'Brien family wants us to join their first date at IHOP on Sunday." I confess. He freezes in his seat and stares widely at me. "That punk wants to take our baby girl out on a first date that is two days from now?" Blake asks, growing angry like a raging bull while his nostrils flare, grimacing. "Key, I'll be right back," Blake stands up from the couch and walks the door.

"You're going for a smoke? I thought you don't smoke." I predict with my eyebrows furrowing.

"I still hate smoking." With that, he slams the door behind him. While I ponder about something, an outburst of obscenities occurs out of nowhere. His use of profanity is as loud as a lawnmower, so I rush back to Tessa's room and play some music for the kids to drown Blake's expletive words; he speaks about a lot of curse words than the father on A Christmas Story.