I Am Keeley

Chapter 20: We're All Okay

Keeley's POV

Beep Beep Beep

I groan to myself as I hesitantly turn over and shut off my alarm. The sun isn't even up yet as I push Gus off my legs and stand up onto the hardwood floor. Today is Monday, and it's also my first day back to school since the beginning of December. Today would be the day I get Aubrey back.

I shuffle my way to my closet and throw on some workout shorts and an old t-shirt, already dreading my morning routine as I tie up my shoes. I redo my hair and tie it into some sort of bun, if it actually qualifies as one considering it quickly falls into a ponytail.

Gus is still snoring softly as I walk out of my room and through the house. It's still really early, no doubt my brothers are all sleeping comfortably in bed. The house is dark and cold this early in the morning making it feel eerie and like something is just waiting to pop out at you from behind the corner. This is how I use to prefer the house because it meant I was alone. But since being home, the absolute worst thing is having being surrounded by silence. It means the people that I love the most aren't here, and that's not a life I want to live anymore.

I step off the last stair into the basement with surprise as the lights are already turned on, normally I'm the only one down here in the mornings. I walk through the basement till I get to the window in the game room that looks into the gym. I'm taken back at the person who looks up and smiles at me.

I open the door warily and am greeted with my father standing up off the mats and walking towards me. He's in sweats and a ratty old t-shirt, which is vastly different than what I'm used to seeing him in.

"What's up?" I ask him as he stops in front of me. His silver-gray hair hasn't been gelled back yet and if I didn't know better, I would think he's just an ordinary guy.

"Well," he began with hopeful eyes, "I was hoping we could train together this morning. I know you normally like this time to yourself, but I just wanted to see what your routine was and how you prepare yourself for the day."

I didn't realize I was giving him a look until my father cleared his throat.

"Oh, yeah, sure," I said kind of confused. It's not that I didn't like training with my father and it's not like we had a bad relationship anymore, it's just strange. "Well, I normally start out with cardio and then go to weights. And then I finish with tactical stuff, so like punching bags, knives, things like that."

"Alright, then let's do it," he said enthusiastically. I gave him a doubtful look. I know that he's been a lifelong mafia man and can handle practically anything, but my morning routine normally leaves the best of the best tired and worn, including me. It's meant to push and try your body to the point of absolute exhaustion. I'm definitely skeptical.

He must have seen my doubt as he continued to stare at me. He motioned towards the gym equipment to urge me forward and start.

"You sure?" I ask for a final time.

He lets out a heavy breath. "Jeez, I know I'm old but I have trained my whole life."

I shook my head as an amused smile formed on my face. This should be entertaining.

"Okay then, let's do it."

***

"Fucking hell, Keeley," my father heaved as he collapsed onto the sparring mats. The two of us lay on the ground covered from head to toe in sweat. I may have amped up the workout just a smidge to see if I could get him to quit, but he didn't. The old man stuck with it the whole time. From the running and ab circuits to the weights, he didn't stop. Normally I would do a lot of punching and practice combos on the bag, but we decided to spar instead.