"Come on babe you can do it!" Keith cheered Deanna on trying to give her the motivation she needed to jog all the way up the hill. Deanna shook her head resting her hands on her knees taking quick short breaths.
Right now to Deanna the damn hill was looking more like a mountain, a mountain she didn't have it in herself to climb. "Nope I think this it." Dee shook her head. Her heart felt like it was beating out of her chest. "I've reached my limit!"
Keith frowned jogging back down to where she was. "This is what you wanted to do right? To lose a little weight."
"I can't be held responsible for what I say after eating Sunday dinner." Last week Dee cooked for him a huge Sunday dinner like she would for her mother and sisters thinking the best way to a man's heart is through his stomach not at all thinking of the amount of food she'd be cooking. It was far too much for just Keith and herself to consume. Dee wasn't talking to Tahlia so she refused to bring her back any so she made a plate for Trey and it still was too much left over. Afraid to let all that delicious food just go to waste one plate eventually turned into three. Deanna felt stuffed and overly fat so after that she mentioned to Keith that she needed to work out more drop a few pounds and tighten up her figure. Him being the supportive boyfriend he is has been picking her up for early morning run's ever since.
"Okay, we can go." Looking into his hazel eyes Deanna hated the thought that maybe she was disappointing him.
"Just up that hill and back down again and we're done, right?"
Keith nodded proudly playfully slapping her on the ass. "That's my girl."
~~~~~~
"Have you seen Deanna!" Tahlia asked.
"Probably out with Keith." Trey told Tahlia who became even more upset.
"You know she still isn't talking to me!" She placed her hands on her hips. "You told me you would fix this!"
"I told you I would talk to her. I did that. Maybe she isn't ready to talk to you yet."
"So when will she be ready?" Lia pouted sounding like one big ass baby. The silent treatment Deanna was serving her was driving Tahlia crazy. "All of this because I told her about her no good boyfriend! Where would they be this early in the morning anyway."
"Oh yeah she didn't tell you. She jogs with him now every morning!" Trey spoke with a little more bitterness in the tone of his voice than intended. He had no hard feelings against Keith but Deanna is fine the way she is. If she was doing it for herself Trey would be the first to cheer her on but he knew she has to be doing all of this for Keith and that bothered him.
Trey looked at Deanna everyday and didn't see a damn thing wrong with her. Her full breast didn't sag, her behind stood out and along with her wide hips came with a pair of thick thighs yes she had a stomach but he liked that. Still her body had nothing on her face. To Trey Deanna was gorgeous her smooth brown skin was flawless without a blemish in sight, big brown eyes with thick eyelashes and her full lips he only kissed them once to fool her family but he'd never forget how soft they felt. Deanna was beautiful in and out the least attractive thing about her was the fact that she wasn't fully confident with herself.
Tahlia's eyes grew wide. "Trey! Is that jealousy I hear in your voice?"
"huh what! No.. Deanna and I are just friends. " It was true. Trey and Deanna had nothing going on, therefore there was nothing for him to be jealous of, right?
"Good because it's bad enough I have to worry about her and Keith I don't need the stress of worrying about her and you too."
"Why would I make you worry? If I took it there with Deanna you think I'll hurt her?"
"Trey you're a good friend. But Trey the friend and Trey the boyfriend don't operate the same." Trey opened his mouth to protest but knew his sister was right. Trey the friend is loyal and considerate. Trey the boyfriend didn't have a loyal bone in his body and only considered his own feelings.
"Yeah you right.I gotta go though I'm spending today with Lay-Lay."
"Oh yes tell my flower girl auntie loves her. You need a ride?"
Trey shook his head. "Sal let me have one of the cars."
"Pop hooked you up with that job right?" Tahlia asked and Trey nodded his head. "That's good. He says he is coming to the wedding. He promises to walk me down the aisle."
Trey wanted to tell her not to get her hopes up but couldn't bring himself to do it. Their father was more of a help from a distance kind of guy. He says a lot of things but rarely actually comes through. Trey was surprised his father even found the time to call Sal so he could give him a job then again that only involved a phone call. "I'll see you later maybe you can meet up with me and Lay-Lay she loves the wedding talk."
~~~~~~
When Trey pulled up to pick up Layla he was shocked to see she was waiting outside with Niyah. After their last argument any exchanges of him getting Layla or dropping off money went through Niyah's grandmother. Layla looked beyond happy to see her dad and Niyah... well Niyah didn't look happy at all. She had a hand rested on her hip and her lips were held tightly together.
"What the fuck is this I hear about you tryna take my child away from me!" Trey barely had enough time to say hello before she was snapping on him.
"What are you talking about?"
"Layla says you have a job now so she is moving with you!" Niyah yelled. "You are out of your-"
"Lay-Lay... why don't you get in the car."
"You aren't taking her away from me. you take me to court you will lose!"
"Niyah you know me would I really just up and take Layla from you? She says she wants to move with me I said when I get myself together. I wouldn't take you to court. Relax." Trey looked around and could see her neighbors peeking through the blinds some bold enough to come out their front doors.
"She isn't moving with you. So she could see the bitches you run in and out of on the daily niggah you betta think again!"
Trey sighed. He didn't come here for this. "none of my girls come in contact with Layla and you know that. What's the problem Niyah you wish I was coming in and outta you on the daily?!" He had enough. That's what this was really about anyway.
"You wish." Niyah spat.
"Nah you do. We were doing good I give you money I spend time with my daughter. But every once in awhile you start with the crazy talk get yourself some dick and leave me the fuck alone!" Trey snapped on her before walking to the car making sure Layla was strapped in right and drove off.
"ooo daddy you said a bad word." Layla spoke Trey looked through the rear view window to see her shaking her head giving him a disapproving look. He was slowly shrinking down from being the bigger person he tried so hard to be.
"Sorry baby girl. I'll do anything to make it up to you."
"Anything?" She asked and Trey nodded. "Can Deanna do my hair again?"
"Lay I'm not sure if she works today. We can go but I'm not sure if she would be the one doing your hair."
Layla frowned looking out the window. "Too bad, I like her."
A small smile crept up on Trey's lips. "Yeah me too."
