Fitness 4Play: One Night Stand (Novel 1) (12 page)

While wallowing in melancholy, my phone
rings. I sprang up in anticipation to witness 'Lucy Aka Ms. Pink
Dress' flash across my caller ID. Nope! It was Greg.

"Ugh. What does this mane want?" I groan. I
turn the phone over and it stops ringing. Greg called numerous
times over the past several days. I am not in the mood to talk to
him or anyone else. The combination of the baby situation and
Lucy's unresponsiveness corrodes my spirit. It is hard to get me in
a somber mood but the past few weeks have been hard on a brother.
Greg is my best friend for a reason. He has been there for me
through my vicissitudes so it is quite selfish of me to ignore him.
I should not take my frustrations out on him because Lucy will not
talk to me. I decide to call Greg back and invite him over.

***

"Dab, I can only imagine how you are feeling.
I wouldn't know what to do or think if my wife stopped
communicating with me for weeks," says Greg.

"I know right," I respond, softly.

Greg just made it over to my house. We are in
the living room on my plush white sofa. Deciphering his body
language, I can tell he is content with life. Greg earns a
lucrative salary in a career he is passionate about, owns a house,
and is married to a devoted woman. My boy got it made! It's not
always smooth sailing with him and his wife but his current
situation is a thousand times better than mine.

Back in college, he sought my advice on
women. He had some success but he wanted more than friends with
benefits and random one-night stands. He desired a monogamous,
long-term relationship with a respectful lady. I glanced at Greg as
if he had cockroaches crawling out of his ears the day he disclosed
that.

I couldn't understand why he desired that
when countless pretty, sexually-naive freshmen females enrolled
every year. Years later, I see why. A monogamous relationship helps
create steadiness throughout other aspects of a man's life.

I recall him calling me two years ago to
inform me that he found his soul mate. At first, I didn't believe
him. In the past, he had dated women whom he thought were "the one"
but none of them were. Due to my reputable evaluation of women, he
allowed me to meet a female to gather feedback. Let's just say I
gave him numerous thumbs down. My friend possesses a wonderful
heart. Unfortunately, guys like him meet a fair share of
'heart-snatching' women; the type of women who take advantage of
nice guys.

I remember when I met Greg now-wife two years
ago at his old apartment. She was different. I could tell she was a
sincere woman and would be an ideal fit for my friend. Also, she
can cook. Like they say, the best way to a man's heart is through
his stomach. This statement is quite accurate because Lucy can cook
her ass off as well. You know a woman can cook when you ain't
hungry and still eat her food!

"Well I'm sure Lucy is going to come around
soon. She just needs time. Just understand women are more sensitive
than us. She misses you. Trust me," Greg said.

"That's the same thing Big Rob said. It's
been over two weeks. Two weeks! How much more time does this girl
need?" I said.

"For some women, 2 weeks is 2 days. What you
did was wrong and the potential baby mama is her cousin too? She's
trying to process all of that."

"But I wasn't aware they were kinfolks! And I
slept with Keisha way before Lucy and I became official!"

"I know. I know. Calm down tiger," says Greg,
motioning with his hands to calm down. We start chuckling.

"Sorry playa. I just have been a little on
edge lately. This whole ordeal is stressing me out. I just can't
wait to get the paternity test results."

"Oh ok. When we last spoke, you went with Big
Rob to 201 Poplar to submit your DNA. So has Keisha supplied the
baby's DNA?"

"Yes. She had no choice. She put my name on
the birth certificate so I have the right to determine if I am the
father or not. So I slapped them court papers on her ass," I said,
playfully slamming my hand on the swivel coffee table. The court
ordered Keisha to submit DNA samples from Antwan by this past
Friday. She had no choice but to oblige or face legal action.

"You a fool Dab. That's not right for her to
put your name on the birth certificate without your consent."

"Sure ain't but that's how deranged this
chick is. Not to mention the countless times she was stalking and
calling and texting me. And she gave the baby my middle name. Now
that was the cherry on the rotten cake."

"Yep. She wants you Devin.

"Unfortunately but she won't get me. The
court said the paternity results should be in by the end of this
week. I can only hope I'm not the father. I can't deal with this
broad anymore."

"I agree. I hope it goes in your favor too. I
would hate for my best friend to get a crazy baby mama. You already
know the child support papers are coming if he is yours too,
right?"

"Yep. With me trying to start Fitness 4Play,
this is not the time for that."

"Uh huh. Speaking of which, how things been
progressing with your business plans?"

I shook my head. "Progress is definitely not
the word. But stalling is."

"For real? Damn, I hate to hear that."

"Yep. Like I said, this whole Keisha-baby
situation is stressing me out. It's hard for me to focus on
starting a business with all this mess swirling around me," I said,
biting my fingernails.

This is one of the rare occasions where Greg
has seen me in a stressful state. Outwardly, everyone perceives me
as being cooler than the other side of the pillow. Yet, I get
stressed out like any other human being. My current dilemma would
stress out most men. Nevertheless, I embody a strong-will to
succeed and will not let this situation cancel my ambition. Ever
since I started college, I wanted to become an entrepreneur. I just
didn't know what my business would be until this past year.
Regardless of my current and future obstacles, I am hell-bent on
getting Fitness 4Play established. I just need some financial help
to get it started. This is where my true dilemma lies.

"Ok. Well I had something important that I
been trying to tell you but you wouldn't respond to me." Greg
inches closer to me.

What? Are you gay?" I joke. We start
laugh.

"No mane. This is serious. It's about your
pending business."

"Oh. What about it?"

"What if I told you I got a cool spot where
you can setup your fitness studio at a bargain price?" I perk up
like a kid arriving at an amusement park.

"Really? How? Where? How much?"

"Wow! Glad to see you're excited. Anyway, you
remember my older brother owns a barbershop off of Hacks Cross,
right?

"Yea I do."

"Well he is relocating to another spot so he
can be closer to his home. He got a few months left on the lease. I
told him about your situation and he said you can use it."

My eyes got wider with each syllable Greg
spoke. Only gloom filled my world for the past few weeks. I wasn't
even thinking about my business. Then all a sudden, Greg offers me
a lifeline. He is the epitome of a best friend.

"Wooooow! I don't know what to say G?"

"You better say I accept this mission to
build my business G,"

"Hell yea I accept this mission!"

"Good. Well I will let my brother know you're
interested. I will give you his number so you both can talk. Also,
since you are starting out, he just wants you to pay half of the
lease until his contract expires at the end of the year."

"Cool. How much will that be?"

"I think it is between $400 and $500 dollars.
Please talk to my bro to get the exact figure."

"Okay. I will."

"Also, I'm willing to help out with getting
you some fitness equipment and anything else you need."

"For real? Mane I thank you for being a
friend. I truly needed this at this moment."

"No problem. When you get this running, my
wife and I are going to be your first clients. I need to get this
gut off of me."

"See. I told you have been picking up weight
lately."

"Yea, I know. It's time to get my health back
in order. My wife's health too."

"Cool. I definitely will do so."

"Yep. Speaking of her, I gotta go pick her up
from the nail salon. Her car is in the shop so I drove her
there."

"Cool. I understand. Again, thank you for all
you're doing for me. I truly appreciate it."

"You're welcome. That's what friends are for.
Besides, you would do the same for me."

"True." We exchange friendly hugs before Greg
exits.

I am fortunate to befriend someone like Greg
who supports me when I'm at my lowest point. I wasn't even concern
with Fitness 4Play due to this baby situation. In addition, Lucy
not talking to me has taken a toll on my psyche. No other woman has
ever had this type of effect on me. I ridiculed sappy love songs as
a youngster. Now, they all make sense. When someone you are in love
with stops communicating with you, it hurts. Especially for a man
since we are taught to internalize our feelings. It hurts worse
because we are clueless how to express our anguish. However, Greg
reminded me of one thing: Business awaits me. It is time I
rededicate myself back to launching Fitness 4Play. It will be
easier to do so once the paternity results are in.

(Bill Withers "Lovely Day" playing
in the background)

"Today is going to be a lovely day."

This was my first thought upon waking up.
With all the turmoil I have been dealing with, it is time to get
back to happiness. Regardless of the paternity test results, I will
not let it affect my future. Sure, his mother is a piece of work
but she will not prevent me from living.

I clock-in at Freewill Fitness. This elderly
couple is working out together in the free weights area catches my
attention. They had to be around 70 to 80 years old. The man
assists his wife while she performs seated shoulder press with
dumbbells. They remind me of Lucy and I. I envision us 40+ years
from now still working out together as a couple; Old as dirt but
still pushing each other to new levels. Thoughts like this make me
realize Lucy is wife material. At 26 years old, I cannot imagine
tying the knot. However, I do not desire any woman but Lucy. It is
demoralizing that she won't contact me but I won't stop trying
though. We need to talk.

I enter the lobby area where Big Rob sits
while fiddling with his phone. He glances up and greets me with a
head nod. We both await the arrival of our clients to conduct a
fitness assessment.

"Hey Dab. So you got the paternity results
yet?" inquires Rob.

"No. Not yet," I reply. My mindset wasn't on
the paternity test. Until I receive the results,

"Oh ok. Should be coming any day now so be
cool."

"I am cool. Honestly, I'm through stressing
about it. Whatever happens, happens. If he is mine, I'm prepared to
be a good father to him like you are to your kids."

"Thanks bro. A dad gotta do what dad gotta
do. In the case he is yours, you will be a better dad than me."

"I don't know about that. I will certainly
try to be the best dad I can be though."

Big Rob always gives me those types of
compliments; mainly because I attained a Master's degree while he
didn't finish college. That does not make sense to me. A
individual's character should not be based upon how many
educational degrees they possess. Character should be based on the
decisions they make, and taking accountability for those decisions;
regardless if they're good or bad. This is one of many values my
mama has instilled in me.

Big Rob perks up for his next response. "Oh
yea! I saw on Facebook when you posted a status about your
business. You said something about Fitness 4Play will be coming
soon. What's going on?" Rob asks

I inform him on how Greg's brother offered to
let me set up my business in the facility of his soon-to-be old
barbershop.

"Mane, that's nice of him. Too many folks
around here don't offer a helping hand like that," said Big
Rob.

"True. It's a blessing. It lets me know I'm
destined to become the businessman I always wanted to be. Our boss
is cool but I just can't do this anymore. Working for someone else
just isn't me."

"I feel you. Well that won't be the case soon
enough. All I ask for is to put me on once you get things rolling,"
Big Rob reply, grinning.

"No doubt Big Rob. I may hire you as security
too just in case somebody wants to come in there and act reckless,"
I joke.

"You already know. I'm down for the Deebo
role as well bro," he said, flexing his enormous arms. We began
laughing.

"You crazy mane." My client walks through the
front entrance doors.

"Well my client is here. Time to get it
popping!"

"Aight Dab. Let me know how everything
goes."

"I will."

I cannot wait to receive those damn results
so I can move forward.

***

(Ice Cube "It Was A Good Day"
playing from my car stereo)

I wish my Mustang could transform into a
spaceship so I can fly over this horrid Memphis evening rush hour
traffic. Various cars and 18-wheelers clutter the interstate.
People constantly honk their horns as if they are the only ones on
the roadway. There is nothing like Memphis, Tennessee traffic after
5pm! Amidst all the chaos, I'm in a cheerful mood. I bop my head
back and forth to the melody of the music. Like Ice Cube expresses
through my subwoofers, today was a good day!

After the positive conversation with Big Rob,
I put my clients through intense workouts. I love to witness my
clients excel at each exercise routine I bombard them with. To
witness people overcome strenuous workout sessions to achieve a
physique they covet is motivational. I love training clients who
exhibit the same hunger I had to transform my physique. That is the
main reason I decided to become a personal trainer.