Chapter 3
Carson pulled into a parking spot at a dimly lit warehouse all smiles. The game had been great. We’d shared a suite with a few of his colleagues and their wives. I didn’t know much about football, but I enjoyed the atmosphere. It was a great time, one of the most unique first dates I’d ever been on. It had gone so well that he asked if I wanted to join him for the official team after party. Despite the little life growing inside of me, I agreed. I wasn’t ready to go home. Going home meant facing my reality, and I wanted to avoid that for as long as possible. Besides, the Warhawks had won the Super Bowl, and everyone was pumped. Who knew the next time an opportunity like this would come along?
“I’ll get your door,” Carson said as he exited his vehicle and rounded the car to let me out. He was a little standoffish during the game but a gentleman.
“Thank you.”
I took hold of his hand and walked toward the entrance of the building. I immediately noticed how quiet it seemed. Nobody was gathered out front. The only sign of an event here was the crowded parking lot and security posted in front of the entrance.
“I’m glad you could accompany me tonight, Phileigh,” Carson said as we approached the door. “My boys were ragging on me about not having a date. You saved my ass.”
“Thanks for extending the invite.”
Knowing he invited me because he needed a date made me feel better about my motives for coming. At least we were using each other.
“Name?” one of the bouncers asked as we approached the entrance. Carson nodded at the bouncers before flashing his ID.
“Carson Thomson plus one.”
The bouncers scanned the list in front of them before removing the rope and escorting us inside. We walked along a dimly lit hallway before arriving at a large black door.
“Have you been to one of these before?” I questioned.
My heart was in my stomach. Attending the Super Bowl was one thing but attending the afterparty was another. The players would be here, maybe even some celebrities. This was a huge deal for a little, small-time barber like me.
“Yeah. We’re lucky this one is a celebration. The losing ones aren’t very enjoyable,” he replied, pushing the door open and ushering me inside.
My eyeballs grew in size when we stepped into the building. A sea of lime green, blue, and white flooded my eyes. Beautifully decorated, oversized banners hung from the chandeliered ceilings. My eyes roamed the crowd. Everyone was buzzing with excitement and joy. Laughter erupted from every direction as I sauntered behind Carson.
“This is nice,” I whispered as we walked through the crowd.
Carson dapped up a few people he knew along the way, promising to meet up with them later before we settled into a small booth. Carson sat on one side, and I sat on the other.
“Our Super Bowl champions will be making an appearance in thirty minutes!” the DJ announced, making the crowd erupt in screams and cheers.
I don’t know why a rush of adrenaline shot through me. I didn’t watch football. If it wasn’t for the jersey I had on, I couldn’t name one player from the Warhawks. Still, I was excited to see the team. Tonight was all about enjoying the experience.
“I’ll get us some drinks. What do you want?” Carson asked as he stood from the booth.
“Um... just a water for now, please,” I said.
Carson looked at me funny before nodding and walking off toward the bar. I quickly placed my phone on the table and shot Lo a text.
Me:
At the official team after party.
Lo:
How is he? Is he cool?
Me:
He’s okay. I’m having fun.
Lo:
Did you see your bitch ass baby daddy.
Me:
No, thank God!
He blocked my number
Lo:
Hollywood Tea Room!
I rolled my eyes at Lo’s response as Carson returned with our drinks.
“So, you cut hair?” Carson asked as he took his seat.
We hadn’t gotten to talk much during the game. He’d mostly hung out with his friends while I hung out with the wives.
“Yes. I’m a licensed barber,” I replied with a smile.
“You own a barbershop?” he asked with his eyebrows raised.
“No. My best friend owns the beauty salon. She braids, and I cut hair.” I was proud of my career. There was a time when I had no clue what I wanted to do, but the moment I picked up the clippers, I knew that was my path.
“Oh,” he said dryly. His tone was giving unimpressed. “You got any celebrity clients?”
“I have a few athletes and rappers, but most of my clients are regular people.”
“And you make a good living off of that? Aren’t haircuts like twenty dollars?”
“Excuse you?—”
“Carson Thomas!” A tall man in a team jacket approached our table, stopping me from leaving. I dare him try to comment on my career path and count my pockets.
“Anthony Day!” Carson yelled back, standing to greet the man.
“Do you have a minute?” he asked. Carson looked back at me and then back at his friend.
“Do you mind, Phileigh?”
I stared at him. I was still pissed at his statement. It was probably best that he got out of my face.
“Go ahead.” I waved him off. “I have to go the bathroom anyway.”
I stood from the table.
“Okay, I’ll be back in a minute,” Carson said before walking off with the gentleman.
I watched them until they disappeared into the back of the building and then headed to search for the restrooms. I made my way through the crowd as game highlights were broadcasted on every TV screen. The crowd was erupting in screams and cheers. I could tell the party was about to turn up. As exciting as this was after Carson’s comment, I was ready to go home. There was no need to continue this date. I wasn’t about to let anyone downplay the career path that had changed my life.
Finally finding the restrooms in the back of the building, I walked inside and made a beeline for an empty stall. This baby was already on my bladder. I could barely go a whole hour without peeing. Hiking up my dress, I wiggled my panties down my thighs and relieved my bladder before fixing my clothes and exiting the stall. How was I going to get through nine months of this? I made my way to the sink to wash my hands and check my appearance. I decided to take a ride share home if Carson wasn’t ready to go. Drying my hands, I walked out of the bathroom. The party must have been really revving up because the noise had gone from a three to ten.
I peeked through the open double doors. There was no sign of Carson yet, and I wasn’t in a hurry to go back into the crowd. Looking around for a quiet place to wait, I noticed an empty staircase. This would have to do. Quickly, I ducked off and sat on the bottom of the stairs. I wanted to text Lo, but I’d bothered her enough today. Instead, I pulled up my calendar app and tried to pinpoint a possible due date for the baby growing inside of me. It had been over a month since I’d last slept with Reggie, but my period had been missing for months. I was just in denial of the truth. I sighed as the weight of being pregnant began to sink in. Sometime before the end of the year, I would be a mom. That was crazy. I stared at the calendar for I didn’t know how long, deep in thought of my and my baby’s future.
Suddenly, a tall, dark figure sat on the stairs next to me, pulling my attention from my phone. I didn’t even hear anyone walking down the stairs.
“Uh, excuse you,” I said, turning my head to stare at the stranger.
He didn’t say anything. He just made himself comfortable on the stairs next to me. His eyes stared at me with an intense gaze and presence that rendered me speechless. Out of the corner of my eye, I gazed over him. He was probably the most beautiful man I’d seen.
He was the definition of “low-cut Caesars with deep waves.” His dark skin complemented his tight jawline and chiseled features. The neck tattoos peeking through his shirt gave him the right amount of roughness. I peeped that his championship Warhawks t-shirt was slightly different from everyone else’s I’d seen tonight. He must have been a super fan or something.
“May I help you?” I finally managed to speak.
His eyes narrowed slightly, and the sexiest smirk coated his face. I didn’t know whether to be attracted to this man or annoyed. Why was he sitting here? It was weird.
“You actually can,” he replied, and his deep, raspy voice had me ready to jump out of my skin. “I think we can help each other.”
“Um… Help each other ?” I asked with confusion plastered on my face. “I’m not here alone... my?—”
I glanced around, preparing to get up and leave. So much for getting a little quiet time.
“I know a fellow introvert whose social battery is running out when I see one,” he said, easing the tension a little and making me chuckle. My social battery was definitely running out.
“All the yelling was getting to me,” I replied, taking a deep breath and relaxing. He seemed cool enough that I didn’t need to take off running.
“Not a fan of two hundred Warhawks fans yelling for two hours, huh?” He flashed his pretty smile.
“Not at all.”
“It’s a gift and curse, but I’ve learned to tune it out.”
I looked between the floor and this friendly stranger. I didn’t know if I should look at him or look away. I didn’t want to come off as weird.
“You go to a lot of Warhawks games?” I asked.
“You can say that,” he replied. “I’m guessing you don’t.”
I shook my head.
“Football isn’t my thing. I’m here on a date.” I threw that last part out there just in case he tried to be more than friendly with me.
“A date, huh? And he let your beautiful ass slip away to a staircase alone?”
I didn’t respond. I just shrugged my shoulders. I wasn’t the type of girl to get aroused by someone calling me beautiful. I knew that already.
“How about we keep an eye on each other? You know? Two introverts finding safety in numbers. We can stage an emergency exit if either of us looks too uncomfortable.”
I chuckled again, turning my head to stare at the fine, strange man in disbelief.
“Look out for each other?” I needed clarification on exactly what he meant.
“Yeah. We introverts need to stick together. It’s a bunch of crazies out there.”
“It is.” I nodded, enjoying our playful banter.
“So, if we’re looking out for each other, I’m gonna need to know your name.” He slid it in there so smoothly I couldn’t help but display all thirty-two of my teeth.
“I’m Phileigh.”
“Phileigh? I like that.” My name rolled off his tongue like silk. “Important question. Did your mom name you after the sandwich or the city?”
“What?” I chuckled. Whenever I told anyone my name, they would say the city, but nobody said anything about the sandwich.
“Are you named after the city or the sandwich?” he repeated.
“Um, I’d like to think my mother didn’t name me after a meal at O’Charley’s,” I replied, and we laughed. “And you are?”
He stared at me with a confused and amused expression on his face. Was I supposed to know who he was?
“I’m Kell,” he said, extending his massive hand.
“Nice to meet you, Kell.”
I put my hand in his, and he softly shook it as we stared at each other. Something moved between us that I couldn’t pinpoint. Just then, the DJ’s voice pierced through the noise.
“Alright, y’all ready to see y’all champions!”
“That’s my cue... I’ll catch you later, Phileigh.”
Kell stood on the staircase, making me take in his height. Before I could respond, a ton of loud footsteps echoed on the stairs, and Kell was ushered into the hall with a wave of excited Warhawk players. I stood instinctively, watching as they all headed into the hall. I couldn’t stop my mouth from opening as I realized who I’d just been talking to. You just had a conversation with Kellon Barnes.
“I just had a conversation with the Kellon Barnes,” I whispered, slowly following them inside the main party room.
I watched as he confidently took his place on stage. A sea of flashing cameras snapped in his face as he grabbed the trophy. This was crazy. Kellon Barnes was the star quarterback for the Warhawks. Starstruck was an understatement. I couldn’t take my eyes off him as I made my way back to the booth Carson and I had occupied. Kellon Barnes was fine, and even with everyone in this building, he locked eyes with me.
I finally returned to the booth, only to see that it had been occupied by someone else. There was no sign of Carson. Pulling out my phone, I texted him before finally deciding to search the room for him. I must have wandered the venue thirty minutes with no sign of Carson or the gentleman he’d walked away with. I guess that meant I was going to be taking an Uber home. Pulling out my phone, I pulled up the ride share app just as I felt a tap on my shoulder. Thinking it was Carson, I turned around. It wasn’t Carson but a lady in a security badge.
“Excuse me, miss. I was sent to tell you your ride awaits you outside,” she said.
I rolled my eyes. I was irritated that Carson hadn’t summoned me himself.
“He could have come inside to get me.”
“If you’ll follow me, miss.”
Reluctantly, I followed the woman through the venue, out into a hallway, and through a series of doors leading to the parking lot.
“Just this way.” She led me to a sleek black car. My eyes immediately bulged. This wasn’t right. Carson had driven us here in a red Mustang.
“This isn’t his car.” I halted my feet just as the back door of the car flew open, and a familiar figure came into view.
“Kellon Barnes?” My jaw dropped in shock.
“Oh, so you do know who a nigga is,” he said. “Come on. Get in.”
“What?” I was still taken aback. What was going on?
“We made a promise that we would look out for each other, remember? You need a ride home, so here I am.” Kellon grinned.
“But… but... that was just small talk. I didn’t think you meant it!”
“Get in the car, Phileigh. We have more to talk about.” Confidence dripped from his words as he held his hand out for me to join him in the back seat.
My heart was racing. Kellon Barnes was offering to take me home. This was crazy. I should have declined, called a ride share, or continued looking for my date, but something inside me told me to get in the car.
“My date…”
“He left a while ago with his boyfriend.” Kellon cut me off.
My eyebrows narrowed because I knew Carson hadn’t left me alone, and what did he mean by boyfriend?
“Boyfriend?”
“Yeah, that nigga Carson on the DL. Everybody know… That nigga still in denial though.”
My mouth dropped open. My mother had set me up with a down low man, who had left me at a party alone. I couldn’t wait to call and go off on her when I got home.
“It’s just a fully secured ride home,” Kellon said, shaking me from my thoughts.
I narrowed my eyes at him, and he nodded to the big, beige, black man who had just gotten into the front seat of the SUV. I shook my head. Star quarterback or not, I didn’t know this man.
“Um, no thank you. I’ll call an Uber.”
I attempted to back away, but Kellon caught my hand. His touch wasn’t creepy but soft, gentle, and protective.
“I wouldn’t be able to live with myself not knowing if you got home safely.” He was staring at me with nothing but sincerity in his eyes. “Let me give you a ride home. You’re safe with me.”
I looked between him and the building. I didn’t even know if I could get back in without Carson. I glanced down at my phone. I could at least let Lo know I was getting in the car with a stranger. My black screen and red battery icon told me my phone had died. I stared back up at Kellon. He was my only way home right now. Saying a little prayer that I didn’t end up in a ditch somewhere, I approached the SUV.
“It’s just a ride home,” I repeated to myself as I climbed inside.