Chapter 4
She was beautiful. In the least subtle, slap you in the face kind of way. From the moment I saw her sitting on the staircase alone, I was drawn to her. There was something about shawty that gave fish out of water, and I was intrigued. I was so intrigued that I had to say something to her. I was so intrigued that I had Doug, my security guard, figure out who she was and who she was with while I watched her from the stage. I was celebrating the most significant moment of my life, and all I could think about was this strange woman who, despite wearing my jersey, didn’t know who the hell I was.
Call it taboo but finding a beautiful woman who wasn’t trying to use me for some reason or another was rare. She didn’t even want to let me give her a ride home. Most women would let me take them to my house without a second thought, but shawty was sitting a mile away from me, twiddling her thumbs like she was scared. It was cute and made me want to get to know her.
“So, Phileigh… You work for the team?”
I knew the answer. Doug had confirmed for me that she had no association with the Warhawks already, but she was too quiet, and I wanted to hear that soft ass voice again.
“No, no. I don’t know anything about football.” She shook her head and then immediately went back to twiddling her fingers.
“Really? What do you do?” I asked. I was curious because I wanted to know everything there was to know about her.
“I’m a um…celebrity barber,” she replied, making me stare at her even more. A barber? That was interesting.
“You cut hair? I would have never guessed that.”
She didn’t look like any barber I’d ever seen. I was sure niggas booked with her just to get a look at her. She sure had me wanting to see when I could sit in her chair.
“Yeah. It’s not fancy, but it pays the bills, and I enjoy it,” she said.
I didn’t like the way she tried to play it down. Hell, cutting hair was cool. I damn sure couldn’t do it.
“That’s dope. You gotta be the only female barber in Bristol City. I may have to try you out. You got socials?”
She stared at me momentarily like she didn’t know if I was serious before finally responding.
“Um…yeah. I got socials. I would show you, but my phone is dead.”
“What is it? I had the hardest time finding a barber in BC.”
I pulled out my phone and swiped past all the thousand messages I had to open my Picsgram app. The congratulations weren’t important right now. Making sure I could track down this woman after she was no longer in my presence was.
“It’s um… Phileighthebarber, ” she replied, her voice shaky.
“I like that.”
I handed her my phone so she could type in her username. When she handed it back, a picture of her beautiful ass holding a set of clippers was on my screen. She’d definitely downplayed herself. She had over 300,000 followers. We even had a few mutuals. I scrolled the page, checking out her work a little. A familiar face caught my attention.
“Oh shit. You cut Reggie’s hair!” I blurted out.
“Umm…yeah. I work with him a lot. You know him?”
“Yeah, we played college ball together. We play each other maybe twice a year now. His hair stays fresh, though. Now I know it was all you.”
I smiled at her, ensuring she knew the compliment was for her. She smiled shyly and then looked back on the window. She was cute in how she kept giving me a little glimpse and then looking away from me. I dug the shy shit. It was a breath of fresh air compared to the usual bold groupies that flocked toward me.
“You cut anybody on the Warhawks?” I asked.
“No. Not yet.”
“Good. I can be the first.”
She turned to look at me. Her eyes narrowed as if she was analyzing a nigga. She didn’t say anything, but I could tell a ton of thoughts were running through her mind. A ton of thoughts were running through my mind too.
“So, Carson Thomas…Is he one of your clients?”
Doug had informed me that she was his plus one tonight. I didn’t know much about Carson other than he managed a few of my teammates, was a little sweet, and left Phileigh at a party he brought her to. That last one would have me rolling up on him the next time I saw him.
“No, not a client. A blind date. Shout out to my mom for choosing such a great man… He’s gay, and he left me stranded at a party.” She chuckled sarcastically.
“You were never stranded, gorgeous, but your mom’s taste in men is questionable.”
“Real questionable.” She erupted in laughter that had me smiling from ear to ear.
“Moms know best, right?”
“Wrong. My mom just has it in her head that all my problems will be solved when I find a husband. It’s so irritating.”
I stared at her. Hearing her voice her frustrations over her mom made me feel comfortable sharing mine.
“Tell me about it, shawty. My mom thinks all my problems will be solved if I keep working. She thinks the more successful I am, the fewer my problems.”
Phileigh put those big, beautiful eyes on me, and I could feel her energy penetrating my soul, giving me a glimpse of what peace was, and I needed more of it.
“I’m not going to lie. I didn’t think rich people had problems,” she said.
“We all got problems… Money can’t fix everything…” My words trailed off as I looked out the window. Thoughts of my brother played in my head.
“No, no, not tonight!” Phileigh shouted, grabbing my hand. “We are not dwelling on our problems tonight. You’re a Super Bowl MVP. You deserve to bask in that!”
The smile radiating off her face was electric.
“I did do that shit, huh?”
“And did!”
“I thought you didn’t know who a nigga was.”
“Oh, I know who Kellon Barnes is by name. I had no idea you looked like this.”
“Like what you see?”
Her eyes bounced from me to the floor as her cheeks turned a bright shade of red.
“So, what does one do after winning the Super Bowl?” she asked.
“Really?”
“What?”
“I’m going to Disney World, of course,” I said sarcastically, mimicking the commercial we shot earlier today.
“No way! That’s my favorite Super Bowl commercial. You guys really do that?” she asked, disbelief coloring her tone.
“Yeah. It’s tradition and a huge contract between the NFL and Disney,” I replied.
“Wow! It’s always been a dream of mine to go there. My parents could never afford it growing up.”
I understood that. My first time going wasn’t until my brother got drafted into the NFL when I was sixteen. I stared at Phileigh, and something inside me sparked.
“Aye, Doug. Have him nix the stop and head toward the airport,” I instructed. I could feel Phileigh burning a hole in the side of my face.
“Got it, boss,” Doug replied, and the car made a sharp U-turn.
I turned to Phileigh. She had anger and confusion plastered on her face.
“What do you mean nix my house?” Phileigh’s eyes widened. “Do I need to call the police?”
“Chill. You’re coming with me to Disney.”
It only seemed right. I was going on a free brand trip there, and she’d never been.
“You’re joking, right?” she mumbled. “For one, you can’t just tell me I’m going with you. You have to ask. For two, you’re a stranger.”
Her neck moved from side to side, showing me her spicy side. I liked a woman who was sweet and shy but demanded respect.
“Stop the car!” I called out, making the driver hit the brakes in the middle of the street. Phileigh gasped as she grabbed her chest.
“Would you like to come to Disney World with me?”
I did what I should have done in the first place and asked. Her eyes widened, and she stared at me for a minute blankly. I couldn’t even tell if she was considering the offer.
“You know I’m fat, right?” she blurted, making me laugh as if I hadn’t been staring at her beautiful curves since the moment I first laid eyes on her.
I wouldn’t play stupid, though. I knew how society painted the picture. Wealthy, successful, athletic guys like me aren’t supposed to be attracted to bigger women. I didn’t discriminate, though. A beautiful woman of any shape or size was just that—a beautiful woman.
“I know you’re beautiful, and you’ve never been to Disney.” I smirked. Hopefully, she got the message that I didn’t care about her weight.
“This is crazy! You don’t know me. You are you, and I’m just a regular?—”
“No strings attached.” I cut her off. “Just a fellow introvert looking out for another. We spend the day in Disney, and I’ll get you a flight back to Bristol City the next morning.”
“But I don’t have any clothes and work in the morning.”
I waved off her concerns with a grin forming on my face. “I’ll get you new clothes when we land in Florida. And I’ll pay you five thousand dollars to cut a nigga hair.”
“Five thousand for a cut is crazy.”
“Ten thousand then.” I upped the ante. Ten thousand for a haircut was excessive, but I wasn’t above bribery. I wanted her company.
“I don’t know… I… I…”
“It’s just one day, Phileigh. A couple of rides for you, little press for me, ten thousand in your pocket.”
She dropped her head for a brief second. When her eyes returned to mine, she was smiling.
“It’s just one day,” she whispered. “And you’re going to pay me ten thousand dollars?”
“One day, ten thousand,” I confirmed, smiling back at her.
“Okay. I guess.”
“Nah, beautiful. No , I guess. I need you to be 100 percent sure.”
“I’ll go.”
“Perfect. Doug!” I called the driver. “Proceed.”
“To… umm… where, boss?” Doug questioned.
“The airport. We gotta a flight to the most magical place on earth to catch.”
My eyes never left Phileigh. I was drawn to her. Her laughter and smile made me want to keep her in my presence.
“Let’s go to Disney World!” She giggled.
“Let’s go!”
“Kellon Jamal Barnes!” My mom called out as I helped Phileigh settle into one of the plush leather seats on the private jet.
I knew what she wanted before I even turned around. I could already see the scowl plastered on her face.
“Who’s this?” She approached, making me turn to face her. “Who is this girl, Kellon?”
She pointed her finger at Phileigh while placing the other hand on her hip, trying to assert dominance. My mom didn’t play about random women coming around. She always ensured they knew she didn’t play about her son. Mom was terrified of me getting involved with the wrong woman and ending up in some mess. As far as she was concerned, all women were gold diggers and after me for my money and status. She was usually right, but this time was different. Phileigh wasn’t on any of that.
“Phileigh, my mother, Charlie Barnes. Mom, this is Phileigh.”
“Mother and agent,” my mom shot over my shoulder.
“I’ll be right back.”
I glanced between my mother and Phileigh. I could see the discomfort on Phileigh’s face as she politely smiled and waved.
“Ma, chill.” I took a deep breath, pulling her down the aisle and to the back of the plane. “Her name is Phileigh. She’s a barber, and she is coming with me.”
I lowered my voice, not wanting Phileigh to hear our conversation. She seemed like the type who would take off if my mother did too much.
“A barber? How old is that girl? You just got your hair cut before the game. So, I’m confused.” She crossed her arms. “You know how I feel about you bringing a stranger around, especially right now. That girl could be anyone waiting to run and tell Hollywood Tea Room all of our business?—”
“She’s twenty-six, a year younger than me, and she’s good people, Ma.” I respected her opinion, but I wasn’t about to go back and forth with her about this. Phileigh was coming no matter what she had to say. “I promise you I got this under control.”
“Kellon, I’m just trying to look out for you, baby.” She sighed, and her eyes darted in Phileigh’s direction. “You know how these women are.”
“I know, Mom. Phileigh not like that, though. She’s never been to Disney. I need a traveling barber. It’s a fair exchange.”
My mom stared at me, giving me those eyes that always made me tell the truth.
“Can you please make sure she has a private room on our floor with a fireworks view in case she wants to watch from there?” I pouted, giving my mom the puppy dog face I’d used since I was three. She was never able to resist it.
“Okay, fine.” She finally caved. “But I’m doing a background check on her.”
“It wouldn’t be right if you didn’t.”
I honestly didn’t expect anything less. I was going to have Doug run one anyway. As chill as Phileigh seemed, my mama had taught me to be skeptical of everyone I allowed in my space. I was going to let Mom have this one, though.
“Mr. Barnes, the plane is about to take off. I need you all to take a seat,” the stewardess said as she walked past us.
“Come, let’s go over your itinerary.” Mom patted me on the arm as she made her way to her seat.
I followed behind her, taking a seat next to Phileigh. I couldn’t help but notice her slight fidgeting. She was nervous.
“They’ve granted you early entrance to the park for riding rides. Then we’ll meet with the media before heading to Magic Kingdom for the parade. Make sure to look over the schedule. It’s packed.”
Ma handed me a sheet of paper that held tomorrow’s itinerary. I looked it over, taking notes as I sat in the seat next to Phileigh. She was quiet. Her eyes darted around the jet before landing on me.
“Your mom doesn’t like random women, huh?”
“Naw,” I said gently. “You’re good, though. You’re not random.”
Phileigh looked at me. Her legs bounced.
“Nervous?” I questioned.
“I can’t believe I’m doing this. I’m on a private jet with Kellon Barnes. Am I dreaming? Even worse… Am I stupid?”
I couldn’t help but smile at her innocence as I reached over and pinched her beautiful thick ass thighs.
“Ouch!” she yelped. “Did you just pinch me?”
“I did. You’re not dreaming,” I said, making her giggle. “On some real shit, don’t think about any of that. Just think about the magic of it all… all the rides, food, and fun we will have.”
“You make it sound like a fairytale.”
I chuckled. “It is! Call me Prince Charming.”
Phileigh didn’t say anything. She just stared at me with that beautiful ass smile. The wheels in my head were already turning on how I could make sure this woman never left my sight.