Chapter 14
The faint sound of footsteps had me jumping up out my sleep. I blinked, taking in my surroundings. I was still at Phileigh’s crib. We both must have dozed off during the movie. My arm was draped over her as she slept soundly on my chest. I almost didn’t want to wake her, but as the footsteps got louder, the situation got more urgent.
“Aye.” I nudged her gently. “Somebody’s here.”
“Huh?” She stirred. Her eyes just barely opened.
“Somebody’s here,” I repeated, silently cursing myself for doing some rookie ass shit and leaving my gun in the living room.
Professional football player or not, I always kept a Glock on me in case somebody thought I was an easy target. I’d set it on the counter when she ran off to throw up and forgot to retrieve it. I didn’t want to startle Phileigh. She didn’t look like the type that was turned on by guns and shit. She was green as hell.
“What do you mean somebody’s here?” She sat up.
“I mean somebody’s in yo’ crib… I swear, if it’s yo’ baby daddy?—”
Before I could finish my thought, Phileigh’s bedroom door burst open with a loud creak, and an older, skinner replica of Phileigh waltzed through the door.
“Oh my goodness!” Phileigh’s mom yelled. Her gaze darted between us. “Phileigh Joann Read! What is going on here?”
“Mom!”
Phileigh yelled, pulling the cover up over her body like she was naked. We were both fully clothed. We’d literally passed out fully dressed, but I understood the embarrassment, and I knew her parents assumed we were having sex.
“What are you doing busting in my home?”
“You haven’t answered any of my calls,” her mom continued, crossing her arms. “You haven’t been by the house to visit. If you would have let somebody know you were okay, I wouldn’t have to use my key.”
“I texted you, Mom.”
“So what? That could be anybody. I need to hear your voice.”
“I—Mom… I’ve been busy. That’s all.”
Phileigh was clearly flustered. I glanced around the room, trying to figure out how to deescalate the situation.
“Hi, Mrs. Read.”
I stood from the bed and made my way over to Phileigh’s mom.
“I’m Kellon, Phileigh’s friend. Nice to meet you.” I extended my hand in a friendly gesture.
“Kellon?” Her mom shook my hand. “You didn’t tell me you were dating anybody.”
“I’m n?—”
Just then, a tall, light-skinned man I assumed to be Phileigh’s dad walked in behind her mom, cutting her off. Shit, this is not how I planned on meeting her folks. They probably thought I’d spent all night blowing her back out.
“What the—Phileigh?” He looked between us. “Who this nigga?”
“Dad!” Phileigh was practically in a panic, shooting a glare at her mom. “You dragged him here too?”
Her dad took a step into the room, and a grin spread across his face.
“I told you she was fine, Bea.” He chuckled, making his way over to me. “Sorry, baby girl.”
“This is so embarrassing!”
“Hey, Mr. Read. I’m Kellon Barnes, a friend of Phileigh’s.”
I took a deep breath. I was always in the public eye. Hell, just yesterday I’d given a speech in front of thousands, but a nigga was nervous to meet Phileigh’s pops. I wanted to make a good impression on my future in-laws.
“Nice to meet you, young man. I hope we weren’t interrupting y’all time. My wife here gets—” His head cocked to the side, and he stopped talking. He recognized me.
“You’re Kellon Barnes! You play for the Warhawks. Shit! I’ll be damned.”
“Yeah,” I responded, trying to stay casual. I wasn’t a type of nigga to gloat, but if it would get me in good with her pops, I’d milk it. “You a football fan?”
“Hell yeah!” He shook my hand, cheesing hard as fuck.
“Bea, our daughter’s dating the Super Bowl MVP!” he boasted, turning to her mom.
“I’m not dating him,” Phileigh tried to clarify.
“Oh, great. You’re not dating him. What? You some kind of football groupie whore?” her mom spat.
I looked over at Phileigh. She was clearly mortified, and I was pissed. What type of mother called their daughter a whore, and what kind of father just stood there and let her do it?
“Seriously, Mom?”
“Sleeping around with someone new is no excuse to be ignoring my calls!” her mom shouted. “I’ve been worried sick!”
Before Phileigh could respond, her phone rang from somewhere on the dresser.
“Don’t worry, Mrs. Read. I’ve been keeping her a little busy. We’ve been spending a lot of time together getting to know each other. My apologies,” I said, listening to Phileigh’s conversation.
It sounded like she was late for an appointment. She stopped and glanced at the alarm clock next to her bed. The color drained from her face.
“I’m late for my nine o’clock appointment!” She hopped out of the bed, rushing around the room. “Mom, Dad, I would love to stay and discuss my dating life, but you have to go. I’m running late for work.”
She shoved her parents out the door.
“I just want to know how did you two meet?” Mr. Read questioned. His eyes were still bouncing between me and Phileigh.
“I’ll be at the house soon, okay? Just… let me handle this.” Phileigh was leading them to the door at this point. Her mom stared at her. She didn’t want to leave.
“Okay, honey, but…” her mom said hesitantly. “But if I don’t hear from you in the next twenty-four hours, I will be back.”
Phileigh barely let her mom finish before she shut her front door on them.
“Not how I wanted to meet your parents, but I’ll take it.”
I shrugged, and she cut her eyes at me before sprinting to the bathroom. I could hear the shower water start a few minutes later. Leaving her to get ready, I wandered into the kitchen, knowing she hadn’t eaten much the night before. I knew her ass didn’t think she was about to run out of here without feeding the baby. She needed fuel before standing on her feet and chopping niggas’ hair up all day.
Opening my phone, I quickly Googled morning sickness friendly breakfast ideas and was met with a plethora of options. Going to Phileigh’s fridge, I compared the options to what she had. Keeping it simple, I settled for toast with scrambled eggs. It wasn’t gourmet, but it was nutritious and easy to whip up because my ass wasn’t the best cook.
I moved in and out of the kitchen, toasting bread and scrambling eggs, hoping Phileigh could keep this down and wouldn’t get sick. If this didn’t work, I would be out of ideas and would have to hit my mom for some advice.
After about twenty minutes, I smelled her floral scented body wash behind me just as I set her plate on the counter.
“You’re still here?” she asked, moving quickly around the living room.
I stared at her. This woman was so damn beautiful. She wasn’t even doing much. She was dressed simply in a pair of leggings and a shirt, and she had me wanting to step forward and wrap her in my arms.
“I had to make sure you and Baby Phileigh ate,” I replied, motioning to the breakfast on the table.
“Thank you, Kellon. That was so sweet, but I gotta get going. My client has been waiting for thirty minutes now.”
“Sit.” It was an order, but it was gentle. I wanted her to know I wasn’t about to argue with her ass. “You need to eat.”
Phileigh hesitated, looking into my eyes to see how serious I was before plopping her ass down on the stool. I placed a plate in front of her. “Google said eggs and toast wouldn’t make you nauseous.”
“I hope not.” She stared at the plate, picking up her fork. “It smells good.”
She dug in. I stared at her intently, waiting to see if she was going to gag. After the first bite went down smoothly, I smiled.
“Shout out Google.” I clapped, causing her to laugh. “Now I don’t have to start this friendship being a bad friend who let you and the baby go hungry.”
She shot me a playful glare as she munched on her toast. “You could never be a bad friend—you’re too thoughtful.”
“I try,” I replied with a wink, watching her devour the meal.
“With the morning sickness, I haven’t eaten in days. Thank you for cooking and making me slow down.”
“No problem. You and the baby’s health is my top priority.”
“Is it?”
“Yeah.”
“At least we’re on somebody’s priority list,” she stated.
“This may be a little nosy, but it doesn’t seem like your pregnancy is public knowledge. I got the vibe that your parents don’t know about the baby.”
“They don’t. I haven’t told them yet.”
“Why not?”
“My relationship with my parents is weird. My mom is too judgmental, and my dad is too nonchalant.” She shrugged.
“I get it. When you think you gonna tell them? I can be there if you want.”
“Absolutely not. This is not your responsibility.” She waved her hand in the air. “I’ll probably tell them when I get out of the miscarriage zone. So, in a few more weeks.”
I leaned in, propping my elbows up on the counter. “Listen, they’re your family. If anyone should be there for you right now, it’s them. You never know. They may be excited to be grandparents.”
“I know, I know.” She sighed. “Is it lame to be a twenty-eight-year-old woman scared to tell your parents you’re pregnant?”
“Scared is alright... Hell, you’re talking to someone whose mother goes everywhere he goes.”
“Not going to lie, I’m kind of surprised you’re here alone. How did you swing that?”
“Moms ain’t really fucking with me right now.”
“Wait. What happened?”
“We exchanged a few words. I got some shit off my chest, and she ain’t like it.”
“Parents don’t usually do good with hearing our sides of the story. Have you tried reaching out?”
“Yeah. She’s reduced me to business only.”
“Maybe she needs time to process the things you said,” she suggested and nodded slowly, contemplating my words. I knew my mom, though. She was waiting on me to apologize and that wasn’t happening. I meant the shit I’d said.
“Nah, Charlie Barnes waiting on an apology, and I’m not being the bigger person this time. I’m always the one making shit right. It’s her turn.”
“Sometimes always being the bigger person is worth it, though.” Her voice was gentle, and those big, beautiful eyes were staring up at me with concern. “It doesn’t matter who initiates the communication as long as it helps mend things in the long run.”
I stared at her for a moment, considering what she’d just said.
“You make a good point. I guess we both need to schedule that conversation with our moms, huh?”
“I guess so.” She chuckled before dropping her head. “What are you going to get into? You can crash here if you want.”
I shook my head. The offer was tempting as fuck. After the long week I’d had, I needed to rest, but being here without her didn’t feel right.
“Nah, I appreciate it, but I think I’ll head out when you do. I don’t feel like lying up in your spot while you’re at work.”
“That’s insane, Kellon. I’m sure you’re tired.”
“I’ll get some rest in a minute. Don’t worry about me,” I told her as she finished up. I took her plate and loaded the dishes in the dishwasher while she gathered her last-minute things.
“Okay. I’m ready,” she said, tossing her hair back. “Let’s go. My clients are waiting!”
I walked her to her car, stealing a moment to lean against the door and lock my gaze on her.
“I’ma pick you up for lunch. That cool?”
“How do you know where I work?”
“The same way I know where you stay.”
“Stalker,” she said with a smile.
“I’m not the nigga to run from, baby,” I said before she let up her windows and drove away. I hopped into the back of the SUV.
“I’m guessing it went good.”
“Yep.” I nodded.
“Where to?”
“Chanel.”
“Oh, yeah. You a simping ass nigga.”
“Just drive,” I told him as he took off down the street.