Chapter 17
I stood in front of the mirror. My heart raced like it was trying to escape my chest. In less than ten minutes, I would be making my first television appearance. I rechecked my reflection, smoothing down my hair and adjusting the collar on my white blouse. I’d never dreamed that something like this was possible. I was just a local barber. I never asked for celebrity clientele or media attention. It all felt so surreal.
“You better not get in that pretty head of yours.”
I heard Kellon’s voice from behind me. I didn’t know what I would have done had he not been here. He’d gotten me to the studio, given me breakfast, and been amazing, helping me navigate all this.
“Guilty.” I turned to face him, trying to calm my breathing.
“You’re going to be great. I’m sure you can cut hair in your sleep. Everybody but mine that is. My hair still out here looking straggly and shit.”
I looked up at him, and that goofy smile was on his face. He always managed to make me laugh at the right times.
“This is not about your haircut right now,” I whined, pushing his chest playfully. “What if I mess up?”
“You won’t because you’re that girl. You’re good at what you do. That audience out there will appreciate your talent, personality, and smile. Just be yourself.” He kissed my forehead sweetly, and it was the motivation I needed.
“I can do this,” I chanted.
“You can do this,” he joined in with me. “Do you need me to be a considerate friend right now?”
He ran his hands up my dress. Before I could respond, one of the show’s producers popped their head in, signaling that it was time for me to head to the stage. My stomach flipped, and I shot Kellon a panicked look.
“Breathe. You got this. I’ll be watching from here,” he encouraged, gently pushing me toward the door. I followed behind the producer. My heart pounded out of my chest.
“Stand by.” She pointed to a piece of green tape on the floor. We’d rehearsed this twice, but it didn’t do anything to calm my nerves.
“Go!” The producers signaled me to start. The bright stage lights shone in my face, and the cameras swiveled to catch my entrance. I started moving toward Brittani just as we had rehearsed.
“Welcome to our special segment on beauty and self-care!” Brittani began, her voice warm and inviting. “All week, we will have the incredible, talented barber out of Bristol City, New York here to share her expertise with us. Please welcome Phileigh the Barber!”
I walked over, trying to maintain my composure as I stood behind the on-stage salon chair. I managed a small smile.
“Thank you for having me,” I responded, hoping my voice wasn’t too shaky.
“You have quite a skill with cutting hair. What advice would you give someone looking to switch up their look?” Brittani asked.
I felt my nerves fade as I spoke about achieving the perfect do-it-yourself haircut. With every word, confidence built within me, and soon, it felt like I was just back home in Lolo’s salon talking to one of my regulars. When the segment wrapped up, I was glowing with excitement. My nerves were replaced with accomplishment. As the cameras turned off, I felt a rush of relief. I did it!
“Phileigh, you were excellent!” Brittani exclaimed, giving me a warm hug.
“Thank you so much for this opportunity. I had so much fun!” My heart was still racing.
“Thank you for accepting the invite. Will I see you tomorrow, or have we run you off?” she joked.
“You’ll definitely be seeing me tomorrow,” I said before stepping off the stage and heading toward the back.
I barely made it two steps into the dressing room before I saw Kellon grinning like he’d just won the lottery. He was holding a vibrant bouquet of roses and sunflowers and some fluffy pink flowers I couldn’t name.
“You did so good!” He stepped forward like he couldn’t get to me fast enough. “I’m so proud of you.”
As he handed me the flowers, my heart felt like it might burst. I buried my nose in them and inhaled the sweet scent. “These are gorgeous… and completely unexpected. Thank you.”
He leaned down, his lips grazing my cheek. “You deserve them. And I’m not done yet. Do you trust me?”
I blinked up at him, already warm from his closeness. “Always.”
“Good.”
He linked his fingers through mine and led me down the hallway, into the elevator, and to the rooftop. The doors slid open, and early morning New York City greeted us like a live postcard. I gasped. My eyes doubled in size.
“Kellon, this is… stunning,” I whispered.
“I thought it was only right that we celebrate. It’s not every day you and our little plus one make a talk show appearance.”
He guided me toward a cozy corner of the rooftop where a picnic blanket was spread out, surrounded by candles in glass jars. A basket sat in the center, overflowing with orange juice, fruit, and little breakfast pastries he definitely didn’t get from a grocery store. Nah, this stuff was special ordered. I wondered how he could pull off something so beautiful in such a short time.
“How did you do all of this?” I asked, sitting down beside him.
“You know I’m Kellon Barnes, right?” He shrugged like it was nothing, though I could see the proud look in his eyes. “Nah, I just wanted this day to feel special. You killed that shit, Phee.”
“I was shaking like a leaf the whole time.”
“Couldn’t tell. You looked like you belonged out there. Sexy, confident… like a boss.”
“Sexy, huh? You think I looked sexy out there?”
“Did.” He leaned in. His eyes were low and dark.
“Is that so?” I giggled.
Before I could say anything else, he leaned closer. His hand slid along the curve of my jaw.
“Yeah,” he murmured. “And now I’m sitting here trying real hard to respect your boundaries and this friendship?—”
“Don’t.”
“Don’t what, Phee?”
“Don’t hold back.”
I could barely finish my sentence before he kissed me. My hands tangled in his hoodie as he deepened the kiss, forcing my lips apart like he was hungry for my tongue. I let out a soft moan as his hand slid down my back, pulling me into his lap.
“We gotta stop kissing like this,” he admitted, brushing his mouth against my neck.
“Why?”
“’Cause I want to be inside you. I need to be inside you.” He kissed the corner of my mouth. “And I said I wouldn’t slide up in you until you saw the doctor.”
I laughed, pressing another kiss to his lips.
“I did see the doctor. Baby is fine.”
“Yeah, but I wasn’t with you.”
“So? Sex is perfectly safe during pregnancy.” I rolled my hips across his crotch, trying to savor the feel of his erection through his shorts. His hands slid to my hips, trying to stop my movements.
“Phileigh.”
“Mmm,” I moaned, leaning forward and nuzzling my head into his neck. “I need this. I need you.”
He kissed me deeper this time. One hand slid up my back, pulling on the fabric of my dress. The other tugged at the top of my blouse.
“Come here,” he commanded, lifting me in the air. “Take what you need.”
I looked down, removing his dick from his basketball shorts. I moaned from the feel of it. I could barely get my hand around the base. It was so thick. Damn . My pussy was throbbing and begging me to slide him inside.
“Wait!” he shouted as he reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone. He swiped a few times before turning it to face me.
“I don’t have any condoms on me. I wasn’t expecting us to go there… but I’m clean. You see the date?”
I stared at his phone. My eyes swept over the STD chart, and I nodded. It was taken just a few weeks ago on February first.
“I’m clean too. I don’t have my records but?—”
“I trust you. That was for you and the baby. I want you to know I’d never put you all in harm’s way.”
He didn’t have to say that because I already felt that to be true.
“I know.” I kissed his lips.
“Good,” he assured me, inserting himself inside my wet center. My pussy slowly stretched for him, and an immediate rush of pleasure shot through my body.
“Let me know if it’s too much… if I’m hurting you.”
He grabbed my hips and assisted me in sliding down his dick. Kellon was big. It felt like I was sliding down a ten-foot pole.
“Ooh!” A soft moan escaped my lips as I got comfortable. I stared into his eyes. This wasn’t my first rodeo. I’d had my fair share of sex partners, but this was different. This time felt special.
“You good? Baby good?” he questioned being his typical self, so gentle, caring, and thoughtful with me. Even in this moment, he focused more on us than his own nut.
“Perfect,” I moaned as he pushed inside of me slowly, gently, and powerfully.
His hands gripped my ass cheeks, and he assisted in bringing me up and down on his dick.
“Oh my God!”
My head fell back in pleasure as my juices coated his shaft. Every stroke felt like he was etching his way into my soul and heart. He drilled into my insides from below with precision, making me roll my hips into him harder. Having sex while pregnant with another man’s baby had to be the most trailer trash thing in the world, but as our bodies collided, I didn’t give a damn.
“Goddamn,” Kellon grunted, smacking me on the ass, making me scream out in pleasure. “You got a fucking super soaker… Shit.”
“It feels so good. So… fucking good.”
“I know.”
He grunted as my walls pulsed around his dick. My eyes rolled to the back of my head, and another moan escaped my mouth. I was on the verge of cumming already. I was sure this was the part where someone was supposed to stake their claim.
“Fuck!” I released a loud, pleasurable cry. His hand wrapped softly around my neck, forcing me to stare him in the eyes.
“That… just… a friendship shit is dead.” He sent a slow stroke into me with every word. “You hear me, Phee?”
My eyes rolled to the back of my head in response. That wasn’t a good enough answer because his grip on my neck tightened.
“Say it!”
“It’s dead! It’s dead!”
My pussy juices rained down on him as my whimpers and screams mixed with the sound of the busy city streets, reminding me that we were outside. I never thought I’d be doing something like this in a million years, but as I rode Kellon into the sunrise, I didn’t give a damn who saw us.
“I’m cumming, Kellon. I’m cumming!”
“Say that shit again!”
“I’m cumming, Kellon!”
“Cum on this dick,” he commanded, and my body trembled in response, giving me the best orgasm I’d ever had.
“Yes… Cumming!” I exploded.
“Good girl. Just like that.”
He pulled me against his chest, still grinding into me from below. I’d found a man who could actually make me orgasm.
“Shit!” A breathy growl escaped his mouth as released inside of me.
“I’m going to be everything you and baby Phileigh Cheese need.”
“I know.” I snuggled up next to him as we lay back on the blanket with our bodies pressed together and my head on his chest.
“I could stay here forever,” I murmured, tracing circles on his stomach.
He kissed the top of my head. “Then stay.”
His words held so much meaning, and I knew this was only the beginning of something I never in a million years expected to happen.
“We need to get you to the doctor,” he said, making me raise my head.
“What? I’m fine.”
“Well, we’re going to make sure.”
“Calm down. I’m sure the baby’s fine,” I said softly, reaching over to squeeze Kellon’s hand.
His leg bounced up and down, and he kept scrolling on his phone, looking up worst-case scenarios. His worrying was cute. I never had anyone besides Lolo be this concerned about me.
“If that doctor doesn’t walk in here soon, you’re gonna shake the whole room apart,” I teased, trying to lighten the mood.
“My bad,” he muttered with his eyes fixed on the floor. “I’m just nervous. What if we did something wrong? What if I hurt you or the baby?” His voice dropped. He was scared, and it broke my heart. “I couldn’t live with that, Phee.”
I scooted closer, curling my fingers into his. “You didn’t do anything that I didn’t enjoy. I’m okay. Baby Phileigh Cheese is okay.”
“You sure? You’re not worried?”
I shook my head. “No. You’re clearly worried enough for the both of us.”
He looked up at me, and a little smile appeared on his face.
“How did you hear about this place anyway?”
“One of my teammates—Cam. He and his wife Elli have twins, and she’s pregnant again. She said this doctor was a godsend, especially when she was hormonal and freaking out.”
“So you told a teammate about me?” I questioned.
“I asked a hypothetical question and told him we’d chop the shit later.” He looked up at me with a curious look on his face. “Why? Do you have a problem with me telling people about you?”
Before I could respond, the door opened. A tall, mahogany-hued woman in a white coat stepped in with a warm smile that immediately put me at ease. Her skin was the same rich brown as mine, and there was something comforting in that.
“Good afternoon. I’m Dr. Gaines. You must be Phileigh. And you…” She turned to Kellon with a knowing grin. “…are Kellon Barnes.”
“That’s us,” I said, returning her smile.
“Well, first, go Warhawks,” she said with a wink at Kellon. “Congrats on the win. And second, congrats on the baby.”
We both grinned, and I stared at Kellon when he didn’t correct her. Instead, he smiled and said thank you like a proud dad. It warmed my heart and gave me pause at the same time. He was really serious about being a part of our lives.
“So, it says you’re visiting from out of town and had a few concerns. What are they?”
I fidgeted. My cheeks heated up with embarrassment, but Kellon jumped right in.
“We had sex this morning and… I’ve been freaking out ever since. I just want to make sure I didn’t mess anything up.”
Dr. Gaines chuckled gently and wheeled her stool over. “First time parents?”
“Yeah,” we said in unison.
“Any bleeding or discomfort?”
“No. None.” I shook my head.
“Well, let me put your mind at ease. Sex during a normal pregnancy is completely fine. It won’t harm the baby. Actually helps keep hormones balanced and strengthens your emotional connection. As long as Phileigh is comfortable, you two can have as much sex as you want.”
Kellon exhaled sharply, and relief washed over his face.
“Told you,” I whispered, nudging him playfully.
“Whatever,” he mumbled. A smile crept back up.
“Let’s take a look and make sure everything’s on track,” Dr. Gaines said, rolling over the ultrasound machine as I lay back on the table and rolled my shirt up. I glanced at Kellon, who looked eager to see the baby. His eyes were glued to the ultrasound screen.
“Okay. Here we go!”
The cold jelly made me jump, but a second later, the soft static of the machine filled the room, and then a heartbeat followed strong and steady just as it was the last time I visited the doctor.
“There baby goes. Looking great. Beautiful heartbeat. Would you like to know the sex?”
My heart skipped.
“You can tell already?” Kellon asked, taking the words right out of my mouth.
“Sure can,” Dr. Gaines said, rotating the wand. “Do you two want to know, or do you have some big reveal planned?”
My eyes immediately flew to Kellon, looking to him for direction. Did I want to know? I thought I had more time before I found that out. Lolo had mentioned a gender reveal, but I didn’t want all the hassle.
“It’s your call, baby,” Kellon said, squeezing my hand. I looked over at Dr. Gaines, unsure of what to do. Knowing the sex of my baby would make this whole thing a lot more real, but I guess there was no going back.
“Yes. Let’s do it. Let’s find out,” I said quickly before I could change my mind.
“Right there… That’s the sex,” Dr. Gaines said, making me turn my head toward the screen.
“It’s a boy!” I blurted out before I could stop myself. “Oh my God!”
Kellon stared at the screen and then at me with tears and something deeper in his eyes.
“You sure?” he whispered.
“Positive,” Dr. Gaines confirmed, grinning.
“I’m having a son!” Kellon shouted, leaning down to kiss me on the lips. Hearing Kellon claim my child as his own made tears well up in my eyes. This moment was beautiful.
“Thank you, Doctor. Thank you for getting us in so quickly,” Kellon said.
“No problem. Cameron and Elli are some of my favorite patients. Phileigh, if you plan on sticking around New York, I’d love to add you both to my roster.”
The comment was simple, but it felt heavy. It reminded me that this living situation with Kellon wasn’t permanent. Eventually, I would have to go back home to Bristol City.
“I’m just here for work… for now,” I said carefully. “But… we’ll see.”
Dr. Gaines smiled knowingly before sharing some more information with us, a few pamphlets about sex during pregnancy, and information about her practice before she left us alone. I fixed my clothes, and Kellon helped me off the table and out of the exam room.
“I have to tell Lolo I’m having a son!”
I pulled out my phone to dial my bestie and immediately regretted it. My screen was lit up like the New York skyline. I had a ton of notifications and missed Picsgram calls. They were all from Natalie. Shit, I had forgotten that I’d reached out to her yesterday. My feet slowed as I opened the direct message notification.
@reporternat: Liar!
@reporternat: That’s not his baby.
@reporternat: Bitch, you’re trying to ruin our family.
@reporternat: Go find your baby daddy hoe and leave us alone.
“Shit,” I muttered, making Kellon turn to look at me.
“What’s wrong?”
I didn’t know if I should tell him, but at the same time, if he was going to be a part of my life, he needed to know what was happening, even if it was messy and partly my fault.
“I may have um… I sent Reggie’s fiancée the ultrasound picture after he showed up at the shop demanding I get an abortion. I was mad… and it was petty. Now, she’s blowing me up.”
“What’s she saying?”
I held out my phone. His eyes scanned the screen, and I looked away. I was embarrassed by my childish antics. He didn’t say anything. He didn’t offer any judgment. He just took out his phone.
“Don’t worry about her,” he said, punching something on his phone. I didn’t know what he was doing, but his facial expression went from relaxed to worried in half a second.
“Damn. Unfortunately, Nat not our only problem right now.”
“Huh?”
“We’ve been spotted.” He turned his phone screen around so I could see it. I glanced over it. It was a blog post from the Hollywood Tea Room.
@hollywoodtearoom : Attendees, look who was spotted on the streets of NYC. Super Bowl MVP Kellon Barnes. He seemed really cozy with Mystery Woman, who had flowers in her hand. What do y’all think, attendees? Is there a new couple brewing?
I stared at the photo of Kellon and me leaving Brittani’s studio yesterday morning after our date. He wrapped his arm around my shoulder as we slid into the back of the black SUV. It was definitely giving a couple.
“There’s another one.” Kellon swiped over on his phone to another picture of us, and my mouth dropped open at the image of me sitting on top of Kellon’s lap mid orgasm.
@hollywoodtearoom: Attendees, this tea is hot! Earlier, we posted that Super Bowl MVP Kellon Barnes was spotted with a mystery woman. Well, is this him and a mystery woman on what looks like a rooftop date? It seems pretty steamy. Attendees, tell me what you think they’re doing?
“Oh my God.” My hand flew to my mouth. “Has anybody recognized me?”
I wasn’t famous, but I had a small following online. If nobody had recognized me yet, it was only a matter of time before they did. Kellon tapped the post and scrolled through the comments.
“Looks like some people do,” he said.
@babigirl121: Is that @Phileighthebarber .
@Ladyrain445: BBW’s just upped the score!
@Shelashay: probably just cut his hair. She too fat to be his type.
@Gegege: I see you @Phileighthebarber
@tytybaby: Not golden boy having sex in public.
I swallowed hard as Kellon’s jaw clenched, and he pulled the phone away.
“Shit,” he muttered, grabbing my hand and leading me out the doctor’s office. “We need to get ahead of this shit before the media has a field day.”
“What do we need to do?”
“First, I gotta call my mom.” He shook his head as Monte opened the door and we climbed into the back of the SUV.