Chapter 21
The last three months had gone by in a blur. I’d moved to New York, moved in with Kellon, and started a job. It was crazy, and most people may have thought I was being delusional or moving too fast. I’d made a bunch of dumb choices in my life but deciding to be with Kellon Barnes was not one of them. Kellon made my life feel full in a way I never knew it could be.
I was six months pregnant now. I waddled more than I walked. I complained half the day about the little baby boy I was growing. He enjoyed kicking me in the side thirty times a day. Still, Kellon made me feel like the most beautiful girl in the world. He listened to all my fussing and lightened all my loads. It was becoming hard to believe that I even thought I could do this without him.
I moved through the kitchen, fixing myself a bowl of cereal. Kellon had an early morning team meeting, so the house was quiet. It was about to be me, this bowl of cereal, and my new favorite black daytime soap Beyond the Gates . I had barely kicked my slippers off to sit on the couch when the elevator dinged, letting me know someone was about to get off. My head turned to the entrance. I wasn’t expecting anyone. Kellon had only been gone thirty minutes, and nobody besides Ms. Barnes had the code to get up here this way.
I stood as my heart pounded. Me and my belly prepared to run and hide. The doors slid open, and my mouth dropped open.
“LoLo!” I screamed as my best friend made her way toward me with her arms open and a rolling suitcase beside her.
“OMG! What are you doing here?”
Before she could answer, Kellon’s voice popped in through the security system.
“Surprise!”
“Your man flew me out here… private jet and all. Said you needed some girl time.”
Lolo hugged me before pulling me back to look at my stomach. “Let me find out you’re moping around here missing your bestie.”
“She is,” Kellon added. “You ladies have fun. I’ll see you later tonight, Phileigh Cheese.”
“Thank you!” I squealed, grabbing Lolo into another hug as tears rolled down my puffy cheeks. “Wait a minute, heifer. I just talked to you last night. You didn’t say anything.” I pushed her arm.
“And ruin the surprise? I think not.” Lolo grinned before looking me up and down. “We need to get you ready.”
“For what?” I blinked, confused.
“Your man is sending us to the spa, baby. He said you needed to rest, and I agree. Massages, facials, pedicures… all that!”
I smiled, shaking my head as I waddled toward my bedroom. “Let me go throw on a sweat suit.”
“Girl, absolutely the fuck not,” Lolo said, trailing behind me. “You are not going anywhere with me looking frumpy and pregnant. If you don’t put on something cute.”
“Cute and hiding the fact that I’m six months pregnant don’t exactly mix, Lolo.”
I stood in front of the bedroom Kellon had let me turn into a closet. Lolo walked right past me and started flipping through hangers like she lived here.
“You’ve been hiding in baggy clothes far too long. We’re going to the spa. Nobody is going to see you. You can give fine and pregnant for one day for your bestie,” she pleaded, making me roll my eyes.
“That’s exactly what I’ve been trying to avoid. I don’t need to draw any attention.”
Like the hardheaded best friend she was, she handed me a tight, ribbed peach-colored dress that hugged all my curves, even the new one that was in front. It was cute and had a little stretch. It was one of the pieces I’d picked out when shopping with Kellon’s mom.
I pulled it on slowly, eyeing my reflection. I hadn’t dressed up in a minute, not since before I’d started showing. News was already swirling around about me being pregnant, and I didn’t want to come out and confirm it yet. Right now, it was just Reggie running his mouth and throwing around rumors in people’s comment sections.
“He showed up at the shop a few times last week,” Lolo said suddenly as if she was reading my mind.
“What?” I turned to look at her.
“Kellon made me promise not to tell you about any Reggie sightings, but he’s been by a lot looking for you. I told him you didn’t work there anymore, but I guess he thought I was lying.”
“I’m so sick of his ass, Lolo. He’s been a damn menace.” I rolled my eyes so hard they almost got stuck. “Him and his damn fiancée have been trolling me and Kellon online since February. We’ve hit them with restraining orders, and Kellon’s mom had the lawyers send a cease and desist letter.”
“He’s fucking obsessed with you,” Lolo muttered.
“And I don’t understand. He didn’t want this child. He told me to get an abortion. I literally don’t bother him and haven’t asked him for anything, and he’s still not satisfied.”
“He can’t stand the idea of you moving on and finding real love and happiness. He’s probably jealous that Kellon’s a bigger football star than he is,” Lolo said.
I took a breath, trying to relax. I hadn’t responded publicly, posted a bump picture, or said a word, but Reggie and Natalie wouldn’t let up.
I don’t know what I would have done if it wasn’t for Kellon keeping me calm. “Let them talk, baby,” was his motto. He was always calm when I wasn’t, and I truly didn’t know how I’d gotten so lucky to run into him.
“Forget Reggie and his hating ass fiancée. My friend is glowing, loved, and living in a New York City penthouse with her fine ass loyal, rich man. That’s the focus, baby. That’s the flex!” She snapped her fingers just as the doorbell rang. “And that is our ride.”
She turned on her heels, and I quickly grabbed my purse and waddled off behind her. I couldn’t lie… It felt good to have my bestie here. I made a mental note to make sure and thank my man later. He always knew exactly what I needed and when I needed it.
“So, let me get this shit straight,” Lolo said before sipping on her cucumber water. “This man cooks, makes your doctor’s appointments, pays for everything, flies your bestie out in private jets, and rubs your feet?”
“Mmhmm.” I nodded my head in confirmation.
We were still at the spa. Our faces were slathered in a cucumber masque, and we wore matching white robes and were having the time of our lives. I didn’t realize how bad I needed this catch up session with Lolo. We talked damn near every day, but nothing compared to us being face to face. It was always a good time.
“Okay. Let me ask you this. Is the sex hitting?”
“Hitting!” I giggled. “At first, I felt bad for having this man all up inside of me while I was pregnant by somebody else, but that thought faded after the first orgasm.”
Lolo’s mouth dropped open, and she held up the bottle of champagne like she was holding me at gunpoint.
“Alright, heifer. This is a stick up. What’s the prayer?” She clicked her mouth like she was loading a gun. “I just need to know what prayer was said, sis. That’s it. That’s all.”
We burst out laughing as I lifted my hands in surrender.
“I can’t help you, bestie. God did this one on His own.”
Lolo sighed loudly as she lowered the bottle slowly and placed it on the table.
“Seriously, though,” I said, leaning my head back. “I thank God every day for that man. I really don’t know what I did to deserve a love this pure.”
Lolo smiled. “And I love this for you, bestie. If anybody deserves it, it’s you.”
The sound of my phone buzzing pulled my attention away. I thought to ignore it, but something pulled me to open it. It was an email from Nature Shea Essentials. My breath caught in the back of my throat.
Phileigh,
We hope this message finds you well. Congratulations on all the beautiful new chapters in your life! We’ve been following your journey for quite some time now. We like your style and the influence you’ve built in the beauty space. We’d like to formally invite you to collaborate with us on a signature haircare line designed by you and backed by our innovative labs and product development experts. We believe your voice and vision are the perfect match for our company.
If you’re open to it, we’d love to schedule a call to discuss your ideas and begin mapping out this beautiful partnership. Please let us know your availability in the coming days. We’re excited to bring something incredible to life with you.
Marsha May
Senior Brand Partnerships Manager
Nature Shea Essentials
“Oh my fucking God,” I whispered. My hand covered my mouth. I was in complete shock.
“What?” Lolo sat up.
I didn’t have the words, so I just turned my phone in her direction, and her eyes lit up like a kid on Christmas.
“Phileigh, oh my God!”
“I know, right?” I stared at her. My body trembled, and tears threatened to drop from my eyes.
“This is insane. Shea Butter wants to collab with you! What the fuck?”
“I never in a million years thought something like this was possible.”
I stared at the email in disbelief. Since Kellon had confirmed our relationship, my social media following had been growing rapidly. I went from 300,000 followers to millions damn near overnight. My account was currently sitting pretty at 2.4 million followers.
“Well, you did it, friend. I’m so fucking proud of you.”
“No, we did it. I know you don’t think I’m going into this alone.”
Lolo’s head cocked to the side. “You want to include me in your business?”
“Yeah, why not? It started with you doing my hair in college. I had no clue what I wanted to do with my life until you came along. Hair has always been an us thing. I cut and you style.”
Lolo jumped up from her seat and wrapped me in a hug. I couldn’t see myself starting my own haircare line without her.
“I’m in,” she said without hesitation. “Whatever you need me to do, I’m in.”
I smiled as Baby J flipped in response. It was as if he was excited too. I looked at the email in awe before snapping a screenshot and forwarding it to Kellon.
Me:
Thank you for changing my life.