Unexpected Pass

by A. Blossom

At first, I thought maybe he was busy. His team had made it to the playoffs. Then All-Star weekend had just passed, and he had played in the Pro Bowl, but when my best friend Lolo sent me his very romantic, public proposal to his long-term girlfriend I didn’t know he had, I concluded he was ignoring me.

not him having a whole girlfriend while messing with you 😵‍💫

The universe always seemed to give me the wrong men just like it’d given me the wrong birth father. Whenever I thought something was sweet, it turned out to be trash. Case in point—my messy situation with Reggie.

don’t we know it—the cesspool of men these days aren’t marriage material anyway so you’re not missing nothing…except kellon but we’ll get there!

Besides, this Carson guy seemed like a good guy, and he was taking me to the Super Bowl. When would I ever get another opportunity to attend the Super Bowl?

tickets to the super bowl as a first date? okayyyy

It’s not like I can go to my mom and tell her I can’t go because I’m pregnant by an engaged man who’s ghosting me.”

well damn when you say it like that it sounds real bad 😭

Lo had always been the friend who told me shit like it was. She didn’t sugar coat for anybody, not even my mom. In a world where I often felt alone and not good enough, Lo was the only person who made me feel like I was perfect.

we need more genuine friends like lola 🤏🏽🤏🏽🤏🏽

“You’re better than me, Phileigh. Because I would have his ass plastered all over Hollywood Tea Room! Getting engaged, and you got me pregnant!” Lola rolled her eyes and snapped her fingers in her usual dramatic fashion.

KSDHSKSJDJ NAH BECAUSE WHAT YOU DOING AS AN ENGAGED MAN SLEEPING WITH SOMEONE ELSE?!

I was just an up-and-coming local barber before my high school classmate turned professional athlete, Reggie, started coming to get his hair cut by me.

high school classmate? awww shit

I was thankful I wasn’t showing because I already had a little belly. I studied myself. I looked pretty. My freshly twisted wavy locs and full-face glam made me look like I’d stepped off a magazine cover. I was a tomboy in the way I dressed, but I stayed with my hair done and makeup on.

phileigh looking GOOD

Thinking it was Lolo saying something crazy, I glanced at it and froze as I read the message. The number you texted is no longer in service.

UH UH! he better step the fuck up! it’s not her fault you stepped out on your chick

A wave of reality hit me. Reggie was ghosting me on purpose. He wasn’t even man enough to have a conversation with me. I felt instant disgust form in my stomach. How had I made the mistake of lying down with somebody who would do me like this?

a damn coward is what he is

Reggie had never once mentioned having a girlfriend nor were there signs of her on his socials.

SMH THEY NEVER FUCKING DO

I thought he had real feelings for me. I didn’t know he would be the type to ghost me when I needed him most.

it’s okay boo he’ll get what’s coming for him

I took him in. He was a handsome guy—brown skin with a low fade and a nice smile. The way his collared shirt was tucked into his pants made him look a little too square for my taste, and we stood at the exact same height. I was about five foot ten but still. I liked looking up at my men.

not her writing carson off of first glance 😭😭 but i understand why she wants a taller man—babygirl is a stallon!

I took a deep breath. I was twelve weeks pregnant. I should tell Carson to disappear, but going to the Super Bowl beat sitting in the house trying to track down Reggie and sliding down the wall crying. This could very well be my last date for a while. Who was going to want to date a single mother?

you’ll never know unless you try bookie

Even if this date was just a distraction from my sad reality, I would do my best to enjoy it.

phileigh is going through it honey but i just know God is gonna work in her favor

Only thirty seconds left in my first Super Bowl appearance, and it all came down to me. We were down by four, and the task was simple. Throw the game-winning touchdown.

oh wow no pressure!

I peeked up in the stands, searching for my mom. I needed a reminder of why I had to win this. I found her, and my eyes immediately locked on the angel image of my big brother Jeronee plastered on her shirt. His eyes seemed to be staring into mine. This was his moment, and I couldn’t mess this up. I couldn’t let his death be in vain.

🥹🥹🥹 they’re so proud of you babe

“Fucking Super Bowl Champions!” I was engulfed in a sea of my teammates’ laughter and cheers surrounding me. I’d just won the Super Bowl.

OKAY BIG DAWGS!

“I won, Mom! We won! I’m a Super Bowl champion!” I shouted, feeling the tears welling in my eyes as she wrapped me in her arms. I could feel the weight of all of her sacrifices dissipate. We’d worked so hard to get to this moment.

i know mama is so proud of her a baby 😭😭😭

The mention of Jeronee had me grabbing the pin I had on my chest. I missed my big brother. It had been almost ten years since that eighteen-wheeler hydroplaned into my car. It wasn’t a day that went by that I didn’t think about him or see his lifeless body lying in the passenger seat of my memories.

oh my goodness…i know that had to scar him mentally knowing that he was the last person to witness him alive and dead. them 18 wheelers always scare me!

I loved my mom, but most of the time, she was more concerned with running Kellon Barnes’s business than she was with me. I appreciated her hard work, but sometimes, I just wanted my mom.

please tell me she’s not one of those momanagers who can’t separate the son from the athlete.

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.

just because you’re pregnant doesn’t mean you have to stop enjoying your life

“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.

he seems like a great guy—his nervousness is low-key showing but knowing he brought a date because of his friends makes his intentions less alarming

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.

everybody and their mama up in there

Did you see your bitch ass baby daddy. Me: No, thank God! He blocked my number Lo: Hollywood Tea Room!

lola is on go with the tea room SKDJDKSJSGJSJ

“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—”

okay i was just complimenting you and now you wanna be disrespectful— as long as she puts her passion into what she’s doing it’s a fulfillment for her. he got a nerve shooting down at her occupation

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.

absolutely 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 it’s bad enough we don’t have many female barbers in the industry anyway so that comment he made was unwarranted

“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.

is this bae? 👀

“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.

we love a man that can read the room before we can voice it

“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?”

oh this is most definitely bae 🥹

“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.”

playful banter that’s organic >>>

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.”

HEY KELLON BABY

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.

GIRL YES!

“Kellon Barnes?” My jaw dropped in shock. “Oh, so you do know who a nigga is,” he said. “Come on. Get in.”

i meaaaan shiiiii 🏃🏽‍♀️💨💨💨

“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.”

OH HELL WHAT THE FUCK?!?!? no offense to those who are because i’m pretty sure it’s hard for them to be in certain industries hiding your sexuality to ward off rejection. that being said…MOMMA SET HER OWN DAUGHTER UP WITH A MAN ON THE DL

He was staring at me with nothing but sincerity in his eyes. “Let me give you a ride home. You’re safe with me.”

sir yes sir

She was beautiful. In the least subtle, slap you in the face kind of way.

first time meeting and he’s already drawn to her

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.

so he’s number 26 😂

“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.

thank you boo cause carson had her messed up

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.

they’re so cute already and it’s just the beginning

“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.

got me side eyeing moms already

“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.

FIRST TIME MEETING AND Y’ALL GOING TO DISNEY WORLD?!?!? energy >>>>

“You know I’m fat, right?”

bitch now why would say that? 🤣

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.

CLARKE IT 🤏🏽🤏🏽🤏🏽🤏🏽

“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.

SHIIII I WISH SOMEONE OFFERED ME TEN G’S

“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.

well damn no hey, hi, how you’re doing?

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.

see i know moms gotta be tough and protect her son but eventually he’s gonna meet someone he deems as life-partner sometime in the future…you don’t gotta hold onto the reins so tight.

“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—”

now wait a minute charlie those are some big assumptions for someone you JUST met

“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.

well that was quick 🤣😭😭 he must’ve been spoiled as a kid

“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?”

never that sweetie you’re just lucky