Like football, love is all about timing, but sometimes, the best things in life just may come from an unexpected pass.

Chapter 1

“The person you are calling has a voicemail box that is full. You cannot leave a message. Please try your call again later. Goodbye.”

I stared at the phone, rolling my eyes at Reggie’s stupid voicemail message for the thousandth time in the past month. 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. I placed the positive pregnancy test printout from my doctor’s office on the dresser, took a photo of it, and sent it to him. Maybe seeing the proof of my pregnancy would compel him to pick up the phone. Reggie wasn’t my boyfriend, but we’d been fooling around since he had come into the shop to get his hair cut by me six months ago. We’d made a baby together in a serious relationship, marriage or not, and needed to figure this out together.

Me:

We need to talk. Could you call me back?

I shot a text along with the picture as I got up from the bed and made my way over to the floor-length mirror in the corner of my bedroom. I stood in front of the mirror, trying to adjust the sleeves of my oversized jersey. This was the last size they had available in store on such short notice, and it was going to have to do. I had no other options. Sighing, I opened my phone to video call my best friend, Lolo. I didn’t exactly want her opinion because I already knew what she would say, but I promised to call her once I was dressed. I pressed her contact, and the phone barely rang before her round face and low eyes appeared on the screen.

“Are you ready? Let me see.” Her voice spilled through the speakers.

I propped up the phone on my dresser and stepped back so she could take me all in.

“How do I look?” I asked, giving her a twirl.

Maybe adding the twirl would make her go easy on me. It didn’t. Lo squinted at the screen before twisting up her face. I’d been best friends with Lola for five years, long enough to know she didn’t like it.

“It’s... okay.” She paused. “But are y’all going to watch the game at church or?”

“Lo!” I called as I slid my hands down the baggy blue jean pencil skirt I’d paired with the jersey.

“What? That jersey is doing nothing for your figure... and that skirt... Phileigh, be so for real.”