“I think I look cute. I’m going for chill. I’m not trying to look like I try too hard. Let the face card speak for itself.”

“Is that right? “ Lo laughed, shaking her head. “Friend, I’m going to hold your hand when I say this, but the outfit is ugly. You look like you didn’t try at all. You’re about to be around some important people. Friend, you need to step.”

I sighed, plopping down on my bed. I was only going on this blind date to please my mom. She believed finding a husband would solve all my problems. Sometimes, I couldn’t tell if she meant well or wanted me to be married and miserable like she was. Dating wasn’t my strong suit. 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.

“I’m not feeling this date, Lo. I’m pregnant.” I sighed.

“Then don’t go, Phileigh. I mean, you are with child,” Lo replied.

I was against this date when my mother presented it to me, but I didn’t want to disappoint her. 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?

“It’s not that simple. Ma set this up. If I make her look flakey, I’ll never hear the end of it. 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.”

Lo rolled her eyes. She wasn’t the number one fan of my mom or Reggie. Lo always said that Reggie was on bullshit from the beginning, but I was too dickmatized to see it. 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.

“You’re too kind, Phileigh,” Lo stated.

“I know.”

“Have you called him?”

“Yes… voicemail.”

“Text his ass then. His foul ass owes you an explanation.”

“I think I may be blocked.” I shrugged, admitting what I feared to be the truth.

“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.

“I can’t do that, Lo. That will make me look stupid, and I don’t want to risk losing my little celebrity clientele.”