“Sleeping around with someone new is no excuse to be ignoring my calls!” her mom shouted. “I’ve been worried sick!”

Before Phileigh could respond, her phone rang from somewhere on the dresser.

“Don’t worry, Mrs. Read. I’ve been keeping her a little busy. We’ve been spending a lot of time together getting to know each other. My apologies,” I said, listening to Phileigh’s conversation.

It sounded like she was late for an appointment. She stopped and glanced at the alarm clock next to her bed. The color drained from her face.

“I’m late for my nine o’clock appointment!” She hopped out of the bed, rushing around the room. “Mom, Dad, I would love to stay and discuss my dating life, but you have to go. I’m running late for work.”

She shoved her parents out the door.

“I just want to know how did you two meet?” Mr. Read questioned. His eyes were still bouncing between me and Phileigh.

“I’ll be at the house soon, okay? Just… let me handle this.” Phileigh was leading them to the door at this point. Her mom stared at her. She didn’t want to leave.

“Okay, honey, but…” her mom said hesitantly. “But if I don’t hear from you in the next twenty-four hours, I will be back.”

Phileigh barely let her mom finish before she shut her front door on them.

“Not how I wanted to meet your parents, but I’ll take it.”

I shrugged, and she cut her eyes at me before sprinting to the bathroom. I could hear the shower water start a few minutes later. Leaving her to get ready, I wandered into the kitchen, knowing she hadn’t eaten much the night before. I knew her ass didn’t think she was about to run out of here without feeding the baby. She needed fuel before standing on her feet and chopping niggas’ hair up all day.

Opening my phone, I quickly Googled morning sickness friendly breakfast ideas and was met with a plethora of options. Going to Phileigh’s fridge, I compared the options to what she had. Keeping it simple, I settled for toast with scrambled eggs. It wasn’t gourmet, but it was nutritious and easy to whip up because my ass wasn’t the best cook.

I moved in and out of the kitchen, toasting bread and scrambling eggs, hoping Phileigh could keep this down and wouldn’t get sick. If this didn’t work, I would be out of ideas and would have to hit my mom for some advice.

After about twenty minutes, I smelled her floral scented body wash behind me just as I set her plate on the counter.

“You’re still here?” she asked, moving quickly around the living room.