Need advice on getting US phone number
 

First of all, yes I effed up. Was so caught up in the pandemic mitigation that I let my US phone number and phone account essentially got disconnected and gone for good.

I am heading back CONUS in July to start a new career. I suppose having a working US number from the get go is critical :)

My current plan is just to go straight from the airport to the nearest Bestbuy/Walmart and get Google Pixel and activate Google Fi with new number (maybe start the google fi service now without device, is that possible?)
Alternate would be to grab whatever prepaid on the rack.
Contingency is contacting ladies I used to hang with overseas, who now live in the arrival city, for help.

Ideally, I want to have a working number and phone before arriving. I've researched for several days with VPN etc. and it seems you can only get a new working US phone and phone number by activating it CONUS.
Anyone ever get to this predicament?
Care to share how you dig yourself out of the connectivity blackout hole?
Anyone arriving in DC/VA from OCONUS area with similar experience?

I would suggest for a temporary fix is to get a Skype account with a area code to the state you want it from (you can pick them now). There is a fee involved but it lets you make and receive calls on laptop or current phone with the Skype app. When you get stateside and buy a phone, install Skype on it and calls to your Skype # will go to your phone
Not sure if it helps but I don't have any other idea on how to navigate your problem and thought maybe this would help.

Regards,

Check out sudo app, you can buy virtual numbers for whatever state you want plus emails.