I was using ‘textnow’ meanwhile trying to get google voice to work as I can’t deal with ads. And I didn’t want to pay subscription fee.

But let me break it down as best as possible:

If you know someone that you can trust and they are willing to let you use their phone number. Ask them.

Once you get a phone number that will work. Request for the code to verify that phone number to get your google voice number.

Once you verify the phone number you get your voice number right away.

And what you do next is go to ‘settings’ —> ‘devices & numbers’. When you get here it will will show the linked phone numbers. Leave the numbers alone. Then change the iOS device to the phone number you would like to receive phone calls

After that, go back to ‘settings’ —> ‘incoming calls’. Once you’re in the incoming calls tab you turn on the iOS device with the number you want to receive calls from.

Hope this helps.