Three's Company |Shilo Sanders|Shedeur Sanders

9

❀Marley G. Cooper ❀

After everything that happened at Jayla's, I needed to take a few days to myself. I realized I hadn't spent any time alone in a while, and I felt like it was hindering my ability to make a decision. Even though both Shilo and Shedeur kept constantly reassuring me that it was no rush, but it had been a couple of months since their confession, and it didn't seem right to keep them waiting any longer. So today I was going to go out and treat myself in hopes of gaining some clarity on things.

I made myself some breakfast, got ready, and headed out. It didn't take long before I arrived at my first stop, the nail salon. I entered and the receptionist looked up with a smile.

"Welcome in. How can I help you today?" she asked, "Just a deluxe pedicure today." I informed her. I'd had 1 too many bad experiences with getting manicures at nail salons. She led me to a seat, and it wasn't long before someone came over to service me.

A wave of relaxation started to come over me as I enjoyed the deluxe pedicure package. I glanced over, seeing a man getting a pedicure as well. I couldn't help but smile at the memory it brought back.

"I don't like this Marley. I should've just stuck to manicures." Shedeur said as he squirmed from the woman touching his feet.

"I asked you were you ticklish, you said no." I said with a laugh as I watched him try his hardest to look unbothered.

"Whatever. I was gone do it anyway just because you wanted me to try it." He explained, covering his mouth with his hand as the lady began to scrub his foot.

"Want me to hold your hand?." I jokingly said, laughing as he extended his free hand towards me. I took his hand, not letting it go until the woman finished.

"You like?" I asked as he analyzed his feet, "Yea this cool."

"So you gone come with me to get another one next time?" I said with a smile, already knowing what his answer would be.

"Absolutely not."

I chuckled a little to myself, good times. I started reading a book on my phone to pass the time until the woman finished my toes. After paying, my next destination was to get something to eat. It was lunchtime so I decided to go to one of my favorite Mexican spots since I was in the mood for some tacos.

The service here was amazing so I had been seated, ordered my food, and it was brought out all in the span of 20 minutes. I grabbed the sauce that came with the tacos pouring it over, causing another memory to come to mind.

"Is there anything I can do for you guys?" The waiter asked as he sat down our plates.

"Y'all got any sauce?" Shilo asked, "Would you like to try our homemade hot sauce?"

"You can just get some of mine Shi." I spoke, trying to save him from what would be a disaster.

"Nah let me get the hot sauce." He said to the waiter, within seconds the man was back with a bottle of dark red sauce.

"Thanks my man." Shilo said as he started to generously apply it to his food, "Shilo I think you should taste it first." I cautioned, making him shrug in response.

I watched as he took a bite, chewed, and swallowed. It didn't take long before he started to cough and feel the effects of the hot sauce.

"Damn Mars why you aint tell me this shit was this hot." He frantically reached, grabbing my glass of water, making me laugh.

"I told you to taste it!" I said as he started to feel the full effects, not really knowing what to do with himself.

"Mars you gotta help me." He said fanning himself with the menu.

Through my laughs, I waved over the waiter, and he came over immediately "Can you bring him some ice cream please?"

He nodded and headed off, returning with the ice cream in a couple of minutes. I scooped a spoonful and reached over the table to feed it to Shilo.

"Better?" I questioned as he nodded his head in relief, "Keep em coming please." He requested. I laughed but obliged, continuing to feed him ice cream.

I found myself smiling as I came back to reality, allowing myself to enjoy my food. After eating I headed home, disappointed that I hadn't gotten the clarity I was searching for.

To end my day I decided I'd just watch one of my comfort movies, Brown Sugar. After changing into comfortable clothes, I wrapped myself in the blanket, going on Hulu and pressing play. It didn't take long before I was immersed in the movie. Eventually it got to one of my favorite scenes.

"So, what is the difference between rap and hip hop?" Taye Diggs character asked, "It's simple. It's like the difference between saying you love somebody and being in love with somebody. Rap is just a word." Sanaa Lathan's character responded.

The words seemed to resonate with me differently, prompting me to immediately pause the TV. I sat there in my thoughts for a while, a smile coming onto my face. I finally had the clarity I'd been searching for. I jumped up, not worrying about the time or what I was wearing. My only focus being on getting to the Sander's residence. 

★Omniscient★

Shilo and Shedeur sat in the living room with their father, reviewing footage of Football games. It was late, but nobody was tired due to this being a routine for them. The sound of a phone ringing loudly caused both Shilo and Shedeur to smack their teeth at their father.

"Who you got calling you at this time?" Shilo teased, not looking away from the TV. Neither of them noticing their father's change of expression as he answered the phone.

"Hello...what?...Okay, we'll be right there." He hung up the phone with a sigh, grabbing the remote and pausing the TV, turning to look at his sons.

"What's going on?" Shedeur asked with a raised eyebrow.

"That was Nicole. She said Marley's been in an accident." Deion said calmly, hoping his demeanor would keep his sons from panicking.

"She okay?" Shilo asked, "They rushed her into emergency surgery, no updates yet." He explained making Shedeur stand up immediately.

"I'll drive." He stated while walking towards the door with both Shilo and his father behind him.

They got to the hospital and joined Marley's mother in the waiting room. She looked like any mother would in those circumstances, but still greeted them all as warmly as possible. They all sat with one another, in silent support.

Hours went by and there was still no update. Shilo looked over seeing Shedeur's leg bouncing up and down nervously, his emotions evident on his face. Despite Marley's driving having improved tremendously, he couldn't help but feel like this was his fault.

Shilo reached over, placing a comforting hand on his brother's shoulder. "Calm down man, she gone be alright." He hoped his words would ease his mind as well as his brother's.

After what seemed like forever, a doctor finally entered the waiting room, "Family of Marley Cooper?"

This caused her mother to immediately stand up and walk over to the doctor. Sander's family watched her reaction anxiously, grateful to see the look of relief on her face. She followed behind the doctor and was gone for a while before returning to the waiting room, walking right over to where Shilo and Shedeur were sitting.

"The surgery went well, she's awake now, and she's asking to see you." Nicole spoke, making both Sander's boys stand up simultaneously.

"You first..." Nicole said, giving a knowing look.

A different kind of stress came over both the brothers as they knew exactly what would come next. Due to the circumstances they knew Marley would only ask to see them one at a time if she'd finally made her decision.

Ready or Not. They were finally about to get the answer they'd been waiting on.