me & tomfoolery

Cold as Ice pt. 7 | Shilo Sanders Short Story

"He's not talking to anyone since he's been sidelined."

Tennessee and Shelomi sat down for lunch. It had been a few days since the very public altercation and work still needed to be completed. Shelomi reached out first, she needed to get from under the media attention the family had on them and would run to this very small local eatery to finish the interview. She liked talking to Nessee and also needed to.

"Yeah, leaving my messages on read told me that." She knew she needed to talk to Shilo and she tried, but he didn't respond to anyone, not his family, his friends or his teammates. She didn't have to wonder why he wouldn't speak to her.

Tennessee blamed herself for them being in that position. Had they been speaking, they would be together and doing anything but being near that bar.

"It's not your fault."

"Huh?" Tennessee hadn't mentioned blaming herself but clearly it was written on her face as she navigated through the week. "I never said that"

"Well, you didn't have to. I can see it on your face. Trust me, with everything going on with us. It was something bound to happen."

Nessee wanted to know what she meant but also didn't want to pry. The Sanders had a level of vulnerability that they showcased during a loss but as a family of wealth and influence, they concealed so much.

"I guess you're right." Was all she could say.

••••

Deion, Tracey and Pilar argued over top of him as he laid in bed with a wrapped shoulder. Shilo, visibly upset but no one listened to a thing he had to say.

"I'm taking my son with me!"

"Where? To where P? You ain't got no place to take him. How you gonna take care of him?" Deion agitated beyond belief.

"He's 23, not 12. Pilar, be reasonable about this." Tracey begged.

Although he was simply injured, they were fighting over him as if they were still in the thick of a custody battle. Shilo was grown and his grown ass wanted to be left alone. The way he went about it could be seen as childish.

"I am being reasonable about my child! Worry about your own kids, stop trying to take mine."

Another argument that never ended with them was Pilar accusing Tracey of trying to take her kids, her husband and her life. Being fed up, Tracey threw her hands up in defeat.

"Would you stop with that? Ain't nobody tryna take your kids, they know they're yours. The whole world know it, don't start that mess."

Can you stop ignoring me now? I'm trying to check on you.

Shilo had a chip on his shoulder but he desperately wanted to be around Tennessee, no matter how much she had pissed him off prior to his incident

"Can y'all stop please?" His plea went unheard as they continued to bicker in his presence. With a groan he willed himself out of bed and that caught the attention of the woman currently in her stepmother role.  Tapping Deion, Tracey pulled his attention away from their argument and to his son.

"Boy, where are you going?" As Deion and Pilar attempted to help Shilo, he pushed them away. "Y'all weren't worried about me a few moments ago when you chose to argue over nothing. I'm fine, I'm going out."

"Shilo, you need to rest."

"I'll rest somewhere else. Y'all took all the peace out when y'all came in anyways".

With the determination he had, there was no stopping him. They continued to argue as he grabbed his coat from the closet. He heard the front door open and that could only be Shelomi since Shedeur had been running around with Bucky all morning.