“Hey sweetheart, did you ever finish your crochet projects?” he asks, and I furrow my brows.
I’ve obviously seen Shiloh in different areas of the house with her crochet hooks and balls of yarn, but I didn’t know what she was working on.
“I have one more to make. I paused them to work on some baby hats for the hospital. Why?” she asks.
“Think you could finish it by Sunday?” Cole asks.
“I absolutely could.” I can feel her devious energy down the bond.
“Perfect, invite your Gran, or anyone else you want to. We have twelve spots to fill. I think Jonah’s planning on inviting his brother and sister, along with Elliot, to thank him for setting up the security system.”
“I’ll call my Gran right now,” she says happily, adjusting herself on the couch as she calls her Gran.
They chat animatedly for a few moments before I hear her bring up the game.
“Feel like coming to the Eagles game on Sunday? In a suite.”
Shiloh’s smile slowly fades as she listens to her Gran speak, and I can feel her worry and anxiety down the bond. Cole feels it too as he sits on the other side of her, both of us making sure to make physical contact.
Shiloh clears her throat. “Of course they can come. It’s been a while since I’ve seen them. They can meet my pack.”
I can’t tell what her Gran says, but Shiloh nods as she listens and lets her Gran know she’ll send her the details. As soon as she hangs up the phone, the elevator dings and Jonah’s storming in with purpose, looking at the three of us.
“What’s wrong? What happened?” he asks and Shiloh sighs.
“I’m going to really have to get used to never having an inside feeling ever again.” She sighs. “My…um, parents, they’re coming to town. So, I guess I have four people coming, my Gran, mom, and dads.”
“If you don’t want them there?—”
Shiloh cuts me off with a smile. A fake one at that. I can feel her hesitancy and worry down the bond. “It’s no big deal. My bonded mates should probably meet my parents at some point, anyway. I’m going to go take a shower.”
I want to say something, tell her that we’ll handle it. But just like she didn’t pressure me about my parents, I don’t pressure her about hers.
“You want some company?” Jonah asks.
Shiloh shakes her head and wraps her arms around herself as she hightails it out of the living room to her bedroom.
“Let her be. She’s still allowed to process things on her own. When she’s ready, she’ll come and hang out with us,” Cole says, and I blink at my brother.
“When did you become so level-headed?” I ask.
He scratches his beard with a shrug. But we all know when it happened. Probably before we bonded, but I know he has to feel the need of wanting to rush into her room and make sure she’s fine.
“He’s probably right,” Jonah complains. “We’ll be cordial and nice, but at the same time I don’t think she realizes she’s not alone in facing them anymore. She has us now, and I don’t give a fuck if they’re her parents. If they’re disrespectful, I’ll kick them out of the damn suite.”
“Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that,” I say and Jonah grunts, leaving the room, his echoes of grumpiness following him down the bond.
It’s game day, and Shiloh seems more nervous than ever. Jonah’s parking the car as she grabs four knitted caps out of the bag she brought.
She places the green, silver, and white cap on her head before handing me one. I place it on my head proudly. When’s the last time anyone made me something?
“Thanks, baby,” I say, placing a kiss against her cheek.
She passes one up to Cole, and he does the same, happily putting it on his head. The three of us match; all of us wearing Eagles attire, our newfound hats to match, except Jonah.
The traitor has on his Patriots jersey.
“Don’t worry, Jonah. I got you one too, since we’re a pack now, I thought it would be cute if I made us all hats that match,” she says so sweetly.
