“They’re beatin’ around the bush, but I can guess what they’re tryin’ to tell us.” The fact he’s had the infection and fevers for so long is cause for concern. All he does in the hospital is eat and sleep, and while his fevers have been low grade, it doesn’t mean it’s a good thing. A fever is a fever regardless, an indication something’s going on in the body and our body needs more help. It’s not only frustrating they haven’t been able to pinpoint where this infection is, but with every passing day, I’m terrified my dad is growing closer to meeting his maker, and I don’t think I’m wrong.
“Alright, well, if you need anythin’, just holler. We’re always here for you and your family, day or night.”
“Thanks, VP. I appreciate that,” I tell Blackjack with a smile. He walks over to Zane and Kade, who’s here visiting with his kids and his ol’ lady too. Meanwhile, Shiloh comes down the stairwell with a full hamper in hand. Naturally, I head up to her and take the heavy hamper out of her hands.
“I had it, you know. I’ve been doing this for quite a while,” Shiloh’s like the club mom in a way. If we had clubwhores, I’m sure she’d be their boss, but we don’t. We have the Vixens and they’re Octavia’s responsibility, but Shiloh and Rosa help her out quite a bit. Shiloh does a lot of things to help out here around the club. I think it has somethin’ to do with the deal she made with Fist when she stepped down as a clubwhore. Fuck, did she make it with Fist or Zane? So many years have gone by that I can barely keep track.
“I know you’re fully capable, but if I wanna be a gentleman, can you just let me, or do you gotta complain about it?” I poke a bit of fun at her and she busts out into an adorable giggle.
“Fine, onward to the laundry room then.” Shiloh smiles brightly and we walk side by side to the laundry area. She opens the door for me and I set the laundry basket down on the counter and lean against it as she does her thing.
“I know it’s short notice and all, but would you wanna come down to the hospital with me tonight to meet my pops? My ma and sis will be there, we’re gonna have a little dinner. Jada’s grabbing chicken from that place my dad likes downtown.”
Shiloh gazes down at the towel in her hands before looking over to me. She narrows her brows before she speaks. “Are you asking me to meet your parents?”
“You had me meet yours,” I point out.
“That’s not the same thing at all,” she gives me a knowing look, and okay, maybe it’s too soon to poke the bear.
“I want you to meet them and Jada. It might be too early to say this, Shi, but I’m in love with you. I think I have been for a long time if I’m bein’ honest, so yeah, I want the woman I love to meet my family, ‘cause if I have anythin’ to do with it, she’ll be part of it for a long time.”
Shiloh blinks her eyes in disbelief and I must render her speechless, ‘cause she doesn’t say shit. “You . . . you just told me you love me in a laundry room.”
“I did.”
“And you . . .” Shiloh stops speaking all of a sudden, tosses the towel in the washer and comes right up to me. She slips her arms around my neck and stands up on her tippy toes before her lips unite with mine.
Fuck.
This is it.
She is it for me, and I pray she feels the same about me.
Chapter Fifteen
Two people who meet and share such a connection, do more than fall in love; they change each other deeply and irrevocably.
~ Unknown Words
Shiloh
Hammer inviting me to meet his family kind of threw me for a loop. I knew it would most likely happen at some point, but never did I think it would be this soon. With his dad being sick, though, it makes sense he would bring me around sooner rather than later. After I got some laundry in, Hammer and I headed straight over to the hospital.
Now we’re in the parking lot and I can’t think about anything but how sweaty my hands are. Every bit of nervousness in my body is coming right out, from the sweaty hands to clearing my throat.
Hammer grabs my hand and I tear it away, wiping the sweat away on the leg of my pants. “You okay?”
“Yeah, just a bit nervous.” I’m honest with him because nothing good will come out of lying. When I think about it, Hammer’s proven himself to me so many times over the last couple of weeks. I won’t ever keep something from this man and I know it. He’s entirely trustworthy.
His mouth shifts into a smile. “Shi, you don’t have to be nervous. They’re not intense or nothin’, just a normal family.”
I crane my neck to the side a tad. Does he not realize how big of a deal this is? “I’m meeting your parents, Hammer. This is a huge deal. I’ve never met anyone’s parents before. Did you know that? I . . . I’ve never been in this serious of a relationship, and we’re moving so fast. It’s terrifying and exhilarating at the same time.” My mouth goes dry and my heart intensely beats within the confines of my chest.
Still, he stands beside me and smiles. “I promise you they’re great people.”
Without even thinking, I blurt out the first thing that comes to mind, “They raised you, so they must be.”
Hammer’s smile grows even larger and he wraps his arm around my back, walking
