Three's Company |Shilo Sanders|Shedeur Sanders

3

❀Marley G. Cooper ❀

"I put this whole party together so I could tell you how I felt about you and Shedeur knew that so I'm tryna figure out what's going on myself." Shilo explained, stepping away from Shedeur to step closer to me.

"On my 16th birthday I watched you cry over a boy who never deserved you and all I could think about was how I'd treat you way better if I ever got the chance. You would think after all these years those feelings would've went away, but they haven't. They only got stronger." I stared at Shilo in disbelief, seeing Shedeur in the background looking nervous.

I stayed silent, overwhelmed by their confessions. All this time, I'd never noticed, always disregarding anybody who even suggested either one of them liked me as more than a friend.

"Marley? You out here? It's time to cut the cake." I heard my mother say, "Listen um-we should all talk about this later. Let's go back inside." I said leading us all inside the building, not wanting to leave them out there to argue.

It was a little hard to focus on the party after that. I was so out of it I ended up leaving my own party early, getting my mother to take me back home. She gasped as she pulled into my driveway.

"Who got you a car?" she asked, "Shedeur..." I mumbled in response, removing my seatbelt.

"Well you don't seem excited about it....what's wrong?"

I stared at my phone seeing the messages from both Shilo and Shedeur starting to pour in, I shook my head putting my phone on do not disturb.

"Apparently Shilo planned this whole party to tell me he had feelings for me, but Shedeur beat him to it." I explained to her.

"Oh wow. I always figured this would happen with one of them, didn't expect both." My mother said casually. It was starting to feel like maybe everybody had seen this coming but me. "What're you going to do?" she continued.

I shrugged "I don't know...I was going to kiss Shedeur, but then hearing Shilo's confession confused me. How am I supposed to choose one and risk losing the friendship of the other one?" I sighed rubbing my hand over my face.

"Either one would be a good son in law." I shot my mom a look and she held up her hands in defense "Just saying. Listen, just sleep on it, and talk to them once you organize your thoughts and feelings." I nodded my head, taking in her words, deciding I'd do just that.

Once I got my gifts from the party inside, I exchanged my goodbyes with my mother, and went to get myself ready for bed. Right when I was about to climb inside my bed, the unopened gift bag from Shilo caught my eye.

Despite already having a lot on my mind I decided to open it anyway. Inside the bag was a scrapbook filled with pictures of us, from elementary school up to now. I couldn't help but smile as I read all his little notes, it was obvious he'd put a lot of time into it. I sighed as I got to the final page of the book.

'I've made a million memories with you, and I want to make a million more. Be Mine Marley?'

I put the book to the side, getting comfortable in my bed. It weighed heavy on my heart that no matter what I decided, somebody would end up hurt.

Some girls would say I'm blessed to be in this situation, but right now I couldn't help but feel like it was a burden. 

★ Omniscient ★

Shilo and Shedeur were currently at practice, the tension between the two obviously affecting their ability to play. It didn't help that it had been days since Marley's birthday party, and neither of them had heard from her.

"Yo you fucking up my plays." Shedeur said while walking up to Shilo who was on the sidelines taking a break.

"Your plays fucked up on they own." Shilo retorted now standing face to face with his brother. Their father, who was only a few feet away, walked over to the two boys, not happy with what he was seeing.

"Come with me." He instructed, leading both boys away from any listening ears. "Alright what's going on?" he asked, only getting silence from the boys.

"Don't want to tell me, that's fine. Whatever it is, it needs to get off the field. We don't bring problems from home, here. Now get it together."

He walked away from his sons without another word. Shilo and Shedeur glanced at one another before rejoining the rest of the team on the field.

After managing to successfully get through practice, both the Sanders boy knew a conversation was needed. Once home, they found themselves sitting in the backyard, each waiting on the other to speak.

"Do you actually like her?" Shilo asked breaking the silence, "You should know the answer to that. You think I'd go through all this with you if I didn't?" Shedeur responded, followed by another short pause of silence.

"Guess neither one of us giving up then..." Shilo said, looking over at his brother who simply nodded as confirmation. "We'll keep it off the field, but other than that, may the best man win." Shilo stated, offering his hand to Shedeur.

"No matter what we gone be family." Shedeur responded, accepting his brother's handshake.

They stood to go inside, pausing at the sound of both their phones chiming. Marley had texted in their group chat. 

three.

marley - I'm ready to talk. Y'all can come over.

The brothers looked up at one another before starting to walk around the house to where the cars were parked.

"I'll drive." Shedeur said, Shilo not arguing and climbing in his brothers passenger seat. They no longer shared the fear of never hearing from Marley again. Instead, both boys feared the words that would come out of her mouth, neither ready to face rejection.