Page 33 of Castaway Heat
Sage grunted and lifted his phone before storming out of the room.
“What was that about?” Shiloh asked.
“Who knows?” Eirin said.
As soon as Iliana finished her meal, grandpapa took over for burping duty and then plenty of cuddles. Shiloh drifted off, exhausted, knowing they’d all look over his daughter well. When he awoke later, his papa sat in the chair beside him, cradling Iliana. No one else was in the room.
“Hey, sweetheart,” his papa said. He smiled wryly. “Sorry I didn’t come sooner. I should’ve been here, and your friend Sage set me right.”
“Sage?”
“Yep, he called and gave me a swift kick in the ass that I needed… and rightfully figured out I was avoiding coming because I didn’t want to see your father.” He shook his head. “It wasn’t fair to you…” he glanced down, smiling. “Or Iliana.” He lifted his gaze to Shiloh. “I’m sorry I wasn’t here for you. Sage told me to come right down and when I’m ready to go, he’s going to call your father and tell him to come. That way, we don’t have to cross paths, there’s no drama, and we can stop avoiding you in our desire to avoid one another.”
“I shouldn’t have to schedule my parents’ visits around one another,” Shiloh snapped.
His papa winced.
“Can’t the two of you just… learn to be civil? For her sake? You’re grown adults.Act like it.”
His papa frowned and fought back tears. “Hate is on the opposite side of the coin from love, Shiloh. We both struggle because there’s still a little bit of love there—and neither of us want it to be. We’ve tried and tried to work through it, for your sake… but it always devolves into something ugly. Every time. I wish it was different for us, but it just is.”
“If that’s all you can do, that’s all you can do,” Shiloh said. “But I refuse to play arbitrator between you anymore. If you need to schedule visits, then you two have to do it yourselves. I’m not going to be tugged in two different directions. Neither is Iliana. Got it?”
His papa nodded. “I do.” He checked his watch. “You were zonked out there for a while. I hate to leave so soon, but I’ve had a good long visit with your daughter and your father deserves his chance.”
That was the first kind thing he’d ever heard either of his parents say toward the other since before the divorce. Maybe there was a chance for them, yet. He wouldn’t get his hopes up, but maybe.
His papa handed Iliana over before leaning in and kissing Shiloh’s forehead. “She’s beautiful, honey. I love you so much. Both of you.”
“I love you, too,” Shiloh murmured.
Ronin returned to the room as soon as his papa was gone. “Are you okay?”
“I am,” Shiloh said. Surprisingly okay considering. “My parents are flawed people. They love me in their way, I guess—but they never should’ve become parents. That’s not my fault, and I refuse to let it continue to weigh me down.”
Ronin crossed the room and climbed onto the bed to hold him close. “You’re amazing. Have I told you that lately?”
“Yes but tell me again. I need to hear it right now.”
Ronin kissed his forehead. “You,Mr. Shiloh Anderson-Drakeare absolutely, positively the most incredible, amazing man I’ve ever known, and I’m proud to call you my mate, my husband, and the papa to our child.” He patted his pocket. “By the way, you handed me your wedding ring because your fingers were swollen. Do you want it back?”
Shiloh glanced at his hands. “Sure… they look better.”
Ronin pulled it from his pocket and slid it on Shiloh’s finger.
“Ro, that’s not my ri—” he pulled his hand closer. “It’s the vine. But gold.” Panic set in. “It’s not underneath, is it?”
“No,it’s not gold-plated vine. This is a completely new ring. We rushed our quickie wedding, so I didn’t have enough time to have this made. That’s why I’ve had to endure stink eye from Riley for that basic ring I slipped on your finger at the ceremony.”
“He’s given you his seal of approval.”
“Now, yes. But things were still a little iffy when we renewed our vows.” He smiled. “I had a goldsmith recreate the vine ring ineverydetail. It looks almost identical.” He took Shiloh’s handin his. “I know it’s now yourthirdwedding band, but I hope you like it.”
Tears burned the backs of Shiloh’s eyes. “It’s one of the sweetest things you’ve ever done for me and considering how long that list already is, that’s saying a lot.”
Ronin leaned in for a kiss. “I love you, Shy.”
Shiloh rested his head against his alpha’s chest, staring at the graceful twisted golden symbol of Ronin’s love resting on his finger. There were no diamonds. No gems. But it was already his most valuable possession. “I love you, Ronin. I love that we’re now a family. You’ve given me so much. More than I probably deserve.”
