21-Sadie

Ithrow my hands in the air. "I win!"

Mom and I have been playing dominos for the last half hour. The game started with Abuela and me until she eventually gave up after losing three back-to-back games.

Mom laughs and puts all the dominos back in the box. "I haven't seen you this excited over winning since that last time you played with Josiah."

Grief sweeps through my system, enveloping my body. Mom closes her eyes briefly, and a shaky sigh slips through her lips.

Believe it or not, the feeling of losing Jo has gotten easier to manage. Once we got past the denial phase, we could start healing and turn our grief into remembering our happier moments with Jo.

Mom opens her eyes and gives me a sad smile. "I'm going to lay down before we go to the barbeque."

I nod.

Mom lifts herself from the chair and holds onto the walker. She places a kiss on my cheek and walks out of the kitchen. Getting on my feet, I walk into the living room to put the game away when my phone rings. Without looking at the screen, I answer the call.

"Hello?"

"Hey," Donnie says with a warmness to his voice that borders on loving.

"Hey."

"Good or bad day?"

After Jo died, Donnie would ask two words — good or bad — instead of outright asking me how I was doing. If it was bad, he didn't push but reminded me he was there when I was ready to share.

"Good," I reply, placing the box of dominos in the cabinet.

"That's good. Do you have any plans today?"

"Yeah, we're going to Seb's for a barbecue. You and Ash should come."

Ever since the attack, Donnie and Seb have developed a friendship. At first, Donnie was uncomfortable since Seb shared with him that he had feelings for me in the past. But I assured Donnie that Seb has always been a good friend and nothing more.

"I was actually calling to see if you wanted to go to a party tonight."

A party? Why would he ask if I wanted to go knowing the last two were a disaster?

Donnie clears his throat when I don't respond. "It's a bon fire at one of our teammate's houses in the country. We don't have to stay long, I just thought—" he sighs—"I don't know…I just wanted to be near you."

I laugh softly. "I'm not going anywhere. Seriously, you guys should come to Seb's."

"I can always—"

A hard knock on the door interrupts Donnie from finishing.

"What's that sound?" Donnie asks with a slight panic in his voice.

"Someone's at the door."

I approach the door with a silent step when another knock comes through.

"Shorty, don't answer the door," Donnie warns.

"It's ok. The house is being watched." On my tiptoes, I look through the peephole and find Carter on the other side, standing on the steps with a worried look on his face.

"It's Carter," I whisper, turning the doorknob with my free hand.

"Hey," I greet Carter.

"Sadie, I need you to come to the hospital with me."

"Why?"

"It's Seb and the guys. Their uncle's garage was blown up."