35- Sadie/Donovan

The gang and I decided to pitch in and throw a combined graduation party and birthday party for Sophia at one of the parks near the lake. It has a large playground for the kids, a small swimming pool, walking trails, and a pavilion with a dance floor, a full-size kitchen, and bathrooms.

The stone brick pavilion has ten picnic tables inside and five around the outside of the pavilion near the picnic grills. The girls and I decorated the inside of the building with a unicorn theme. Plastic purple tablecloths with stars cover the top of the old benches. Lupe purchased several unicorn tinsel burst centerpieces from the dollar store. The boys put up the unicorn foil swirl decorations so they hang from the ceiling.

Pink, purple, blue, green, and yellow pastel balloons are scattered throughout the pavilion. Streamers are wrapped around the arch windows on each side of the building. There is a table reserved for gifts, and the cake and pink punch sit on a bench with glitter scattering the table. I lift my camera from my chest and snap pictures to capture this moment.

"You know this shit gets everywhere, right?" Tiny whines when she throws the empty baggie of glitter in the trash.

"Oh, stop your bitching." Telle rolls her eyes as she decorates the table with foil unicorn balloons.

"You know what? I don't like you today."

I sigh. It's been like this all morning. This is what happens when their menstrual cycles come at the same time. Two Latinas with strong personalities and a no bullshit kind of attitude is a very dangerous combination but also entertaining. Without gaining their attention, I snap a picture of my friends going back and forth about nothing important.

"Well, fuck off then. See? Problem solved," Telle responds, not looking at Tiny.

Max walks in with the cooler and looks around at all the decorations. "Damn. It looks like a unicorn shit all over the place." He sets the cooler down by the cake table at the same time Tiny grabs a good amount of glitter and throws it in Telle's hair.

"What the hell?" Telle screeches.

Click. Memory captured.

"Hey!" Lupe walks in and whisper-yells with my daughter in her arms. "Would you two stop this shit already?"

I move my camera to the side when she hands Sophia to me. I kiss Sophia on her cheek and turn her around to watch the show as she bounces on my thighs, clapping her little hands and giggling.

Tiny blows a bubble and snaps her gum. "If I wanted to hear from an asshole-la, I'd shit all over the place."

Lupe lets out a laugh. "Did you eat a bowl full of bitchy this morning?"

"What the hell does that even mean? Where do you come up with this shit?" Telle asks with a giggle.

"Her unwanted monthly subscription to hell has arrived." Tia laughs as she walks in from the kitchen area.

Tiny rolls her eyes and mutters, "Whatever."

Sophia looks between Tiny and Telle, then hangs her head back with both hands in her mouth and gurgles with a wide smile.

"Ellas estan locas," I whisper with an out-of-control Sophia bouncing against me. Tia glances at me and chuckles.

Seb and Gio walk in with the stereo system and speakers, laughing when they see Donnie and Ash are right behind them, dragging two giant unicorn balloons.

"Reina, where do you want us to set up?" Seb asks.

I point toward the back of the room near the fireplace. They nod in acknowledgment and walk toward the other side of the room. Once the system is set up, people start to trickle in, and soon the party is in full swing. Most of our guests are family, close friends, and a handful of classmates we grew up with. The weather turned out to be perfect for today, especially after all the rain we've been getting. The sun proudly shines in the clear blue sky, and the trees sway in the warm breeze.

Children's laughter rings out as a group of girls twirls a long jump rope with one girl jumping in the middle.

Seb and the guys are grilling hamburgers, chicken, and hot dogs.

The girls are dishing out hot fudge sundaes to the kids while Mom and Abuela laugh with Javi and Gabby.

When I read Josiah's letter, it gave me the strength to accept Javi as my brother and make room for him in my heart. I could never replace Josiah with anyone else, but seeing similar traits in Javi makes accepting him more bearable and easier to deal with.

I watch the kids standing on the rocks tossing pebbles into the lake, just like me and Josiah did. Sophia gains my attention with her squeals and laughter as I push her on the swing.

"Hey, hey, hey! Where's my little unicorn?" Ash swaggers his way toward us with a stupid grin on his face. Sophia is wearing the birthday outfit that Donnie and Ash got her. The short white sleeve top has a unicorn and a number one on the front, and it matches the pink shorts and rainbow tutu. She's even got matching glittery unicorn Nikes for her tiny feet.

This is the most casual I've seen him. He's dressed in cargo shorts, a plain gray -T-shirt revealing the half-sleeved tattoo on his arm, and a designer pair of sunglasses.

When Sophia hears his voice, she tries to twist her little body around to see him. Ash bumps into my hip, scooting me away as he takes over and swings Sophia. When I look up, I see Donnie casually walking toward me with that sexy smile I love so much. Donnie is wearing navy slowpitch shorts, a Brewers T-shirt, his backward hat, and a pair of Oakley's on top of his hat.

Click. Memory captured.

"Hey." He moves the strap of my camera out of the way and pulls me in for a quick hug and a kiss on the cheek. Donnie sits on the empty seat beside Sophia, grabs my hips, and pulls me between his legs, my back against his chest. We don't talk but enjoy the sound of Sophia's giggles. His hold tightens around my waist as he lightly swings us.

Two hours later, the party is still going. Mom and Abuela bring Sophia's unicorn-shaped cake, and everyone gathers around to sing the birthday song.

"Make a wish, baby girl," Seb hollers.

We start laughing.

Sophia joins in the laughter and attempts to blow out the candle.

"Let's do it together. Ready?" I say as I push her closer to me.

Sophia bounces on my lap and squeals in excitement.

"One, two, and three!" I blow it out, and everyone claps, including Sophia.

Click. Memory captured by Donnie.

I look around to see the smiles and adoration for my baby girl. I'm thankful she has an army that loves her and would do anything to protect her.

DONOVAN

After the cake is cut and served, Seb announces "A Un Paso De LaLuna remix"by Reik, Rocco Hunt, and Ana Mena before the song blares through the speakers. The dance floor is filled with bodies moving to the rhythm. My eyes are glued to Shorty and how she moves her hips to the music. But that's not what is making my heart flutter. It's the way Sophia dances with Shorty.

Sophia bounces on her feet, following the beat with her arms out in front of her while she tries to twerk her little butt in the air. Everyone cheers for her, encouraging her to keep dancing as they follow her lead.

I laugh at the guys and Ash twerking with their hands out like a T-Rex. This little girl wiggled her way into my heart from the first moment I laid eyes on her. She's a part of Shorty, and I will always love her, even if she's not mine.

The small space swirls into one big blur as everyone's bodies twine in and out to "Me Pase"by Enrique Iglesias. I continue to watch Shorty shake her hips and ass to the beat of the song. It's as if she feels the rhythm pass through her body, almost like she is connecting with the lyrics.

The more I stare, the more I come to love her even more. Is that even possible? She's carrying my baby, and I'm leaving her behind. Suddenly, I feel a sense of loss that's so powerful, it sears through my chest. How the hell am I going to do this? I won't see her every day, and I won't be there to bring her strawberry shakes in the middle of the night when her cravings kick in.

When the song ends, "Amarte A Ti" by Christian Castro resonates in the air. Ash picks Sophia up and dances with her to the ballad. She rests her head on his shoulder as he sways back and forth. Tia looks adoringly at him and walks past, but he grabs her by the waist and pulls her against his chest. I hope they get their shit together and admit their feelings for each other. Ash has had a special spot for Tia ever since the Halloween party. After she was kidnapped and tortured, I knew he had fallen hard for her. and how he reacted to her being in danger.

Shorty scans the room until her eyes land on mine. She smiles and walks to me. "Do you want to dance?"

I smile back.

"Yeah, I do."

Shorty leads me to the dance floor. I wrap my arms around her waist as the song's rhythm plays.

We don't speak.

My mind is in tune with her body. She rests her head on my chest, my chin on the top of her head. I close my eyes and breathe in her soft floral and berry scent. Right as the song is going to end, I pull her away and then yank her back to me. My other hand circles her waist, and I dip her back until she almost touches the floor.

Her laughter is infectious, and I can't help but join in when I bring her back up. I slowly bring my mouth to hers and let myself feel lost in her lips.

When the song ends, she steps back, as if not liking the distance between us. "I'm so freaking sweaty." She pinches the hem of her shirt and fans herself as if it will cool her down.

Then I do something she will kill me for, but I can't help it.

"Ash!" I toss my phone at him, and he catches it.

I grab her by the back of her knees, lift her tight little body over my shoulder, and run through the doors.

She shrieks in surprise.

People are hooting and hollering.

I laugh.

She smacks my ass.

I grip the back of her legs and smack her ass, hard.

"Fuck!" she gasps.

"Looks like you need to cool down," I say with a laugh as I jump into the pool while holding her. She looks like she wants to kill me when she comes up for air, but her bright smile says otherwise.

"Oh, my God! Donnie! Damnit!" Shorty yells, but it comes out as an uncontrollable laugh that burns deep into my soul.