9. Donovan

"Yo, Seb!" one of the workers calls out, his voice ringing across the room.

Ash and I decided to stop by Seb"s uncle"s auto shop to say goodbye to the guys before leaving for college. The moment we stepped inside the shop, the sounds of engines revving and tools clanging filled our ears. The scent of grease and oil linger in the air. The guys are working on different cars and trucks, some on lifts and some on the ground.

Over the past year, Seb and I developed a close bond, and he has become one of my closest friends.

After a few moments, Seb emerges in overalls, cleaning his hands with a dirty rag. As he approaches us, he flashes a grin and asks, "Hey, what"s going on, guys?"

I raise my chin in greeting. "What"s up?"

"What brings you guys by?" he asks.

"Are the other guys here?" I ask, glancing around.

"Yeah." Seb glances over his shoulder, puts his fingers between his lips, and lets out a whistle. "Max!" he calls out.

"What?" Max yells back.

"Grab Gio and meet me in the back," Seb hollers back.

Seb turns to us and gestures toward the back of the shop. We follow his lead until we reach a little lounge area. Max and Gio walk in, holding bottles of water.

"Catch," Max says as he tosses bottles to me and Ash.

"Thanks, man," Ash and I say simultaneously.

Seb takes a swig from his water bottle and gulps it down. He looks around once everyone"s in place. "So, you got all of us here. What"s up?" he asks, leaning back and crossing his arms.

I lean forward, resting my elbows on my knees and holding my water bottle with my fingers. "Ash and I are leaving for Tennessee tomorrow, and we wanted to say goodbye to all of you before we head out," I say with a smile.

"Oh, shit," Gio mutters. "Already?" he says, taking a seat beside Seb.

"Yeah. But there"s something else we wanted to talk about," I say, looking at each of them.

"It"s about Reina, isn"t it?" Seb asks.

I nod. "Yeah."

"Is she okay?" Max chimes in, taking a step forward, his voice laced with a hint of panic.

"Yeah, she"s fine," I quickly say.

"With everything that has happened," Ash says, "we"re worried about not being here–" He cuts himself off and turns to me solemnly. "To help her through it."

Seb"s eyes narrow slightly. "Fuck, man. You know we'll always take care of her.

I nod. "I know," I say quietly.

Why is this so damn hard?

With a deep sigh, I bring my hands to my face and rub them down, feeling the fatigue and frustration settling in. As the reality of leaving Shorty behind hits me, I can"t help but feel a pang of sadness. "It"s hard," I mutter, my voice laced with disappointment. "We finally got her back, and now we have to leave her again." The words come out with a hint of bitterness, and I can feel my jaw clenching as I try to control my emotions.

"We get it, bro," Gio says. I look up at him and notice his lips are pulled into a half-smile. "She"s been part of your life since you were kid."

"And she"s pregnant with your kid and dealing with Jo being back," Max adds.

"She"s not alone, D," Seb says, his voice softening. "She"s survived this long"—he leans forward and keeps his gaze on me—"and she will survive even if you"re not here. But this time, it"s by choice. A choice she supports 100 percent." Seb"s eyes lock onto mine, emphasizing his point.

It"s hard to shake off the feeling of helplessness that engulfs me as I think about my girlfriend carrying our child without me by her side. I know in my heart that she will be taken care of and that her family and friends will be there for her when she needs them, but the thought of missing out on the little moments that make this experience so special is overwhelming. I won"t be there to hold her hair back when she"s struggling with morning sickness, to feel the baby kick for the first time, or to indulge her cravings with a late-night strawberry shake. It fucking kills me knowing I won"t be there with her.

I glance at each of them and say, "Just take care of my girls." My voice cracks on the last words.

Seb rises from his seat and strides over to me. "Get up," he commands.

I do as he says, but as I do, a splintering pain shoots through my chest, causing me to wince. It feels like my heart is breaking. He pulls me into a hug, catching me off guard.

"It"s going to be okay," he says with conviction. "We will always take care of them," he continues before stepping back and clapping my back in assurance.

"Besides," Max interjects, "if anything does go wrong, Javi"s FBI connections will take care of that shit while we kill a motherfucker." He nonchalantly shrugs as if it"s no big deal.

His statement elicits a laugh from the group, and I raise an eyebrow in amusement. "And you"re going to be a cop?"

"Fuck yeah," he retorts. "We"re still protecting and serving."

"Yeah, but what good are you going to be if you get locked up for your stupidity," Ash huffs, unconvinced.

"That"s what Javi"s for," Gio says with a smile.

Laughing, Seb claps me on the back. "You worry about yourself, and we"ll take care of the girls. Just go kick ass and do your thing, college boy." His words drip with sarcasm, but his tone shifts to one of sincerity as he adds, "And if you need anything, we"re just a phone call away."

Max stands up and extends his hand to me and Ash. "Stop being a pussy," he says, his face twisting into a smirk. "But seriously, good luck, you two."

Gio walks over to us and holds out his hand. "I"m glad Shorty brought us together," he says with a genuine smile.

Me too.

We share one last round of laughter and bro hugs, taking in the bittersweet moment as we say our goodbyes.

The day has finally arrived.

Ash and I stand at the front door, packed suitcases waiting by our sides. Mom stands across from us, trying to hold back the tears and put on a brave face, but her emotions are on full display. Dad exudes an air of confidence and authority in his tailored suit designed by Mom. Every detail of his attire has been meticulously crafted, from the crisp white dress shirt to the perfectly knotted silk tie. Dad has the proud father look, puffing up his chest with pride, while Mom is a bubbling mess.

We have been dreaming of this day for years, but now that it is finally here, the reality of leaving our childhood home feels bittersweet. It is where we mostly grew up and made countless memories.

"Are you guys all set?" Dad clears his throat.

"Yeah," Ash and I say together.

"We"ll miss you both so much," Mom adds, her voice choked with emotion.

"Ah, come on, Mom," Ash says, stepping forward and pulling her into his chest. "None of that now."

Mom hugs Ash tightly, holding him close as if she never wants to let him go. "You"re going to do amazing things. We"re so proud of you," she whispers, her voice breaking. "Both of you." She looks at me with a watery smile.

When Ash lets Mom go, I walk up to her and give her a hug. "It"s going to be okay, Mom. We"ll be back for Thanksgiving," I remind her, reassuring her that this isn't goodbye for forever.

"You got your class schedule?" Dad asks.

"Yep," Ash says, speaking for both of us.

"Can you remind me when the first day of camp is?" Dad asks again, even though he knows the answer. It"s his way of stalling, of prolonging this moment before we have to say goodbye. I can"t tell if he"s doing it for his own sake or on behalf of Mom, or maybe both of them. Either way, this goodbye will not be easy for any of us.

"It actually starts tomorrow," I reply, watching as Dad"s face falls just slightly. I understand his hesitation to let us go. Ash picks up the suitcases and says, "We should get going, D." I nod in agreement, grab my backpack, and shoulder it. "Walk us out?" I ask our parents. As we stroll toward the car, Mom rambles about the essentials she packed, including first aid kits, Tylenol, heating pads, lotion, Chapstick, cold medication, cough drops, and laundry detergent. But I can hardly hear her voice as my thoughts are occupied with Shorty. We had an amazing time together this summer, and the idea of leaving her is tearing me up.

Suddenly, Mom"s voice breaks through my thoughts. "And don"t forget to call me every night."

"I won't, Mom," I reassure her.

With Dad"s help, Ash and I load our suitcases into the trunk of his Jeep. Ash and I chuckle as Dad inspects the amount of space left in the trunk and rearranges a few items to ensure everything fits. After confirming that our bags are tightly secured, he raises the trunk door and gently closes it.

"Alright, boys, this is it," he says, his hands gripping our shoulders tightly. As he draws us each into a hug, I feel the strength of his embrace. When he finally pulls back, tears glisten in his eyes. "I"m so proud of you both," he says, his voice low and husky. "Thank you for allowing me to be your father."

A lump forms in my throat. Growing up, Ash and I didn"t have a father figure until Mom married Charles. His warm and welcoming demeanor made us feel safe and loved. Over time, he became an integral part of our lives, teaching us valuable life skills and always being there to offer guidance and support. We are fortunate to have him as our dad, and we are proud to call him by that name.

"Study hard. Play harder." He gives us a pointed look and ends with a grin. "We"ll make it to as many games as possible," he promises.

I nod, trying to hold back my tears, and he pulls me back for another hug. "Look after one another," he whispers, his voice tender and caring. "And stay safe."

As he steps aside, my mother fills the space, engulfing me. She cups the side of my face with her gentle hands and gives me a sad smile. "Don"t push yourself too hard, my love. Focus on your health. You"re going to be a father soon," she says, her voice trembling as she chokes on her last words. "Have you heard from Sadie today?"

I shake my head. "No, but I"m sure I will tonight," I reply, trying not to show the disappointment of not seeing Shorty before I leave the state.

We climb into the Jeep as Ash and I say our last goodbyes. As our parents watch us drive down the driveway, I feel a tinge of sadness at leaving them behind.

As we make our way toward the gate, a car suddenly stops abruptly in front of us, blocking our path. Ash hits the brakes, causing me to grab the dashboard tightly. "Jesus fuck!" Ash screeches.

I lift my gaze and catch a glimpse of Tia sitting in the driver"s seat and Shorty stepping out of the passenger side. I hastily unbuckle my seatbelt and leap out of the car, moving toward her.

"Oh, good! I wasn"t too late," she says, panting.

"I didn't think I"d get to see you," I confess.

She seals her lips and beams. "I couldn"t let you go without saying goodbye."

My fingers itch to touch her soft skin, but she spins around so fast that I fear she might fall. "Shorty!" I cry, but she chuckles and says, "I have something for you guys."

Shorty vanishes behind the car and opens the trunk, and Tia steps out of the vehicle, sitting on the edge of her window with her hands placed on the roof.

"Hey, chicos," she says with a wide grin.

Ash pops his head out of the window. "Awe, you came to see me off, mamasita?" he teases Tia. Tia rolls her eyes at Ash"s remark, and he adds, "If you keep doing that, your eyes will get stuck that way," which makes her roll her eyes again but with a smile.

Shorty slams the trunk and walks toward me. She"s wearing my jersey, jean shorts, and red flip-flops. I swear she makes me keep falling for her all over again.

She hands me a large blue box with a white ribbon, and I place it on the hood of the Jeep, looking between her and the gift when she says, still out of breath, "Open it."

I unwrap the gift with anticipation, like a little boy at Christmas. I find Ash's and my favorite snacks inside the box, including beef jerky, gas gift cards, candy, energy drinks, little magnetic board games, and two neck pillows. The smile on my face is uncontrollable. "Shorty, this is great. Thank you." I look up at her, and she"s beaming. Her brown eyes shine in the sunlight.

"You"re forgetting one thing," Tia reminds her.

"Oh! Yeah, hold on," Shorty says, but before she can get to the car, Tia jumps out from her spot in the window. "I"ll get it. You keep running around like that, and you"re going to hurt yourself."

As I stand there with Shorty, my heart pounds in my chest. I have to leave soon, but I can't bear being away from her. And then, without warning, I grab her hand and pull her close to me. I wrap my arms around her, taking in the warmth of her body, and gaze deeply into her eyes. "Thank you for coming," I whisper. Unable to resist any longer, I lean in and kiss her lips. It is a soft, tender kiss filled with all the love and longing I have felt for her since I was six.

When I hear the car door shut, I see Tia walk toward us with two lunch boxes. Without wasting any time, Ash quickly jumps out of the Jeep.

Tia slowly approaches us and hands me a bright red bag while handing the green one to Ash. "This one is for you," she says, pointing to the red bag, "and for you," she adds, gesturing toward Ash and the green bag in his hand.

Ash, still fixated on Tia, glances at his bag and asks, "What is this?"

"We each packed you guys a lunch," Sadie replies with a smile, "That way, you don"t have to stop and pay for anything."

"It"s nothing special," Tia adds, "just a sandwich, some chips, an apple, and Gatorade."

"And cookies that Tia and I baked last night," Shorty says, wiggling her eyebrows.

Without uttering a sound, Ash gazes intently at Tia. The girls packed our favorite snacks and Gatorade flavors. Tia has no idea how much this gesture means to Ash. Ash has never felt this kind of warmth and affection from any other girl so I know this means a lot to him. Tia is a caregiver while Ash is her protector, just like it is with me and Shorty.

"Okay, well. Safe travels and good luck—" Tia"s words are cut off when Ash sets the bag on the Jeep, pulls Tia against him, and kisses her lips. Tia initially freezes but then wraps her arms around his neck.

I glance away and look down at my girl. I grab her behind her legs, and she yelps before I place her on the top of Tia"s hood. Her curly hair is soft as my fingers run through it, and I wrap my hand around her neck, pulling her close to me. "I love you so much," I tell her before kissing her softly.

As I pull away, I notice her lips are now plump and red, and her eyes are dazed. I chuckle and ask, "You okay?" eliciting a giggle from her.

We both remain silent for a moment, lost in our thoughts. Then I break the silence by promising, "We"ll talk every day."

"Okay," is all she says.

"Don"t work too hard." I kiss her nose.

"Okay." She kisses my nose.

"Make sure you stay hydrated," I say, rubbing my nose lightly over her cheek.

"I will." She runs her finger across my jaw.

"And take care of my baby," I whisper, rubbing her belly.

"I promise."

I tip her chin up and brush my lips against hers until I slip my tongue into her mouth, kissing her deeply.

When we pull apart, her eyes are glistening with tears.

She"s killing me.

"Baby, don"t cry," I plead.

Her cries turn into laughter. "I can"t help it," she says. Her lips tremble, and Tia, noticing the change, grabs Shorty"s arm and pulls her toward the car.

"We"re leaving now. Call her when you get to Tennessee, Donnie," Tia instructs me, and I nod in response.

"Hold up!" Ash quickly rushes over to Shorty and gently lifts her off her feet, holding her tightly. When he sets her back down on her feet, he leans in and places a soft kiss on her cheek. As he walks back to me, Shorty"s face starts to fall apart, and she bites her lower lip.

"It will be okay. We'll be fine," I say to Shorty, my heart hammering against my ribcage at the thought of my new reality.

"I know," Shorty replies, tears streaming down her face as she struggles to keep her composure.

"Wait, just...just wait, and let us leave first," I plead with them, but Shorty shakes her head.

"No, please. Let us leave first. I can"t see you drive away," she croaks. "Not again."

"Okay, okay," I whisper brokenly, taking a step back as I watch my love, the mother of my child, drive away from me. And that"s when I break down, my emotions getting the best of me, leaving Ash to pick up the pieces and put me back together.