Page 31 of I Saved Him Too

She leans back and away from me, and my hands fall from her hips. Shorty keeps her eyes focused on me.

“Not like this. Not here.” I tip my head down to look at her.

“You don’t want me?”

“Of course, I want you.” I grit my teeth. “You feel this?” I grab her hand and put it on the outside of my joggers.

“Oh.” A flush creeps across her cheeks.

I chuckle at her reaction.

“Don’t ever doubt that I want you. I want to do it right. You deserve that, Shorty.”

The rest of the evening, Shorty finally eats and slowly goes back to her old self.

We watch reruns ofBlue Bloodswith her curled up beside me.

If there’s one thing I’m sure of, it’s that Shorty has been meant for me since we were six years old.

And she willalwaysbe mine.

Chapter 12- Flashback

Sadie 5 years old, & Donovan 6 Years old

I sit on my porch steps, waiting for my best friends to come home from summer camp. The past four weeks were lonely without Doni and Ash to hang out with. Jo’s too old to play with me anymore. He’s too busy with his friends, doing things I am not old enough to do.

“Shorty!”

Ash’s head was hanging out from his mom’s car window like a dog, waving excitedly at me.

“Hi!” I wave back with a big smile on my face.

When Jacquie parked the car, the back doors flew open, and Doni and Ash ran toward me.

I couldn’t help but laugh hysterically when they almost knocked me over.

“Boys! Be careful!” Jacquie yelled.

“We missed you, Curly Sue.” Ash hugged me tight.

“My turn!” Doni pushed Ash to the side and pulled me into his arms.

“I missed you more,” he whispered for only me to hear.

“Okay, boys. Get inside and take a shower. You can play with Sadie later.” She looked over at me and winked.

“It’s Shorty, Mom,” Doni said, rolling his eyes.

“See you later, Curly Sue!” Ash jumps off the step and runs toward his house.

“Stay and wait for me, okay?” Doni gave me one more hug and followed Ash.

* * *

Mom called me into the house to eat supper. After I finished my food, I ran outside, sat on my porch, and waited for Doni. Soon the sky would be dark. Maybe we’ll be able to see the stars shine tonight.

The sound of a screen door opening breaks my connection with the sky. Doni comes running down his steps wearing blue shorts and a Super Mario T-shirt, and his hair was sticking up in all different directions.

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