Page 33 of I Saved Him Too

“Yeah,” I whisper.

“I’m glad she has you.”

Seb and I have grown closer since the shooting. I look down at my girl and thank the stars she had him and the other guys looking after her when I could not. But now that I’m back, I promise I will keep her safe, and that’s one damn promise I’m sure of never breaking.

I haven’t seen Seb since he was taken in for questioning. I reached out to him when the guys told me he was released the same day, but he’s been tight-lipped about it. He dodged all my questions with a question about Shorty.

We sit in silence for a few minutes until the door opens and Tia’s aunt Paloma walks in.

“Hey, how is she?” she whispers, standing at the foot of the bed. She gently rubs Shorty’s blanket-covered feet.

“She’s still asleep.” I brush the hair off her face and place another kiss on her forehead.

“How’s Tia?” I ask.

She sighs. “She’s doing better,gracias a Dios.”

I nod and bring my gaze back to Shorty. Her eyelids flutter like she’s dreaming.

“How’s the funeral coming along?” Seb asks Paloma.

“It’s coming along.” Tears prickle at her eyes.

Mom and Dad offered to pay for Josiah’s funeral services, but Paloma insisted she would take care of it. Shorty refused to be part of the planning. The thought of her having to see pictures of different types of caskets would break her.

“I spoke with children’s services.”

My head jerks up, panic bubbling inside me at Paloma’s statement.

Seb leans forward.

“Don’t worry…” she quickly adds, “I told them after Josiah’s funeral, she and Sophie will be coming home with me since her mom hasn’t come out of her coma, and her Abuelita will be traveling to Puerto Rico for a family emergency.”

“What family emergency?” Seb asks.

“Her baby brother died in his sleep from a heart attack. Abuelita was his only family,” she says.

I glance down at the broken girl in my arms. “I’m sorry to hear that, but I’d rather the girls stay with me and my family.”

Silence hangs in the air between us.

Then Seb surprises me and says, “I think that’s a good idea.”

Paloma whips her head to Seb.

“Come on, Titi P. You don’t have the extra space, and after the funeral, it’s probably best if she got away for a little while.” He shakes his head. “Staying with D and his family is what she needs right now. It’s what’srightfor her.”

Paloma’s eyes bounce between Seb and me, then to Shorty. She nods in understanding. There’s no anger in her facial expression, just sadness.

Seb’s phone goes off. He glances down at it and rises to his feet. He looks between us and says, “I have to go.”

He squeezes Shorty’s feet with a lingering sadness in his eyes. He clears his throat. “Call me if you need anything.” He points in my direction.

I nod and he leaves.

Paloma walks closer to Shorty and rubs her leg. “She’s always been a fighter. This girl can take and take, never giving up. She has seen so much no teenager should ever experience.” She leans in and places a kiss on top of her head. Paloma switches her gaze to me and offers me a sincere smile. “You take care of her, okay?”

I nod. “Always.”

---