Page 107 of Hold 'Em Tight

“Yup.” Rylee laughs. “It can get worse, it just depends on the day.”

“You're all mean. Sorry for having enthusiasm.” Donny huffs, getting to his feet and heading down to where Katie’s cheer team is practicing.

“Are you sure I can’t kill him?” Link, Mateo’s cousin, grumbles from the row up from us.

“No.” Both Raven and Rylee swing glaring looks at the big, scary killer man.

Link glares back. “He’s really fucking annoying.”

“Lincoln. If you harm a hair on that man's head, I will stab you,” Raven warns.

Link’s lips twitch. “Don’t threaten me with a good time.”

These two concern me, that's for sure.

Since having Katie, Mateo has been keeping in touch with his cousin. Raven gave birth to their own little girl a few years ago, and it seems to have brought our families closer together.

I’m not thrilled about it. Raven is a nice girl, and she and Rylee have hit it off, but the rest of them scare the shit out of me. Like if I blink wrong, I’m going to get stabbed.

“You know, Donny reminds me of Hunter. Only he’s less stabby.” Rylee laughs as she watches Donny and Hunter down on the field, cheering with our daughters.

“You're right.” Raven laughs. “Now I know why they get along so well.”

“Your man is a bad influence on mine.” Rylee shoves at Raven’s shoulders playfully. “Hunter felt the need to show Donny his pierced dick, and then a week later, Donny came home with one too.”

“Really?” Raven bursts out laughing. “I don’t see how that's a bad thing.”

“It’s not really.” Rylee grins. “It feels amazing.”

“Right!” Raven laughs.

“How is this our lives?” Trevor leans in and whispers.

“I have no clue.” I chuckle. “But it’s not so bad.”

“I guess,” Trevor mutters.

A lot has changed in the past five years. After we graduated, we decided to move to Florida so Rylee and Mateo could be close to their moms. It felt right leaving California behind. While Solidarity Academy wasn’t all bad, it had too many harsh memories.

Starting over, in the place we all first met, felt like fate. Things have been good. It took some time, but we rebuilt our little family, and we have been happy.

Sure, life isn’t perfect, but it’s pretty damn close.

Lennox’s mom moved away, taking Sloan with her. They’ve been travelling the world, sending lots of photos of their adventures. They make sure to come back for holidays, so Lennox can get to know his sister.

As for his father, he’s still rotting in prison. Where he’ll be spending the rest of his life.

We made the best out of our new start, opening our own cheer gym, where we’ve become full-time coaches. None of us coach Katie’s team though, because Rylee felt that it wasn’t right to put that kind of pressure on her. And she’s not wrong. Seeing what Donny is like, it would be so much worse if he coached her team.

Rylee’s grandfather ended up passing away, and she inherited a lot. Including the very hotel we met at. She decided to take it over and run it herself. It gives her the chance to choose her own hours, and make the best out of her free time.

Trevor got a job at Rylee’s father’s company, and works here in Orlando.

Our little mismatched family is happy. And I think after everything we’ve been through, we deserve it.

“What does she have?” Link asks, snapping me out of my inner thoughts.

“Pom poms. Why?” Rylee asks.