Page 26 of Hold 'Em Tight

“Kinks, Donny, really?” she whisper-shouts, and I duck my head. I can't hide my smirk though and she rolls her eyes.

“I love you, Adonis, but sometimes you can be too much. My mother asked me why you reacted to the whole being peed on thing, and one thing led to another until golden showers were brought up, so I had to explain what that was!”

I burst out laughing and she shoves me away, then retakes her seat.

Mama brings over the food with Teo and Colt's help, and immediately starts to make Rylee a plate.

She looks at the food and winces.

“This looks incredible, Mama, but my stomach is still a little off from the flight.”

“Oh, baby girl, why didn't you say anything?” Rylee's mom says, then starts bustling around the kitchen.

“I'll make you some egg on toast, just like when you were little.”

Rylee smiles and glances at Trevor. He has a knowing grin on his face, and it makes me think I'm missing something.

“Thanks, Mom.”

Mama passes Rylee's plate to me, and I dig in with a groan.

“Yeah, this is the life.”

I would saythis is Heaven. Laying on a beach lounger, with a cocktail in my hand as Teo and Rylee fool around in the water, but I can't when there is a Lennox-sized hole missing.

I know I need to stop thinking about him, but I'm worried. Not only is he caught in that evil witch’s press-ons, he's going to have to raise her spawn.

He should be coming to us for beers and bitching, but instead, he just pushed us away. I get it, the relationship is over, but he's still my brother.

It would be really hard at first, but we'd find a way to make it work.

Colt sighs next to me and drops his book on the small table between our chairs. He rubs his eyes and yawns.

He has dark circles like the rest of us, but his seem to be more pronounced. Looking back at the water, he smiles and waves, then groans.

“I need to do some laps or something. We haven't worked out at all since arriving, and we need to be in top shape for Nationals. Not to mention, when we get back, we will have to host auditions.”

My mouth pops open and I gape at him. “What do you mean by auditions? Oooh, can I be like that stern British guy on American Idol?‘No, love, you just can't hit the jumps. Nexxxtttt.’”

Excitement fills me at the thought, and then reality hits and I frown. “I'm all for replacing the bitch, but Lennox… I don't want some random guy to join our team. Remember the last one, Johnny? We had to beat his ass for sneaking into the girl's locker room and recording them.”

“Fuck, yeah, I know. But this is our final year, and Nationals has always been the goal, Don.”

“Wait here, I have an idea.” I jump up from my lounger and run across the hot sand to where Trev is throwing a football to some rando he just met.

“Yo, T-man, catch me!” I shout, then lunge at him, all dirty dancing style as I hope like hell that he catches me.

“Donny, what the fuck, man?!” he grunts, but he manages a perfect lift.

“Welcome to the team,” I say with a big grin, looking down at him as I put my hands on his strong shoulders, and his eyes widen.

“Ha-ha, good one,” he grumbles, tossing me onto my ass before returning to throw the football.

“Oh, come on. Just think about it. We would only need you for practice and Nationals. Maybe Alex could even help.”

Trevor throws his head back, laughing. “Alex, a cheerleader? Yeah, that would be something to see,” he says and I sigh, then turn and head back to Colton.

I plop back down on my seat and pout. Colt leans over and pats my arm.