Page 35 of Hold 'Em Tight

“Thank you, Ninos,” she says, then drops onto the kitchen chair with a sigh. She looks exhausted, but happy.

Florida has been really good for her. She has a lightness in her smile that I haven't seen in a long time.

“Teo, Donny, look what Mama got me,” Nando exclaims, showing us his new Nintendo game.

“Rock on, little man. I love Mario Party,” Donny murmurs with a huge smile.

“Will you play with me?” He looks up at us with so much hope in his eyes, I feel bad turning him down.

Rylee exits the bathroom and helps us put away the rest of the groceries. She's smiling and seems happy.

“I promised Ry we would get something to eat, but after we can play,” I tell him, and he throws himself into my stomach with an oomph, giving me a big hug.

“Ready?” I ask Rylee, and she nods, walking over with a wet paper towel. She wipes Nando's face, and laughs as he complains.

“I was saving it for later,” he whines as she boops his nose.

“How about I just bring you another one later, hmm?” His eyes widen and he hugs her tightly.

“You're the best, Ry,” he mumbles into her stomach, and she pats his head.

She's so good with him. Seeing them together makes me think of our future, and maybe having a kid of our own someday.

Rylee's stomach growls loudly and Donny laughs. “Come on, babe.” Taking her hand, he leads her to the door.

I kiss my mama's cheek, then follow them as Donny leads Rylee to the elevators.

“I'm starving. I could seriously eat a damn shark at this point,” Rylee complains as we exit the elevator.

“Me too, Cherry,” Donny agrees, nodding and taking her hand in his, before tugging her over to the hotel restaurant.

Her grandfather is there at a table, reading some papers with Rylee's dad, and he lifts his head as we enter.

He has a big grin on his face.

“Rylee, dear, why don't you join us?” he says, and her dad pops his head up, looking over at us.

Rylee freezes, and has a strange smile on her lips.

“Everything okay?” I ask, and she sighs.

“Yeah, do you mind if we sit with them… I should probably visit for a little bit. My mom mentioned that he's been wanting to see me.”

“Of course. We will leave you to it. Donny, let's go.”

“You don't have to…”

“Baby girl, it's okay. We will sit over there in case you need us.”

Smiling up at me, she leans in for a quick kiss. I oblige and then Donny steals her.

“No, you’ve hogged her enough,” he grunts and I laugh, then head for the bar, shaking my head as Rylee scolds him.

I glance over my shoulder as I pull out a bar stool and grab a menu. There is a young guy working today, and I'm glad that Barbie bitch left.

Donny gives Rylee a big, sloppy kiss, walks her to her dad, then meets me at the bar.

Pulling out a stool, he knocks on the bartop, getting the guy's attention. I look over at the table we were sat at the first time we met Rylee.