Page 46 of Hold 'Em Tight

“Keep them coming,” I tell her and she laughs, then walks away. Colton sighs next to me, and I shove the plate over to him.

He hasn't been eating much, and I can't fault him for it.

Teo huffs and tosses his phone onto the bar top. “I get that he left, we're done, but does that mean our friendship is completely over?” he slurs, already three sheets to the wind. I shrug, grabbing my beer and taking another deep drink.

I could do with something stronger, but this is fine for now. Rylee has enough on her mind. She doesn't need to collect us all from the bar completely wasted.

Serenity showed up about twenty minutes after we arrived and took her shopping, and then to dinner. She claimed she missed her bestie and needed girl time, but I’m sure she heard about the drama at home. I'm glad that she has her though.

Trevor strides over with a platter of fried foods, placing it on a table nearby. He takes a seat. Teo grabs the fries and joins him.

I point at the bartender, then nod at the table. She winks and I grab my beer, then stumble to a chair. Colt follows.

“Hey,” Trevor says. He looks absolutely wrecked. I can’t imagine any of us look better. Today was a fucking shitshow.

I pass him my beer and he shakes his head. “I'm going to have to make sure you guys get back to the house in one piece.”

Teo scoffs and shoves an onion ring in his mouth, groaning. “Fuck, this tastes like an orgasm on top of a rainbow,” he mumbles, reaching for another one.

Trev pushes the tray closer to him and stands.

“Where ya going?” I ask, and he nods to the food counter.

“Ordering some more, and maybe some burgers too. Soak up some of that alcohol.”

“He's awesome,” I sigh and Colt laughs, smacking me on the shoulder.

“How are you drunk off two beers?”

“I'm not. I just think he’s really good for Rylee and us. You know as well as I do that I hated him in the beginning, but he's family. He makes my Cherry laugh and smile.”

“Yeah, I get it, Don,” Colt says with a sad smile. He looks over at the bar in deep thought.

“My mom called again. She wants me to go to the clinic. To let her make her amends. The steps or whatever. Now that we are back home, I don't have any excuse not to go…”

“We've been through a lot, Colt, maybe just wait a few more weeks. You don't want to say something you will regret, and the amends are fucking rough. My grandma tried to get me to listen.”

“Shit, you never told us about it. Then again, you never talk about your grandparents,” Teo slurs, and offers me a jalapeño popper.

“Love you, dude, but I don't want to be having the shits all night.”

He shrugs, then shoves it in his mouth. “More for me.”

Trev returns loaded down with food and we all sit together, joking around and just bonding.

There is a Lennox shaped hole at our table, but it's okay. I meant what I said. He will be back, and he’d better be ready to grovel.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

“What about this?” Serenity asks, holding up a dress.

“That's cute,” I murmur, casting a glance at it before going back to mindlessly shifting through the racks.

“It’s God awful.” She snorts. “Babe, you’re not even paying attention."

Sighing heavily, I turn back to her. “I’m sorry. My mind is all over the—dear God, that is ugly.” My face screws up and she starts to laugh. “Put that away.”

“I wasn’t going to buy it.” She giggles, before coming over to me.