Page 16 of Hold ‘Em Tight (Solidarity Academy #4)

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

I thought getting away and going to Florida for the summer was our ticket to peace, but we haven't even been back here for more than five minutes and the mood is solemn.

Then again, seeing Lennox and that witch in all the tabloids didn't help matters.

“He's really marrying her,” Rylee mutters.

Trevor takes her into his arms and presses a kiss to her temple.

She's trying to hide her tears, but I know her heart is breaking… again. Hell, mine is shredded too. I knew this was coming, but seeing it there in plain sight is like a punch to the gut.

Teo stormed off after destroying the magazine cart, and Colt is trying to smooth things over with airport security.

We still have to get our luggage before we can go home. I'm excited to see Cobbler. Facetiming just isn't the same as cuddling up with him and watching anime.

He's my buddy, and right now, I could use some snuggles.

My stomach growls as we pass by the coffee shop. My eyes drift over to the glass case full of pastries, and I know what I have to do. It won’t be a permanent fix, but it will have to do for now.

“Wait here,” I tell Rylee and Trev, then walk into the shop and over to the counter.

There's not a lot of people around, so I don't even need to wait in line.

“Hi, what can I get you today?” the barista asks, and I point to the cake pops.

“I'll take one of each, please.” I pull out my phone and scan it on the register, paying as she collects our sweet treats.

She hands them over to me and I give her a wink.

When I reach Rylee, I take out the red velvet cake pop and hand it to her.

She gives me a shaky smile, but I know she's just masking her pain.

“Thanks, Donny,” she whispers and I nod.

“Anything for my Cherry.” I reach back into the bag and grab a chocolate one for Trevor, and he gives me a nod. I grab one for myself and pop it into my mouth as we continue walking. There’s a crowd waiting for the elevators, so we decide to take the escalators to baggage claim.

Teo is pacing in front of the conveyor belt and I sigh. At least, he didn’t go far.

He's running his hands through his hair and smacking his chest with his fist as he tries to control himself. People are watching him as if he's crazy, but then they avoid looking his way.

He can be one scary ass dude at times.

“Hey, big guy,” I start, walking over to him. He looks at me, and to say he's wrecked is an understatement.

His blue eyes are bright red, and he looks on the verge of losing his shit. Turning to Trev, I point to the baggage carousel.

“I'm going to take him out to the truck, can you grab our bags?”

He nods and pulls Rylee closer to him, wrapping his arm around her waist with a sigh. “Yeah, Donny, I got it.”

I grab Teo's arm and tug until he gives in. He stops in front of Rylee and places his finger under her chin. His voice wobbles, and I have to take a deep breath. Fuck being hurt, I’m starting to become pissed.

“I'm sorry, Red. The photos caught me off guard, but everything is going to be okay,” he mutters, leaning down and kissing her cheek.

She looks up at him when he moves back and nods. “I know, Teo. Just go. I'll see you in a few minutes.”

“I love you, baby.”

“I love you, too. Both of you,” she murmurs, looking at me. I wink at her and she rolls her eyes, but still it’s weak. Mateo isn’t the only one hanging on by a thread.

“Well, I think I managed to fix shit, but we really need to work on your temper, Teo,” Colt says, stomping toward us.

He looks frazzled as he pulls his glasses off to clean them on his T-shirt.

“I know. And I'll pay you back for the damages,” Teo grunts.

Colton sighs and shakes his head. “It’s fine. Let’s just get our bags and go home.”

“We were going to go get the truck, start the AC, and meet you all out front,” I speak up, and Colt nods before turning toward Ry and Trev. “Come on,” I mumble to Teo, who follows me out to the parking garage.

“Fuck!” he growls when we reach the truck. He kicks the tire a few times, swearing at it.

A little old lady a few rows away squeaks and quickly gets into her car. I give her a friendly smile and wave as she passes.

“Feel better?” I ask, and he grumbles before falling to his ass on the dirty concrete and bringing his knees up to his chest. His shoulders shake and I can hear the sniffles he’s trying to hide.

“Hey,” I whisper, sitting beside him and pulling him into my arms. “It’s going to be okay, Mateo. It really is.” He lifts his head and gives me a look.

“Yeah, right, Don. We shouldn’t have come back here. I knew it would be rough, but what the fuck, man?! Why are they in all the magazines? Is he enjoying rubbing our faces in his new life? Did we never mean anything to him?”

He shoves me away and gets to his feet, wiping his face on his arm and unlocking the truck.

I stand up, then move to the passenger side and climb in as he starts the engine and blasts the AC, rolling down the windows to cool off the inside.

“Maybe we need to pay Lennox a visit. Finally get some answers, or at the very least, closure,” I suggest, but he scoffs.

“You’re starting to sound like a fucking therapist, Don,” he grumbles, as he puts the truck in reverse and carefully backs out.

“Yeah, well, someone has to keep this family together.”

The ride back to campus is quiet, the only sound is from the music on the radio. Teo's glaring out of the window as he drives, and Colt is doing something on his phone.

Rylee is asleep on Trev's shoulder, and he just looks lost. Can't blame him. I don't even know what's going to happen next.

But it's about time we all get some happiness. Don't we deserve it? Haven't we been through enough bullshit and drama? I really think we need closure.

“What the fuck?” Teo grumbles, startling me, and I look at where he’s glaring. “Why the hell is he here?” He parks right next to Len’s car, and doesn’t even turn the engine off. Slamming into park, he opens his door and storms off toward the cheer house.

“What’s going on?” Rylee mumbles, and I glance back at her as she stretches with a yawn.

“Lennox is here,” I say as I reach over and turn the truck off with a press of a button, before racing after him. Colt is a step ahead of me. The front door opens as I’m reaching the stairs, and I freeze.

Shit! This isn’t going to be good. Missi steps out with a huge smile on her lips and a smug gleam in her eyes. She stands at the top of the steps and places her hand on her baby bump, displaying the huge diamond ring on her finger.

“Nope, no, hell fucking no! Get out of here, Pissy Missy.”

“Oh, please, as if I'd want to be anywhere near you, Donny, and your little skank.”

Missi blows on her nails and then finger waves at Teo.

“Don't pout, Mateo. Maybe if you're lucky, I'll let you join Lenny and I. I've always wanted to be stuffed.”

Bile rises in my throat and I gag. “Gross. I think I'm going to vomit.”

“You and me both,” Rylee snarks and I look over my shoulder at her with a wiggle of my eyebrows.

She looks livid.

I can hear a few of the other girls laughing inside, talking to someone. So I shouldn’t be surprised when Len steps out next with a few bags and a small box. He freezes behind Missi, and his eyes immediately zoom in on Teo, and then Rylee, as she walks up behind me.

He gives us a smile and says, “I didn't think you guys would be here. How are you?”

He then puts his stuff on the porch before walking around Missi, or at least, he tries to. She digs her nails into his arm, stopping him from coming toward us. She says something to him and he places a kiss onto her head, avoiding our eyes.

A gasp of pain sounds behind me, coming from my Cherry, and it makes me clench my fists. Missi looks up at him with so much devotion, before smirking at Mateo, and that is when I see red.

“Fuck this. I'm out. I need a drink,” Teo grumbles and walks off. Colt reaches for him, but he shakes him off and puts his hands in his pockets.

He looks so dejected and broken.

“What are you doing here? Haven't you hurt this family enough?” Rylee shouts, and I can see the exact moment Lennox cringes.

Missi cackles and grabs him by the shirt, pulling his lips onto hers. She shoves him away and grins, licking her lips.

“You were never good enough for him, Rylee. He was always mine. Tell her, Lenny.”

He winces and nods. “I was always hers. What we had was a temporary fantasy,” he mumbles.

“Wow. Well, ya know what? Fine. You both can go fuck yourselves.” Rylee's voice cracks, and I've had it.

How dare he come here?! How dare he start this shit again.

“You heard my fucking girl! Now, get the fuck out!” I shout, taking a few steps closer.

Lennox looks over at me and his eyes widen. Missi lets him go as he starts down the steps.

“Listen, man…”

“No, you have two seconds to get the fuck away from us. I can't hit her, but trust me, I can knock your ass out!”

We're starting to attract a crowd, but I don't care. Let them see what a bitch and a traitor look like.

“Donny, please,” he begs, but I'm done.

I take three steps closer and swing my fist right into his face. The crack his jaw makes is satisfying, and I don't even notice the ache in my hand. He tries to block me, but I’m just getting started.

I swing for his ribs and he stumbles, landing on his ass, so I don’t hesitate to get on top of him. I glance back at my Cherry and she has her hand over her mouth and tears in her eyes. Trevor gives me a nod of approval, then takes her hand and leads her away.

“Donny, please,” he tries again, but I shake my head.

“You fucked up, Lennox. You had it all, and you threw it all away. For what? That psycho, gold-digging bitch?” I roar, and he winces as my spittle hits his forehead.

“You don’t understand.”

“Stop!” Missi screams at the top of her lungs. I keep my hand planted on Len’s chest as I continue to straddle him. He deserves to be pinned on the lawn. “Get away from him. We have a press interview next week,” she shouts, while using the railing to waddle down the steps.

She misses the last stair and I watch as she twists her ankle in her stilettos. Len groans and tries to buck me off of him, but he knows how good I am at riding the bull at the local bar.

“Lenny,” Missi sobs, now sitting on the stairs and rubbing her ankle. She has crocodile tears on her cheeks, and her mascara is running. I wish Teo and Rylee had stayed long enough to see this.

“Take a picture,” I tell Colt and he snorts, pulling out his phone to document this amazing moment.

“Get off of me,” Len croaks, and I turn my attention back to him.

“You hurt my family, Lennox. And if you ever think about coming back here and groveling, which I know you will, because I can see how much you hate that bitch, you better come prepared. I won’t let you fuck with them again.”

I lean down and press a kiss to his forehead and whisper, “For what it’s worth, we all still love you, asshole.” Then I take Colt’s offered hand and stand up.

“I need a fucking drink now,” I grunt, walking off towards the campus bar, where I know Teo is, not even bothering to glance back.

Our waitress, Nina, brings me a plate of fries and another beer. I give her a smile as she places them in front of me on the bar.

“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 jalapeno 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.