Page 20 of Hold ‘Em Tight (Solidarity Academy #4)

Rylee raises a brow, giving her a smile. “To replace a bitch with a bitch. But at least these ones know more tricks than you do. And I’m not talking about the ones where you open your legs for anyone with a dick.”

Donny isn’t as great at holding in his laughter, and Mateo snorts too.

Missi’s face goes bright red.

“Fuck you!” Missi shouts.

“No thanks.” Rylee sits back in her chair, putting her feet up on the table as she crosses her arms. “You haven’t had all your shots, and I’m not interested in catching something.”

“You can’t talk to me like that.” Missi literally stomps her foot like a petulant child.

“Missi.” I sigh heavily, knowing that if Rylee is so fed up with Missi that she’s willing to talk to her like this, despite knowing what Missi could easily use against us, Rylee isn’t in a caring mood. “What are you doing here? You're not on the team. You don’t get a say.”

“I don’t see why you just didn’t add Rachel to the team,” Missi growls.

“Why? Because she’s one of your friends? I don’t remember you letting her on the team either, bitch.” Donny laughs. “Rachel trips over her own feet. Why the hell would we let her on the team? So she can trip us up and we break our necks? Yeah, no thanks.”

“Fine.” Missi huffs, crossing her arms. “Whatever. Add who you want. As long as they’re good! And not Sabrina.”

“Why not?” Rylee asks. “Of all the auditions, she was by far the best one.”

She really was. And honestly, the moment she was done with her audition, I was ready to say fuck to looking at everyone else and welcome her to the team.

“Because she’s a bitch!” Missi shouts. Really? She’s one to talk.

“And how would you know that?” I ask. “She doesn’t even go to our school.”

Rylee ignores Missi and reads over Sabrina’s information. We’ve been so caught up in the shitshow that today was, we stopped bothering to read their information, because what's the point if we knew they wouldn’t be added.

“It’s none of your business,” Missi snaps. “All you need to know is that she’s some stupid, poor nobody, who’s mommy married rich. And she's a backstabbing bitch that will take everything you’ve worked hard for, and isn’t afraid to use money to get it.”

“Is she for real right now?” Donny whispers to me. “I’m confused. Is she talking about Sabrina or herself?”

“I don’t even know,” I murmur back, so over today.

“Look. Thanks for your input, but it’s not needed. We will pick whoever we think is the best fit for this team. No one’s personal past will get in the way of that. Least of all someone who’s not even on the team.”

“Listen here, you little bitch–” she starts, but is cut off by Lennox.

“Missi!” he shouts, standing in the doorway of the gym.

“Do something!” Missi whines. “They’re going to pick someone awful to replace me.”

“Again, is she for real?” Donny whispers. “Sabrina is literally like a million times better than her.”

“Don’t,” I groan when Missi spins around, turning her angry glare on us. “I’m too tired to keep dealing with her bullshit.”

“Put your bitch on a leash,” Mateo barks in anger. “Or someone else will.”

Missi’s eyes go wide, and Lennox lets out a curse before rushing over to Missi.

“Let’s go.” Lennox wraps an arm around Missi.

“But–”

“This isn’t good for you or the baby,” Lennox says, and my eyes flick over to Rylee. She’s looking down at the paperwork, acting like she’s ignoring them, but I can see the way her body tenses. “The team doesn’t matter anymore. You have me. And our baby.”

“You're right.” Missi huffs, lifting her chin. “We don’t need this team. We have something so much better.”

When Missi wraps her arms around Lennox, his gaze flicks over to us, and I see something like… sadness?

The man looks miserable. Who is he trying to fool?

Doesn’t matter. He cheated on Rylee and Mateo, and knocked up our biggest enemy. Even if he regrets it, he made his bed, now he can lie in it.

It’s not until Lennox and Missi leave the gym that we all take a collective breath.

“I don’t give a fuck about what that witch says.

” Rylee slaps the paper down in front of me.

“Sabrina isn’t just the best we saw today, overall, she’s amazing.

Look at her credentials. She’s been cheering since she was five.

And for the past few years, she's been full time at a competitive level. She’s only taking a break now so she can go to college.

She’s joining the team. If we want to win Nationals, it’s the only choice. ”

Normally, I’d sit down, review the tapes, go over their information, and choose what’s best for the team, but I don’t think I’ll need to do that today. There were a few other girls who were at our level and would do fine on the team, but Rylee is right, Sabrina is clearly the best choice.

“Alright then.” I nod my head. “Donny, want to go see if Sabrina is still outside?”

“On it, boss.” Donny hops up and heads outside.

“She really was good,” Mateo mutters. “Just imagine what she can do for the team.”

“Also, it doesn’t hurt that Missi hates her. Any enemy of hers is a friend of mine,” Rylee laughs.

Sighing, I shake my head, because there’s no way I’d let Sabrina join the team over pettiness alone. But she really does have talent. So my girl can get what she wants, and I don’t have to be in the doghouse about it.

The door opens and the little pixie of a woman steps inside. She’s changed out of her workout gear, and is now in a pair of ripped jeans and a tank top. Her blonde hair that was once in a ponytail is now hanging down her back in beach waves.

“Not going to lie, she’s pretty hot,” Rylee murmurs.

My eyes widen, snapping over to gape at Rylee.

“What?” She laughs. “It’s true.”

“Hey,” Sabrina says, and my attention goes back to her. Sure, she’s pretty, but no one will ever come close to Rylee in my eyes. “Donny said you wanted to see me.”

Rylee stands and holds out her hand. “Welcome to the team.”

Sabrina’s eyes widen, a smile taking over her face. “Really?”

“Yup. You're not only the best we saw today, but your credentials are amazing.”

“Thanks,” Sabrina mutters. “I was planning on taking a break while going to school, but cheer is in my blood.” She shrugs. “If I can do both, then why not.”

“Are you already enrolled in Solidarity Academy?”

“Ah, no.” She looks sheepish. “I was supposed to attend school back in Colorado. But when I saw you were having open auditions, I thought I’d give it a try.” She rubs the back of her head. “Honestly, I didn’t think too far ahead. I don’t even know if they will accept me.” She laughs nervously.

“No worries about that,” I tell her with a friendly smile. “We have a scholarship position that's just for the team. So as long as you don’t have a criminal record or anything, I don’t see there being any issues with your acceptance to the school.”

“Nope.” She laughs a little less nervously. “None of that.”

“Good then,” Rylee says. “It might take a few days to get everything put in place. Do you have anywhere to stay?”

“I’m staying at a hotel nearby,” she answers.

“We have a house for all the cheer members. There’s an empty room with your name on it, if you’d like to move in tonight.”

“Okay.” Sabrina grins. “Sounds good to me.”

“Welcome to the team,” Donny cheers. “We’re going to fucking kill Nationals this year.”

Smiling over at Rylee, she gives me one back. Maybe this year won’t be all bad. Sometimes it’s the little things that keep you going. And by the looks of it, things with the team are starting to look up.