Page 22 of Hold ‘Em Tight (Solidarity Academy #4)

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

“ W hat kind of baby shower is this?” Serenity asks, joining me as I grab a few things off the food table and place them on my plate. “It’s weird. Who does a pool party for a baby shower?”

“This is Missi we’re talking about. Who knows why she does anything,” I mutter, grabbing a cupcake from my plate and taking a bite.

We head over to the opposite side of the pool, far away from Missi and her friends.

“Did you see that smug ass look on her face when we walked in?” Mateo laughs when I take the chair next to him. “She’s so fucking stupid. As if we would actually play nice.”

Smiling, I shoot him a wink. “We just need to chill here for a little bit, then we go for a swim.”

“Is it just me or does anyone else want to shove Lennox in the pool?” Donny asks.

“Don’t,” Mateo growls. “I might be tempted to drown the fucker.”

“Hey,” I warn both of them. “We’re not here to cause harm. Nothing that can be used against us. Got it.”

“Fine,” both Donny and Mateo mutter.

“Here,” Trevor says, taking a seat on the edge of the pool chair I’m sitting on. “Eat this.” He places a sandwich on my plate. “Real food first, sweets after.”

I force a smile, as a niggle of annoyance seeps in, and I feel guilty because I know he’s just trying to take care of me.

“Thanks.” I take a bite of the sandwich.

We all sit and talk, trying to ignore the obnoxious way Missi always is. From the way she talks to her guests, to her stupid laugh.

I hate everything about her. People like her are why the world is the way it is. The rich and powerful can be cruel and evil, while the good people suffer.

I’ve had enough when I see Missi wrap her arms around Lennox and pull him in for a sloppy kiss. “Come on,” I say, anger pooling in my belly. “Let’s go swim.”

“Fuck yes!” Donny whoops.

“Last one in loses.” We all get up, running toward the pool.

“Cannonball!” Mateo shouts, and then we’re all leaping into the water.

The cool water hits me as I start to sink, a calmness settling over me.

The last time I was underwater like this, all I felt was panic.

But now, it’s different. I didn’t know how peaceful it could be under here. A moment out of the chaos that's been consuming my mind for every second of the day.

And for the smallest second, I wonder if I should just stay here. Let the quiet settle over me, shutting it all off for good.

Then someone grabs my arm and pulls me to the top. When we break the surface, all I can hear is Missi’s enraged voice. She’s screaming. What else is new?

Wiping the water from my face, I look over to see that she’s drenched, and I can’t help but grin.

“Lenny!” she sobs. “They ruined everything.”

“Oh, shit.” My eyes widen. “Did we do that?” I ask with fake concern. “We’re so sorry.”

“Sorry?” Missi screeches as I walk toward the pool ladder. “You're not sorry. You did this on purpose. All of you.”

“Oh, come on, Missi,” Donny shouts from where he’s swimming on his back. “It’s a pool party, isn’t it? We’re supposed to swim at pool parties."

“It’s not a pool party!” she screams as Trevor comes over to me and wraps a towel around my shoulder. “It’s a pool THEMED party!”

“So, you never planned on swimming?” I ask, raising a brow. “Was the bikini and everything just for show?”

“Yes!” she shouts. “You don’t think I’d pay two hundred dollars to get my hair done for this, only to get it wet. Are you crazy?”

“Ahh, no.” I laugh. “But clearly one of us is.”

“Get out!” she screams. “All of you!”

“Hey, you invited us here. Don’t get mad at us.”

“I swear to God, if you don’t leave…” Missi takes a step forward, and a rush of adrenaline hits me.

“What are you going to do, Missi?” I taunt, reminding myself not to beat up a fucking pregnant person. But damn, she’s making it hard.

“Come on, baby,” Trevor mutters, pulling me away. “Let’s go.”

“I’m not ready to go,” I tell him.

“Guys, Rylee and I are going to head out,” Trevor shouts, and he takes me inside before the guys can say anything else.

“I fucking hate that bitch!” I yell as Trevor hands me my clothes. I angrily pull them on as a few of the girls on the team walk by, giving us odd looks. “Take a fucking photo!” I snap.

“Rylee. Breathe,” Trevor murmurs, rubbing my shoulders to relax me. “Stress like this isn’t good for the baby,” he whispers.

I want to scream what baby? There’s no fucking baby, because I lost it. Because the universe is cruel, and took mine away, while that witch gets to keep hers.

Closing my eyes, I take a deep breath, emotion clogged in my throat. When I’m sure I won’t break down in tears, I open my eyes. “Let’s just go. I don’t want to be here anymore.”

“Yeah. Of course.” He wraps his arm around my shoulder. “What do you want to do? Want to go to your room?”

“No.” I shake my head, not really feeling like staying at the cheer house right now.

“How about you come over to my place?” he suggests.

“Is my dad home?” I ask, not sure if he’s someone I want to see right now.

Things between us are still weird. We’ve texted a few times, but now is not the time to be adding anything else to my plate.

“I don’t think so. He’s normally at the office until late on weekdays, then home on weekends.”

Part of me wants to say no, but Trevor is always over at our place. I need to put some sort of effort in to be a part of his life.

It’s still weird that technically we’re step-siblings.

I think a big part of me not wanting to take that step into exploring things with James is because I’m not ready to add that kind of change to my life. A new dad, a stepmom. It’s not what I want in my life right now. And after how things went the last time I saw them, I’m not too keen on a repeat.

“What about your mom?”

“She’s at work too. Both won’t be home until supper,” Trevor says. He gives me a playful smile. “You afraid of them or something?”

“No,” I answer. “It’s just… I don’t know, weird? I don’t know what to say, or how to act around him.”

“It’s okay.” He kisses the top of my head.

“Take your time. Mom understands, and your dad…” He sighs heavily.

“I’ve talked to him a few times, got him to come around to us dating, and the others.

” He laughs. “It wasn't easy, but he’s starting to understand that you're an adult, and your life is how you choose to live it.”

“Really?” I ask, sounding surprised.

“He’s trying to give you the space you need,” Trevor says. “He just hopes you’ll want some kind of a relationship with him someday. He really does love you.”

“I'm not sure how you can love someone you don’t know,” I murmur.

“Well, we don’t know the baby yet. But I already love him or her.” He chuckles and my gut sinks.

“I’ll think about it.” I bring the conversation back to my father. “Maybe someday soon when life settles down.”

“Sounds like a plan.”

“I keep forgetting you come from money,” I point out as we make our way through his massive mansion up to his bedroom.

“Why’s that?” he asks, shooting me an amused grin. “Because I don’t act like a rich, pompous asshole?”

“Well, yeah, pretty much.” I laugh.

“The house is nice, but money doesn’t matter to me. You know that.”

I do. He’s made it known more than once that just because his parents have money, it doesn’t mean anything to him. He works hard in school, as well as every other aspect of his life.

“I know.” I take his hand in mine and kiss the back. “It’s one of the things I love the most about you.”

“Oh yeah?” he asks, smiling as he pulls me into his room. “What else do you love about me?”

“I love how patient and kind you are. How understanding you’ve been about my life and who's in it. You love me no matter what—baggage, boyfriends, and all. You see me for me. I have no idea what it is exactly that you see, but I love that you like it enough to be with me.” I grin, biting my lower lip.

“You don’t see what I see in you?” he asks, closing the door to his room.

With my teeth sunk into my lower lip, I shake my head, trying not to smile. His eyes darken as he takes a step forward, and I take one back.

“You're an amazing person. You’re strong and brave, you stand your ground and fight for what you believe in. You don’t take shit from anyone, and when someone knocks you down, you're quick to get back up, never giving someone that kind of power over you for very long.

“When most people would lose their cool, and react in ways that could cause damage in the long run, or just tuck their tails and run, you don’t. You raise your chin and say ‘fuck you’ to the world.

“I don’t care that I have to share you with the others, because that doesn’t make me want you any less.”

“Trevor.” My eyes sting as my lower lip wobbles. His words hit me in all the best ways, while at the same time leaving me with more guilt eating away at me.

“I love you, Rylee,” he murmurs, walking me backwards until my legs hit the side of the bed.

“I love you too,” I whimper when he cups my face, kissing me deeply. My body hums with pleasure, running down my spine to the tips of my toes.

This overwhelming need for him hits me. We haven’t had much alone time this summer, and I need this moment.

“Fuck,” he pants heavily, his warm breath fanning against my lips. “You drive me crazy, Rylee.”

“Same.” I suck his lower lip into my mouth and bite down, making him groan. My nipples pebble behind my bikini top as heat pools in my belly. “I need you.”

“I’m right here,” he says with a small growl, grabbing the hem of my shirt. He pulls it over my head, before letting me do the same to him.

Once we’re both naked, I wrap my arms around his shoulders, pulling him down to kiss me. Trevor grips the back of my thighs and lifts me into his arms.

“Rylee.” He moans against my lips as I rock my hips, rubbing my already wet pussy against the hard ridge of his cock.

“Need you inside me,” I pant, before taking his lips with mine again.

Locking my legs around his waist, I hold on tight as he moves us further onto the bed.