Page 9 of Hold ‘Em Tight (Solidarity Academy #4)

CHAPTER SEVEN

“ T eo, Donny, Colton!” Nando shouts as he comes tearing through the hotel doors, charging his big brother and giving him a tight squeeze.

Mateo winces and his mom frowns, moving closer to peel Nando off of him.

“Careful, Nino. Remember, Mateo's hurt,” she scolds, in a loving way.

“Sorry, Mama,” he mumbles, and I crouch down, opening my arms.

“What about me, little dude?” I don't have to wait long until he's running into my arms. I scoop him up, over my shoulder, and tickle his sides.

“Stop. Stop. I'm gonna peeeee,” he shouts. I immediately put him down, and he races back inside the hotel, to the bathroom.

I shudder. “That was a close one. Getting peed on is not something I’d enjoy. Thanks, but no thanks. ”

Rylee's mouth pops open and her eyes widen. “Adonis Baros!” she shouts, and I shudder again, but for a whole new reason.

“Fuck, Cherry. Please don't full name me. There are parents present. Something about being full named is hot,” I grumble.

Colt smacks the back of my head, but when I turn to look at him, he's smirking.

Trevor is chuckling as Rylee glares his way. “Don't encourage him,” she hisses.

Mateo’s mom comes over to me and gives me a huge hug. I melt into her arms.

“Hi, Nino,” she says, and I grin.

“Hi, Mama.” She pats my cheek, then walks over to Colton, to give him some love.

I feel all warm and fuzzy now. This was the perfect plan. We all needed some family time.

“Oh, you all must be hungry from the flight. Come, let me feed you,” Mama says, then takes Teo's arm. “I made your favorite, and I have some gel for those bruises.”

Rylee walks off with her mom, and Trevor follows. I try not to pout when she takes his hand, but after we had sex the other day, I'm struggling to give her space.

The way she moaned and clung to me, the way her pussy gripped my cock, milking me for all I had. Fuck. I need another hit. She's the greatest addiction.

I move toward the hotel with the others, and am about to ask what's for dinner, when Colt hands his bag to the doorman, then starts walking down the sidewalk to the beach entrance.

“Hey, where ya going?” I shout after him, but he doesn't bother answering. “Rude.”

Teo nudges me with his shoulder, wincing a little. He's still banged up from his fight, but being here with his mama and Nando is the perfect medicine.

“Leave him be, he's probably checking on his mom.”

“As he should. That boy is a good one. Always looking after her,” Mama says, then sighs. “That poor woman. Losing her baby like that.” She shakes her head, then leaves Teo and I for a minute.

Rylee is laughing with her mom and Nando. She has a glow to her face, and you'd never know that she was just throwing up on the plane.

I seriously think she needs to see the doctor again, but she swears she's fine, that it was just the altitude.

I hope my Cherry is okay. It’s probably from all the stress, and I don’t blame her. We’re all pretty fucking stressed. Lennox leaving has screwed with all of our immune systems, but I can’t have her getting ill. We will just have to find ways to cheer her up while we are here.

“Does your mom know about Len and the baby?” I ask him, and he shakes his head.

“There’s no reason to tell her. He left us, Don. Time to move on. I need to move on… I can't let him drag me down again. I have you, Rylee, Colt, my family… even Trevor. He's kinda growing on me.”

I snort. “Yeah, me too. Though he's a Rylee hog.”

Teo laughs and smacks my shoulder. “She's not one of your blankets, Donny. She's a woman. Our woman.”

That she is. I lick my lips and my dick jumps again as I picture her mouth, curves, ass. Damn, I wonder if I can sneak into her bed later.

I don't care if Trev is there. We can make a Rylee sandwich.

“Teo!” Nando shouts. “Come onnnn. You're taking hours. I want to show you something.”

“He's awesome,” I mutter, nodding towards Mateo’s little brother.

Teo grins and nods. He starts walking toward him, then stops and looks back at me. “You coming?”

I glance back at where Colt disappeared to and shake my head. “I'll meet up with you in a few. There's something I need to do first.”

I know I should follow them, but something has me wanting to go after Colt. He's been quiet since Teo's fight, and I don't blame him. It was fucking terrifying to watch. I thought we'd lost him, but things are good now.

We aren't in Cali anymore. Robin was right, we needed a change of scenery, and Rylee’s family is here.

We have good memories at this hotel… Yeah, Lennox is in them too, but that doesn't matter.

We are going to eat good food, hang out on the beach, relax by the pool, and just enjoy being young and in love.

Life is too precious and short to waste a second of it. Things can change in an instant. I know that sentiment all too well.

“Donny, he's fine,” Teo says, knowing exactly where my thoughts lie. I wave him away.

“Yeah, but how many times have you told me that before? And we both know it's not true.”

He sighs but nods as I turn away and start walking towards where I last saw Colt.

The salty breeze hits my face when I enter through the beach entrance.

Bending down, I remove my sneakers and press my toes into the warm sand. Eww, it's all squishy.

I spot him standing in front of the water. He has his phone in his hand, and he's reading something.

“Hey,” I shout, making sure not to startle him. He's been a little on edge lately. Lack of sleep can do that to you. But he did nap a bit with Rylee on the flight. I even gave them one of my fuzzy travel blankets.

He turns and gives me a nod. He's frowning, so I don't hesitate to run to him and throw my arms around him, giving him a squeeze.

He grunts at the impact, but puts one arm around me and thumps my back.

“What's going on, Colt?”

Sighing heavily, he pushes away from me and puts his phone in his pocket, then fixes his glasses.

“I just have a lot on my mind, Don. Nothing for you to worry about.”

“Cut the shit, Colton John. I know you better than most. You hold everything in, while being there for the ones you love as they break apart. You're the glue that keeps this family together, but who's there for you?”

I love my best friend, but sometimes his whole martyr act pisses me off. I know I've been weak at times, and I'm still working through my shit, but he doesn’t need to be some fucked up version of Superman all the time.

He's cracking. The stress and pressure is getting to him, and I don't know how much of him will be left if he explodes.

He stares at me, and I can see the thoughts running through his head with every furrow of his brow and twitch of his lip.

“Please, Colt, just talk to me. We are all struggling here.

You don't have to hide it. We know you're strong, and would do anything for the ones you care about, but I love you.

You're my brother from another mother. My bestie from different testies.

My bro from another ho… I'll keep going,” I threaten, and then sigh as his shield cracks and he laughs, shaking his head.

“You're a moron, but I love you too, Donny… and thanks. I know that I have you and Rylee, Teo and Trevor, but I just need to work some things out on my own first.”

Groaning, I run my hands through my hair and pull.

“I feel sorry for Rylee. All of her men are a bunch of idiots that struggle to talk about their feelings. I think when we get back, we need some family sessions with Robin,” I muse and he shoves my chest, laughing again.

“Our girl is a saint,” he mutters and I nod, agreeing.

He looks back at the hotel and sighs. My stomach chooses that moment to grumble, loudly.

“Come on. Let's go get some dinner. I'm sure Mama has cooked a feast,” he says as I grab his hand, pulling him up the beach to the back door, where, coincidentally, Teo and Nando are waiting.

Teo gives me a look, and I shoot him a wink. Nando takes Colt's other hand and we walk to the bank of elevators.

“I am so happy you guys are staying the whole summer. There is so much I want to do while you're here,” Nando babbles as we get in the elevator, and Teo pushes the button to the living quarters.

My phone buzzes, and when I pull it out to check the message, I laugh. It's a photo of Cobbler and Peaches in Serenity’s arms.

Alex and her are watching them while we are here. There was a large discussion about bringing them, but ultimately, it came down to Nando being allergic.

I'll miss my boy like crazy, but Serenity will take good care of him. She is his Godmother after all.

The elevator doors open and Nando skips out, still talking a mile a minute as we follow him to their apartment.

I still think it was pretty cool of Rylee's mom to get them a place to stay. Even though Teo's uncle is gone now, I don't think they plan to move back to LA.

Though I'm sure they miss Brenna. I wonder what she's been up to. I'll have to ask Teo later.

I send Serenity a quick message, thanking her again, then walk inside. My stomach immediately growls and my mouth waters.

“Oh, Mama,” I groan, running over to the stove and giving her a quick kiss on the cheek.

She squeals and smacks me away with her dish towel, a rosy hue spreading over her cheeks.

Rylee laughs from the table, and I shoot her a wink. I then make my way over to her, pull her up from her chair and claim her lips.

“Don't be jealous, Cherry, you know you're my one and only.”

She gives me a smile, then pats my cheek a little too hard. I gasp and move away from her.

Her jade eyes burn and she purses her lips. Fuck, did I make her mad?

“Kinks, Donny, really?” she whisper-shouts, and I duck my head. I can't hide my smirk though and she rolls her eyes.

“I love you, Adonis, but sometimes you can be too much. My mother asked me why you reacted to the whole being peed on thing, and one thing led to another until golden showers were brought up, so I had to explain what that was!”

I burst out laughing and she shoves me away, then retakes her seat.

Mama brings over the food with Teo and Colt's help, and immediately starts to make Rylee a plate.

She looks at the food and winces.

“This looks incredible, Mama, but my stomach is still a little off from the flight.”

“Oh, baby girl, why didn't you say anything?” Rylee's mom says, then starts bustling around the kitchen.

“I'll make you some egg on toast, just like when you were little.”

Rylee smiles and glances at Trevor. He has a knowing grin on his face, and it makes me think I'm missing something.

“Thanks, Mom.”

Mama passes Rylee's plate to me, and I dig in with a groan.

“Yeah, this is the life.”

I would say this is Heaven. Laying on a beach lounger, with a cocktail in my hand as Teo and Rylee fool around in the water, but I can't when there is a Lennox-sized hole missing.

I know I need to stop thinking about him, but I'm worried. Not only is he caught in that evil witch’s press-ons, he's going to have to raise her spawn.

He should be coming to us for beers and bitching, but instead, he just pushed us away. I get it, the relationship is over, but he's still my brother.

It would be really hard at first, but we'd find a way to make it work.

Colt sighs next to me and drops his book on the small table between our chairs. He rubs his eyes and yawns.

He has dark circles like the rest of us, but his seem to be more pronounced. Looking back at the water, he smiles and waves, then groans.

“I need to do some laps or something. We haven't worked out at all since arriving, and we need to be in top shape for Nationals. Not to mention, when we get back, we will have to host auditions.”

My mouth pops open and I gape at him. “What do you mean by auditions? Oooh, can I be like that stern British guy on American Idol? ‘No, love, you just can't hit the jumps. Nexxxtttt.’ ”

Excitement fills me at the thought, and then reality hits and I frown. “I'm all for replacing the bitch, but Lennox… I don't want some random guy to join our team. Remember the last one, Johnny? We had to beat his ass for sneaking into the girl's locker room and recording them.”

“Fuck, yeah, I know. But this is our final year, and Nationals has always been the goal, Don.”

“Wait here, I have an idea.” I jump up from my lounger and run across the hot sand to where Trev is throwing a football to some rando he just met.

“Yo, T-man, catch me!” I shout, then lunge at him, all dirty dancing style as I hope like hell that he catches me.

“Donny, what the fuck, man?!” he grunts, but he manages a perfect lift.

“Welcome to the team,” I say with a big grin, looking down at him as I put my hands on his strong shoulders, and his eyes widen.

“Ha-ha, good one,” he grumbles, tossing me onto my ass before returning to throw the football.

“Oh, come on. Just think about it. We would only need you for practice and Nationals. Maybe Alex could even help.”

Trevor throws his head back, laughing. “Alex, a cheerleader? Yeah, that would be something to see,” he says and I sigh, then turn and head back to Colton.

I plop back down on my seat and pout. Colt leans over and pats my arm.

“Solid effort, D-man,” he jokes, but I'm glad he has a smile on his face, even if it's at my expense.