IWX FAMILY REUNION
One month before Holly and Colt’s June wedding…
Spring had sprung, and the flowers were in bloom. Davis threw an IWX reunion at his estate, inviting all the staff, wrestlers, and their families. There were bouncy houses for kids, food, and games. Of course, he couldn’t just have a normal gathering. There had to be a competition. So, he and his daughter, Jenna, planned the first-ever IWX Olympics where contestants would compete in a gantlet style obstacle course.
The Evans family was sitting around a picnic table eating and having a great time.
“So, who’s entering the Olympics?” Gage shoved a big spoon full of potato salad in his mouth.
Holly elbowed Colt. “I got my partner right here.”
Wraith and his wife looked at each other and smiled. Lilly beamed saying, “We’re in.”
Cyrus almost choked on his hamburger. “What? How? I mean… Sorry, Lilly.”
“It’s okay, Cy. I won’t be competing in my wheelchair. It won’t be easy, but Wraith and I have it figured out. I’m going to ride on his back through the course. We used to do it in boot camp. I’m sure we can handle it.”
Cyrus reached over and hugged his sister-in-law. “I love your spirit, Lil. I’ll be cheering you on.”
Isis narrowed her eyes at Cyrus with a pout. “You’re not going to compete?”
Cyrus tried to not make eye contact. “I don’t have anyone to team up with.”
Holly looked around, trying to find Cyrus a partner. “How about that cute makeup artist? I think she likes you.”
Cyrus perked up and looked around to see her. “She came?”
Isis smiled devilishly at Holly. “Told you he likes her.”
Cyrus went back to eating. “I just think she’s nice.”
“She’s not here. I heard one of the other makeup artists say she had something to do this weekend,” Gage said, cramming more food in his mouth while Isis watched in horror. She still couldn’t believe how much food the man could eat in a day.
Cyrus’s head dropped. “It’s okay. I rather just watch.”
Holly hated the sadness in his eyes. She looked over at Colt and saw he noticed too.
Colt nudged her. “Know what, Cy? Why don’t you compete with Holly? I was thinking of watching the baby so Candy and Slade can compete.”
Cyrus looked up from his food. “You wouldn’t mind? After I have given you such a hard time, why are you being so nice to me lately?”
Colt smiled across the table at his soon to be brother-in-law. “Because of your family now. It’s what family does. I think it’s time to bury the hatchet, Cy. Don’t you?”
Cyrus gave a half-smirk. “Yeah. I guess it’s finally time to admit you are a great guy for my sister. I can’t wait for the wedding.”
Colt nodded. “Thanks, Cy. Good luck at the games. I know you and my girl will bring home the trophy.”
Lilly laughed. “Dream on, pretty boy. Cyrus and Holly are going down.”
Wraith kissed her cheek. “That’s my girl. Let’s take these losers out. Isis, are you competing with Gage?”
“Yep. But I’m not particularly good at obstacle courses. What if I make us lose, Master?” Isis didn’t even realize what she just said in front of her family.
Gage’s eyes drifted over to Wraith, and Cyrus swallowed down a big gulp of food. “Umm. Babe…”
Isis looked around cluelessly. “What I say?”
Holly started busting out laughing. “You called him master.”
Gage slowly got up from the table wiping his mouth watching Wraith and Cyrus who were doing the same. Gage stepped away from the table and took off running. Cyrus and Wraith, not far behind, ready to pummel him.
Isis shrugged and went back to eating.
Lilly giggled, watching the three running around the yard. Gage dodging in and out of other party guests. “Aren’t you going to go help him?”
Isis looked up from her hotdog. “Nah. There are too many witnesses. They can’t kill him here.”
Holly cheered, “GO WRAITH! KICK HIS BUTT!”
Isis looked up to see the brothers had tackled her husband to the ground, pulling his tighty whities over his head in an atomic wedgie.
“Told you they wouldn’t kill him. Just make him suffer a little.”
Colt cringed, squirming in his seat. “Glad that wasn’t me.”
***
Later Gage was standing next to Isis, ready to take their turn at the obstacle course. It was a timed course, and they just had to complete it and have a good time. The Evans family were the only ones left still standing in the last round.
Gage wiggled, trying to adjust since he was now going commando because the brothers ripped his underwear from the wedgy. “You are seriously getting a spanking when we get home.”
Isis giggled. “Yes, sir.”
Gage looked over at her with pressed lips. “Unbelievable. No, as punishment, you are not getting spankings ever again.”
Isis crossed her arms and pouted. “But you do it so good. I’ll be good.”
“Brats don’t get gifts.”
((BUZZER))
Isis and Gage took off through the course and didn’t make it far before Isis slipped, pulling Gage with her into a pool of water. Gage came up from the pool smacking at the water. “Damn it!”
Isis stood up in the shallow pool. “Sorry, Master.”
He glanced over, seeing her looking like a wet rat and pouting. “Oh, come here. It’s okay, love. We can try again next year.”
“You’re mad at me.”
Gage hugged her tight and fell back into the water, making her and the crowd laugh. They started splashing each other and having fun. Gage pulled her to him, kissing her sweetly. “I can never stay mad at you.”
Their partner in Justice, Drake, yelled, “Get a room!”
Davis laughed. “Disqualified. Gage and Isis are out of the game. We are down to two more teams. The Evans family has shown they are a competitive crew. They have beaten everyone’s times so far. Holly and Cyrus. You’re up!”
Holly stood side by side with her brother and smirked at him. “We have to get through this together, but how about a little side bet?”
“First one to get to the finish. Hundred bucks?”
“It’s a bet.”
((BUZZER))
The crowd of wrestlers, crew, and their families were cheering them on. Everyone realized they were competing against each other now, too.
Wraith stooped down next to his wife. “I knew they would end up racing each other. They’re supposed to be a team.”
Lilly rubbed her hands together. “Let them. Just means they will get tired faster.”
Meanwhile, Holly shoved Cyrus out of her way to get to the swinging pendulums of rubber in the obstacle course, first. She dodged each one making her way across. She took a second for Cyrus to catch up, and he took that chance to run past her. Back and forth they went. Finally, in the course's last run, they raced to reach the buzzer for their time.
Cyrus shoved Holly to the side and ran to hit the buzzer. Holly got to her feet and ran to the finish. They both ended with a score of 4.5. They congratulated each other with a high five.
“Good run, Cy.”
“You too, sweet pea. Now all we have to do is beat Wraith and Lilly.”
Davis stepped forward with their results, announcing it to the crowd. “Good run to Team Flame. Now time for our last team to go through their last run in the course. These two have been tough. Team Wheels. Wraith and Lilly. You’re up!”
Lilly wheeled her chair to the ramp entering the course. Wraith leaned down to allow her to get on his back. “Are you sure you’re not getting tired, Wraith?”
“I’m good. You just focus on the arm work. I’ll take care of the feet. Ready?”
Lilly wrapped her arm tight as he took his belt to faster her legs and torso like a backpack. “Ready!”
5… 4… 3… 2…
((BUZZER))
Wraith took off running through the course that was much like a boot camp course, only runner.
“GO WHEELS!” Candy and Slade cheered.
The crowd boosted them up as they made their way through the course with no problem. Wraith took care of the footwork and Lilly helped him pull and crawl with her upper body strength.
“We are almost there, Wraith. RUN!”
Wraith sprinted to the last leg of the course to the buzzer. Looking up, he saw it tied them with Holly and Cyrus.
Davis stepped forward. “Great run! That was true teamwork. Unfortunately, we have a tie. Cyrus and Holly please join us on the platform. We have one last thing to break the tie. Who will compete for your team?”
Holly and Cyrus looked at each other. Cyrus patted his sister’s shoulder. “I’m beat. You take this.”
Davis turned to Wraith. “And your team?”
Wraith tried to catch his breath. Looking at his wife, he knew what to do. “Lilly. She’s taking this.”
Holly looked over at Cyrus, thinking they won. Lilly was paraplegic and competed in the Special Olympics. He knew his girl could do it.
Davis nodded and waved over his daughter, who brought a fishbowl. “Okay. In this bowl are several fun games we all played as kids. There will be three games. The best out of the three is the winner. Let’s have Jenna draw to see what game you will play.”
Davis shook the bowl. “Jenna.” She reached in the bowl and took out the first slip of paper and handed it to her father. “First game. The egg run.”
Slade brought Lilly her chair, and Wraith helped her in. “You’re going down, Holly Hobby.”
“Bring it on, Wheels!”
Lilly just giggled. She wasn’t mad at Holly, or anyone, for calling her that. She took her life lightly and never let things bother her. Besides, they always teased each other and Lilly saw her as the daughter she never had.
It was on... sister vs sister-in-law