(I was about to suggest that we time skip that long myself actually, so yes.)
It had been twelve years since then, and over that time Alex had grown closer with Cassie and Lilly; and at the same time getting closer with Stephen and Zoey. Even though Alex was now thirty-five, he still looked good. He was stronger than he was before, and he was just as fit as he had been. For the most part he told the girls everything he did and every secret he had, and there were only a few things he didn't tell them.