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“I can’t.”

“Sure you can,” he smiled. “You have to have at least a couple of weeks of PTO accrued. My family is going to love you, and you’re going to love them.”

She pushed her face closer to the screen. “I said I can’t.”

“It’s next month, will you just think about it, Honey?”

Still no response.

“Amy?”

She bit her lip, then finally nodded.

“That’s great, you’re going to love it.”

6

Ryker got home from another punishing day at Little Creek. He’d trounced everybody on the obstacle course but Linc and Jase. Landon had been stunned; the little shit always figured he could win because he was the youngest and he thought he had the most endurance.

After everyone went to the showers, he did the obstacle course another time, just for shits and giggles, and to put all thoughts of Amy out of his mind. It didn’t work. When he finally did hit the showers and cleaned up, everybody but Gideon and Kostya gave him a wide berth. They’d been doing that for the last month. Ever since Amy hadn’t gone to California with him.

“How long are you going to keep this up?” Kostya asked.

“What up?” Ryker answered.

“Acting like an asshole to everyone. You’re supposed to be the fun one on the team. If you’re not the fun one, I’m going to have to trade you for Drake Avery, and he scares me.” Kostya shuddered.

“Not funny,” Ryker snarled.

“See?” Kostya pointed to his chest. “Not fun.”

Ryker gave him the glare of death.

Kostya sighed. “Lark said that Amy needs time.”

“I know, I know, she told me that too. It just warms my heart,” Ryker said sarcastically.

“Look, Ryker, I don’t know how you missed it, but the woman has issues.”

“Apparently. I ran straight into them, and it wasn’t fun.” Ryker rubbed the back of his neck. “I just need to get home, grab a beer and watch the game, okay?”

“How about you come to my house?” Gideon suggested. “Jada is going to be working in the office all night on a project. We can have some male bonding time.”

“Sorry, Gideon, not in the mood for bonding.”

Ryker walked past the two of them, went out the door, and headed for his Harley. He shook his head as he got on his bike. Even riding his bike wasn’t making him feel as good as it normally did.

When he got home, he checked his cell phone and saw that one of his baby sisters had called him again. This was the third day in as many days. Time to suck it up and call her back. She answered on the first ring.

“Well hello! I was worried you were on a mission and hadn’t sent a group text to the family that you’d be out of touch.”

“I’d never do that, I promise.”

“Then why in the hell did it take you so long to call back your favorite sister?” Carmen complained.

“You’re my favorite sister named Carmen.” Ryker smiled.

“I’m your only sister named Carmen, so I guess I can live with that.”