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“You’re also my most whiny, annoying, and beautiful sister named Carmen,” Ryker added.
“Good thing you added beautiful.”
“It sure was great seeing you, Bill, and the kids. I had a blast last month,” Ryker smiled.
“I couldn’t tell, the way you moped around.”
“I didn’t mope around, did I?” Ryker was appalled at the thought that he hadn’t put on a happy face for his mom’s birthday.
“Don’t worry, I think only Derek and I noticed. Normally Mom would have too, but she was too busy being the Queen of the May. So what was eating you?”
Ryker sat down on his couch, leaned back, and looked up at the ceiling. He still needed to get rid of the popcorn ceiling. He put that on his mental things to-do list.
“Ryker, are you listening to me?”
“Yeah, just trying to get my thoughts together.”
“Is it a woman?”
“Yeah,” Ryker admitted.
“Are you telling me after all this time, some woman has you twisted up?” Carmen chuckled.
“Yep. That’s the problem, and I need some girly advice, so talking to the princess of girly is actually a good idea.”
“Ryker Orson McQueen, don’t even start with me, not if you want my help.”
“Okay, okay. I’m sorry. You’re not the princess. You’re the queen. Is that better?”
“Ryker, quit with the shit and tell me your problem.”
“I’m sorry about the teasing, Carmen. I didn’t mean it.” He glanced over at the photo wall that she had set up for him as a housewarming gift. There was Carmen and her brood. Could she be any more of an Earth Mother?
“Oh God, this has to be serious, if you just apologized. I better sit down.”
Ryker scrubbed his hand over his face. “I’m really, really, really gone for this woman.”
“I’m happy for you,” Carmen said quietly.
“Well, not so fast, she’s not talking to me.”
“Aw, damn, that doesn’t sound right. You’ve had women eating out of the palm of your hand all of your life.”
“Well, not this one. Amy’s different.”
“Special?”
“I met her seven months ago, and she’s had me spinning my wheels ever since. She lives in D.C., but I was willing to do the heavy lifting to make this work. I could travel up there as much as needed. She hates her job, but she works six days a week, so I figured eventually, if I could get her to see the light, I could talk her into coming down and living with me.”
“Whoa, there Cowboy, that’s a pretty big step. If you’re over here still needing advice, how can you be thinking of living together?”
“Well obviously, that’s why I need advice. Look, Carmen, it’s even worse than that. She’s avoiding me.”
There was a long pause.
“Say something, Sis.”
“I’m trying to come up with something. You’re telling me you’re so gone on a woman, and she’s avoiding you? Is that what I’m hearing?”
