Page 41 of Wicked

“Cramp my style? Old man?” Ryker laughs. “My man, you are the bomb. With that kind of smart aleck attitude, the girls are gonna fall hard for you.”

Collin uncrosses his arms. “Really?”

“Yeah. Now are we gonna kick butt or what?” He sticks out his fist for a fist bump.

“We’ll kick ass.”

Collin taps his fist on Ryker’s, and they do this explosion thing with their fingers.

“Butt, not ass,” Ryker clarifies. “Real men mind their mouths when around the ladies.” He curves his arm around my waist and tugs me to him. “Isn’t that right, Harper?”

He plants a kiss on my temple. Charming. Oh, so charming with his words and his mouth. I’m not falling for it. I keep my focus on Collin’s face, waiting for that glimpse of hurt pride. But he doesn’t duck his head in embarrassment like April did when she cussed and I chastised her.

Instead, Collin grins big. Ryker being tough and calling Collin out has earned him Collin’s respect. Wow.

“What’s on the table for the winners?” Ryker asks.

“The kids decided the loser gets to pay for tickets to one of your home games.”

“Aw, you kids want to come and watch me play?”

“We hear you’re good.” Esther’s face is a pretty shade of pink.

“He’s the best. Those football guys on TV are saying he’ll get picked up in the first round of the NFL Draft,” Collin says, suddenly Ryker’s biggest fan. “Ryker’s an offensive tackle like Michael Oher, the one they made the movieThe Blind Sideafter.”

I love that movie. The kids’ eyes are huge.

“That true?” Drew asks. He’s the same age as Collin, but husky and tall.

“There’s no I in team,” Ryker says.

“I’m not talking about your team. I want to know if it’s true what Collin said.”

Ryker cups the back of his head. “I’m not that good, kid.”

“You’re being modest,” Collin volleys back.

“You don’t even know what that word means.”

“Not calling attention to yourself. Not bragging about how great you are.”

Ryker’s booming laugh echoes in the lobby. “Kid, you are one smart cookie.”

“No one likes to be compared to a cookie.”

“You’re my hero?”

“That’s better.”

He and Collin laugh. I shake my head. These boys.

“Are we ready to see who kicks butt?” I ask.

Resounding yeses.

“Warm-ups first,” I remind them. “Stretch out those muscles. We don’t want any injuries.”

“Kids only this time. The adults need to talk.”

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