Of course it was.
With an unenthusiastic groan, Theo dragged himself up off the bed and onto the floor into a push-up position.
“One.” Stryker started “two…three…”
He didn’t get to 200.
As attractive and turning on as it was watching him effortlessly push himself up and down from the floor, muscles flexing with each movement, it didn’t last long and much to mine and Jack’s amusement and Stryker’s exasperation, he got to 50 before begging for a pause, panting.
“Terrible.” Stryker muttered “honestly, how did you-“
“Aren’t you supposed to be encouraging?” Theo moaned, covering his face with his arms as I cackled at him, unable to help it.
“Who told you that?” Stryker sighed “we’ll work on it.”
“What type of nutter warms up with 200 push-ups anyway?” He grumbled, cheeks burning.
“The type who takes his position seriously.” Stryker shot back, tone chiding “as you should.”
“I do. But, like…200? A- and we haven’t even had breakfast yet!”
I noticed Stryker’s smile fade slightly at his words. He shifted on the balls of his feet, shrugging “right. We…could do that. Breakfast.” He gave a small nod, brows furrowing ever so slightly.
Theo caught my eye. He glared at the mocking my face must be showing.
“You good?” Jack asked sceptically.
Stryker jumped and nodded hastily “sorry, yeah, I just…forget sometimes.”
I almost laughed, but refrained myself. “Forget…breakfast?”
“Yep.” He nodded towards the door “help yourself downstairs.”
“You not eating anything?” Jack asked, tilting his head.
“Nah.”
The lad gave Stryker a once over.
“I always skip breakfast.” He supplied, rolling his eyes “no need to look at me like that. Jeez.”
“Sorry.” Jack shrugged, nudging past him and patting me on the back “come on.”
I glanced back at Theo, tilting my head to the side in a gesture for him to follow.
Stryker caught the movement and gave him a little push “go have breakfast, then.”
“Right.” Theo stammered, awkwardly falling into step behind me.
CHAPTER 9
Theo
“What’sthatsupposed to mean?”
It was dusk;I was standing outside the inn, Stryker on my left side and Dean on the other, as Johnathan talked aboutborder patrol.
A soldier in our group that I hadn’t caught the name of had just spoken. He was burly looking, with a scowl etched into his features and his arms folded over his broad chest.
