Page 105 of Total Shutdown

I regret nothing, repeating once more, “I love you, Collins.”

She quickly dives for the ties around my wrists, releasing my arms, and I immediately wrap them around her, pulling her into my chest.

“I don’t care if you aren’t ready to say it back now, tomorrow, next week, or in a year. I just need you to know that I’ve fallen so damn hard, and there’s no going back for me. You blow my mind every second of the day, and I’m so fucking in love with you. There’s not a single part of my heart that doesn’t belong to you. If you want me, you have me. Forever.”

CHAPTERTHIRTY-EIGHT

COLLINS

The hot-as-fuck Blades captain is in love with me.

And I am all the way here for it. In fact, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it since he confessed how deep his feelings were a few days ago.

Was I tempted to tell him I was falling hard? You bet your ass I was. It’s kind of absurd to me that I haven’t told him how I feel since I’m ten out of ten sure he can tell just by the way I smile at him. My body language speaks a thousand words my brain has always struggled to comprehend.

I don’t think there’s anything capable of bringing down my mood. I’ve been dancing around the garage all morning. Some of our regular customers have been throwing me inquisitive looks as they try to work out at what point I had a personality transplant.

The truth is, I haven’t. She was always in there—the part of me who longed to open up to the world and show her brighter colors. Fundamentally, I’m still me—black eyeliner, ’80s rock T-shirts, and enough sarcasm to power a small city—but I don’t feel the need to run any longer. I’m happy to sit in one space with people, and if they start to see all my parts in the process, then I’m okay with that too.

Because Sawyer motherfucking Bryce loves me.

“Collins, do you plan on finishing that bike today? The customer is out front, asking whether he should come back tomorrow and pick her up.”

I take it back. There is one person who could dampen my mood—Cameron.

Even though I didn’t witness it, I’m certain Sawyer told him where to stick his asshole behavior when he was last in here. After all, Cameron doesn’t give out afternoons and days off without good reason—and definitely not to me. Up until today, he’s been palatable, which is loosely translated as, I’ve only wanted to strangle him a half-dozen times each shift. Today though, he’s been vile, and I’m at full capacity with his bullshit. If it wasn’t for my otherwise good mood, I would one hundred percent be in custody.

Crouched by the exact motorcycle he’s referring to, I spin around to face him. “Mr. Booth turned the bike in this morning, complaining of noise. The sprockets on the chain are misaligned and loose.” I point to the offending areas. “Right now, it’s costing the customer more in maintenance and repairs than it would be to fit a drive belt instead, which would solve all his problems.” I stand up and quirk a brow. “I don’t know when you last went to check on Mr. Booth, but I spoke with him about five minutes ago and confirmed all this. He’s happy to wait it out while I get it done, although I did tell him it would take a few hours.”

I thumb at the beautiful vintage bike. “Unless you want to take the lead and fix it yourself?”

Cameron clears his throat, jaw twitching with rage. “You know I don’t have the time to carry out a task like that. It’s not something management would do.”

I consider not responding since my mouth frequently gets me into trouble at work. Although you will never catch me being silent when I have something to say. “Well, if you don’t have time to help me, can I make a request that you kindly leave me the fuck alone so I can do my job?”

Probably shouldn’t have thrown in “the fuck.”

Cameron looks off to the side, jaw still tense as he stuffs his hands into the pockets of his wrinkle-free black dress pants. “Is this how it’s going to go from now on, Collins?”

I throw down the oil-stained cloth I was holding, propping a hand on my hip. “You mean me, on my own in the shop, working all hours to keep on top of the insane new flow of customers we keep getting? Yeah,” I scoff. “That’s how it’s been for months, so I guess that’s how it’ll be from now on.”

Cameron points to the middle of his chest. “You’re complaining about the garage being successful? That’s how I pay your wages and what keeps us in jobs. It’s no coincidence that since I took over the management here, we’ve seen an influx of new business.”

I huff out a sarcastic laugh. “Are you for real right now? Customers are finding us because of my social media. We’ve had five new inquiries off the back of my Instagram today alone.”

He looks doubtful. “Or is it because the world knows you’re boning a famous hockey player?”

A knowing smile twists at my lips.That’s what this is about.

“Go ahead and say what’s really bothering you, Cameron.”

He folds his arms across his chest. The petulance rolling from him reminds me of Ezra, although this guy isn’t twelve years old.Apparently.

“I just don’t appreciate you bringing your boyfriend to work, especially since he’s an asshole who can’t respect your boss.”

My previously good mood disappears altogether, and pissed-off Collins is kicking back into gear. “The only asshole I see around here is you.” I throw my arm out in front of me, motioning around the garage. “You waltz around here like you’re God’s gift or something and we should all bow down to your male superiority. And you know all I can think when I see you? How in the hell did the owner of this place give you a promotion since you know nothing about bikes? Literally nothing. That’s why you hide away in your office—avoiding being found out that if it isn’t a simple service, you have zero idea what you’re doing.”

Face beet red, he takes a step toward me. “What’s the matter, Collins? A little sore I got the job and you didn’t?”

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