Page 70 of Total Shutdown

When I rise back to my full height, two pairs of eyes bore into me. The first pair—Jack’s—holds nothing but disdain. The second—Archer’s—sparkles with amusement.

After a second or so, Jack folds his arms across his chest, attention momentarily flicking over my shoulder and toward the girls as they continue talking in the other room. “Let’s get this all out in the open, shall we? Especially since Darcy is now single?—”

“Wait, she’s not with Liam anymore?” Archer interrupts Jack.

“You know damn well she isn’t,” Jack replies with an eye roll. “As I was saying”—he pins Archer with a stern look—“it’s obvious you’re hot for my sister. So, here’s your chance to admit it without hiding behind jokes.”

Jack falls silent while he awaits Archer’s response.

Running a hand across his mouth, Archer quickly realizes his best friend isn’t fooling around.

He drops his head between his shoulders and inhales a long breath. “I’ll admit she’s pretty.”

“And?” Jack adds.

“And … nothing,” Archer finishes. “She’s pretty, and she’s fun to be around, but I’m not the type of guy who would suit her. She likes guys who are serious and want long-term. Plus, I think Coach would put my balls in a vise if I buried my dick in his stepdaughter.”

I can’t be certain, but I’m ninety-nine percent sure Jack is about to puke on his kitchen floor.

“I-I literally have no words for you right now,” I say to Archer, glancing over my shoulder and catching Collins as she disappears down the hallway, no doubt heading for the bathroom.

“Yeah, me too. Other than to say, I really regret bringing up this entire conversation,” Jack agrees. “Although I will say this: you’re wrong about Jon putting your balls in a vise.”

Archer looks mildly hopeful, although I can’t say I share the same optimism on his behalf.

Jack leans closer to Archer. There’s a tinge of playfulness in his expression, but you can’t mistake the serious edge. “It’ll be a joint effort with me.”

Archer’s shoulders shake, silent laughter rippling through him. This guy isn’t intimidated by anyone, yet despite knowing how reckless he can be, I can tell he gets the message loud and clear—don’t touch Darcy Thompson.

“So, what you’re saying is, you both want to touch my balls.”

“For fuck’s sake,” Jack drawls. “No, I don’t want to touch your hairy balls. I do, however, want you to stay away from Darcy because she just had her heart broken, and she doesn’t need a fuckboy messing her around for a one-time thing.”

CHAPTERTWENTY-FIVE

COLLINS

Ifeel … a little tipsy.

The surprise proposal set the drinks flowing, and like I’d said to Sawyer last time we were in Lloyd’s, I am not a girl who drinks a lot.

I’m also freakin’ tiny, so I can handle booze about as well as a toddler.

Searching through my bag for gloss, I find myself giggling at the eight out of ten I gave Sawyer this morning, along with the smug look on his face when I said it.

Truth is, it was more like a nine, but I don’t want him getting ahead of himself.

I’ve got the gloss wand to my mouth when a soft knock sounds against the bathroom door.

“Just a second,” I call back, quickly swiping a clear layer across my bottom and then top lip.

The knock sounds again, and I close the cap, dropping it into my bag and heading to unlock the door.

“Sorry,” I say, pulling it open to find Sawyer leaning against the opposite wall in the hallway, one foot propped up behind him, his black dress shirt open at the collar and dark hair effortlessly styled.

I thumb over my shoulder, working to keep my eyes on his face and not on the tattoos painting his forearms. I recently noticed Ezra’s name inked down the inside of his left arm and found myself wondering if it was a recent addition since I hadn’t seen it before.

“I was just finishing up applying my gloss.”

---