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CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

COLLINS

F ucking finally, a day off.

The plan? Fucking nothing. Veg out, watch the Alien movies, and eat my body weight in all the delicious snacks that are no good for me or my waistline.

I’ve worked myself into the ground these past few weeks, picking up any shift available and covering for colleagues and their vacations.

TV remote in hand and a bowl of Cap’n Crunch balanced on my lap, I’m poised and ready to start my day of nothing when the intercom buzzes, and I drop my head between my shoulders.

If this is Cameron showing up to find out why I haven’t replied to his earlier text, asking how to replace a brake cable, I swear to whoever lives up there that I will throttle him with said cable.

That, or shove it somewhere.

Cap’n Crunch now turning to mush, I haul myself off the couch and head for the intercom, connecting the line just as it buzzes again.

“Yes?” I answer, exasperated.

“Ooh … all right, ma’am, what’s got your panties in a twist?” Kendra’s voice sings down the line, way too enthusiastic for a morning.

I immediately hit the button to allow her access and unlock my door, heading back for my couch and settling in with my cereal.

She’ll let herself in.

“Nothing like a warm welcome,” she says, dropping her bag by the door and kicking off her sneakers.

Unlike me, Kendra is a neat freak. I wouldn’t exactly describe myself as messy, more that I thrive in organized chaos. Apart from when it comes to my garage. That is a different story.

She flicks her eyes up to the dirty dishes by the sink.

“Don’t even think about it. I can rinse them later. I have the entire day to myself, and right now, I’m watching Alien .”

Kendra takes a seat next to me, leaning over to peer into my bowl. “I used to eat those when I was eight.”

“I want no judgment,” I respond around a mouthful. “I’m answerable to only myself and my waistline.”

She flops back into my soft couch, chuckling. “Isn’t this film a bit … heavy for a morning?”

Dropping my spoon into the bowl with a clatter, I slide it onto the small coffee table in front of us. “Did you stop by for a reason, or is it National Pick Collins Apart Day?”

Kendra just smirks at me, mischief all over her face. “No. Actually, I was on my way back from early morning conditioning, and I thought I’d drop in and ask the question both Jenna and I are desperate to know. She’d be here, too, if she didn’t have lunch with her boyfriend’s parents.”

Now I’m intrigued.

Picking up the remote, I hit pause on Sigourney Weaver and turn back to my friend. “You know, I don’t need to know the Blades schedule. I can tell just by how annoying you are whether Jack is around or not. You find ways to bother me when he’s away rather than racing back to have endless sex with him when he’s home.”

She lifts a finger in the air. “It’s funny you should mention sex because that was the first thing I concluded when you and Sawyer snuck off together on Saturday night.”

“Squirt for me, Collins.”

The delicious memory of Sawyer swallowing me down hits right between my thighs, and I cross my legs, desperate to hide its effects.

“Is that your question? Where we disappeared to?”

“Uh-huh.”

Buying myself some thinking time, I fidget with my hair, readjusting my messy bun.

“We needed to talk after the date at the Botanic Garden, so that’s why he came to find me. Sawyer pulled me into your spare room, and we talked everything over.”

She’s not buying it—I can tell as she twists a lock of blonde hair around her pointer finger. “Who knew that two people talking could turn the biggest playboy in the NHL white as a sheet just from witnessing said conversation?”

I drop my hands from my hair, slapping both thighs simultaneously. “All right, we fucked. Well, I say fucked, but it was …” I pause, heat rising through my body.

“Did it involve a pair of fluffy black handcuffs by chance?”

“How did you know?”

“Because …” She rises from the couch and heads for her bag, pulling the exact pair from the front pocket and dangling them in front of her. Nothing but amusement is in her voice as she says, “Whichever one of you decided to cover your tracks clearly forgot which drawer they had been kept in. Last time we’d used them, they were not stored in the middle drawer.”

Ugh, in my haste and panic, I threw them back in the dresser and pulled on my pants.

“So, tell me”—Kendra props a hand on her hip—“did he cuff you to my spare bed and make you see stars?”

“Not exactly.” I press my lips together, more memories flooding back. “He suspended me from the bar across the top and then ate me out until I saw stars.”

Jaw agape, she drops the cuffs, and they hit my hardwood floor. “H-he had you hanging from the bed while he …”

I nod once.

“Lawwwwd,” she drawls, returning the cuffs to her bag and walking back over to me, taking a seat. “I mean, how did he hold you up?”

“He balanced my legs on his shoulders so my pussy was in his face.” I hold a palm in front of my mouth. Christ knows why I do it. The girl doesn’t need a map.

“That is so … damn hot,” she sighs. “But I’m glad you didn’t break the bed.”

My head darts to look at her, and we both burst into fits of laughter.

“Archer walked in on us as we were finishing up. He saw my tits, the works.”

Kendra doubles over, clutching her stomach. “Oh my God, it hurts; it hurts. My stomach muscles are burning,” she gasps between breaths.

“Yeah, well, I wasn’t laughing when I walked out of the spare room. I couldn’t even look at Archer for the rest of the night.”

And I couldn’t. I wouldn’t say we’re strangers since we’re part of the same friend group; we’ve laughed and joked around a bit, but flashing myself at him was not something I had planned on Saturday night. Obviously.

“Well, he hasn’t breathed a word to anyone, so I think your secret’s safe with me and him.”

I smile appreciatively.

“Though, seriously,” she continues, “Sawyer’s into kinky stuff, like you? You two are a match made in heaven.”

The temptation to deny we’re perfect together is right there, dancing on the tip of my tongue. I swallow it down and instinctively nod in agreement. “I don’t know exactly how kinky he is, but let’s just say, he both surprised me and blew my mind that night.”

Kendra’s lips twist in question. “So, are you two”—she crosses her index and second finger over—“dating?”

When I go back to fiddling with my hair, Kendra reaches up and takes my hand in hers. It’s a move I didn’t expect, but it’s comforting.

“Go for it, Babe. I can tell you really like him.”

On a long sigh, I bring my eyes to hers. I can’t remember the last time I sought reassurance from someone. Or more importantly, the last time I needed it.

“When he gets back to Brooklyn, we’re going to talk. I really like him, but I’m scared of what a relationship will mean.”

She squeezes my hand harder—more reassurance that soothes my worries. “A relationship is, and can look like, anything you want it to be. It doesn’t mean you have to lose yourself or what you love.”

I think back to what I had with Mike. He hated bikes and was uncompromising about it too. I could never imagine Sawyer being that way. Then I think about Ezra and how I love spending time with him.

“Is being with Sawyer what you want?” Kendra breaks the short silence that fell between us.

I find her eyes again and see the warmth in them. “I think it really is.”