Page 7 of Total Shutdown

“Yeah, that would be great, thanks.” I take a seat at the island and open my water, taking a gulp and setting it down in front of me.

She smiles and grabs a knife from the block next to her, pointing it at my head. “No hats in the house; you know how I feel about them.”

I pull off my Blades cap and wince at the state of my dark hair. It’s always been on the longer side since I like to style it when I can, but today, it looks especially bad.

Alyssa’s eyes land on the mess. “Rough night?”

I clear my throat and pull the water bottle toward me. “Didn’t sleep all that well.”

She lifts a brow and slices into a tomato. “You secured the win and put in a good performance. What’s the issue?”

My throat feels thick as I clear it again and shrug a shoulder, the action reminding me of the bratty girl in my bed last night.

If I wanted, I could talk to Alyssa about Collins. She wouldn’t have an issue or shy away from a conversation about another woman. She’s the mom I never had since my parents are assholes and estranged, a bit like my brother. In fact, if I told her I’d hooked up last night, she’d likely pause on lunch and ask me to give her all the details. She’s repeatedly told me to get back out there and make the most of my dating years. I’m in my mid-thirties, so I guess she has a point.

When she starts on another tomato, I inhale a deep breath and consider telling her the truth, but back out at the final second.

We agreed to keep what happened a secret.

“You going to drink that water or continue making a mess on my counter?”

Alyssa snaps me back to reality, and I look down at the torn-up label in my hand.

“You know what they say about stripping labels off bottles, don’t you?”

I roll my eyes and look at her. “Are we really having this conversation? I’m not about to divulge my sex life, or lack thereof, with my mother-in-law.”

She shakes her head and chuckles, getting back to chopping. “How many nights do you need us to take Ezra next week?”

I slide off the stool and throw the torn-up label in the trash before making my way back to the island and retaking my seat. “Three nights. This series isn’t as long.”

“Wait, I thought you said we were leaving?” In his black Fortnite hoodie and jeans, Ezra waltzes into the kitchen, snatching up a piece of tomato on his way over to the fridge. His brown hair is a mess, like mine, and his green eyes look glazed from way too much screen time.

“We’re staying for lunch, so no snacking.”

He closes the fridge door, offering me a huff that’s typical of his age group. “How long will it be? I’m starving.”

Alyssa lifts her eyes to him. “A half hour.”

“Ughhhh.” He throws his head back like it’s the worst news he’s ever received. “I finished up early on a battle because you’d said we were going.”

I raise an unimpressed brow. “Whether we eat here or at home, it won’t get you in front of the TV any faster.”

Ezra flops down next to me at the island, and I nudge my shoulder into him.

“You spend way too much time on that thing, and anyway, you used to shoot hoops with your friends on a Sunday.”

He doesn’t look at me. “It got boring.”

My eyes flick to Alyssa. She appears as worried as I feel.

“Then find something else you can all do,” I reply.

He rolls his eyes, gaze averted as he looks around the kitchen. “Who do you think I’m playing Fortnite with?”

I go to reply, but I’m cut off by my phone—Archer’s name is written across the front when I pull it out of my pocket.

It’s unusual for him to call me on our day off. Normally, we talk in the group chat.

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