Page 127 of Rising Heat

Trick finally pockets his phone.

“She’s living in your head rent-free, isn’t she?”

I shake my head.

“We’ve just been hanging out.”

“Hanging out?”

“She’s cool.”

“Do you hear yourself?”

“No,” Coop says. “Keep going.”

I rub a hand across my jaw.

“She’s…” The word slips out before I can catch it. “...easy.”

Coop studies me for a second, then leans back in his chair.

“Easy,” he repeats.

“I mean easy to be around,” I add, still trying to sound casual.

Trick and Marco look at each other and nod like I’ve just confirmed something.

“Ah,” Coop says with a slow nod. “That clears it right up.”

“Shut up.”

“I’m serious,” Coop goes on. “You don’t do ’easy.’ You do ’fun for a night’ and then you keep it moving.”

“That’s not⁠—”

“That’s exactly what you do.”

I open my mouth and for what might be the first time realize I don’t have a comeback to that doesn’t sound like complete bullshit. Marco doesn’t say a word. The look he trades with Trick says they’ve already reached the same conclusion. Deciding I’m done with this conversation, I reach for my phone instead.

One notification stands out.

Darcy

I’m bored and famished.

I don’t realize I’m doing something stupid with my mouth until Coop calls me out.

“Read something you like, Ty?”

I ignore him and type.

Tyler

Is this you sending me a “u up?” text?

I watch the three dots appear then disappear.

Darcy