Page 41 of Rising Heat

“Yes, Coop.”

He’s enjoying himself now.

The drain’s been on my list for four weeks. Long enough that Tyler’s mentioned it. Long enough that I could’ve dealt with it. The problem with working with the same people for years is they start noticing the difference.

“Ty’s been up there…twice? Now,” Coop says.

“Twice,” Tyler confirms helpfully.

Traitor.

“All I’m saying⁠—”

“No,” I cut in. “That’s not all you’re saying.”

The grin gets wider. For a second nobody says anything.

Then Trick looks between us.

“Oh, he’s doing it on purpose.”

“Thank you,” I say.

“Happy to help,” Coop says.

“You think I’m avoiding my own tenant?”

“I think you’ve had three weeks to introduce yourself.”

“She’s aware I exist.”

“Is she?”

“She signed paperwork with my name on it.”

“That doesn’t count.”

“It counted for the bank.”

A laugh rolls around the table. I push back from the table and stand, deciding I’ve had enough of being interrogated for one night.

“That’s enough out of all of you.”

“Hey, running away doesn’t count as winning,” Trick chuckles.

“Good thing I’m not trying to win.”

I head for the apparatus bay.

“Mack,” Tyler says.

I don’t turn around.

“You can’t stay away forever!” Coop shouts at my back.

That earns a bigger laugh than it should.

I flip him off over my shoulder and keep walking.