Page 128 of Rising Heat

Me?! Why I’d never…

Darcy

Unless you’re into it

I can’t help the laugh that slips out.

Tyler

I’m flattered

Tyler

But I’m also working

I stare at the screen for half a second longer than necessary. Then get a crazy idea and type:

Tyler

Come find me.

I look at it, delete it, and type it again. This time I hit send before I can think about it.

The hair on my arms stands up as I wait.

When the fuck did I become a sixteen-year-old texting his first crush?

Behind me, the room has gone suspiciously quiet.

Three dots appear. Disappear. Come back. Stay. I exhale slowly.

“Yeah,” Trick says under his breath. “That’s nothing…”

I don’t bother looking up.

Darcy

Is this you bootycalling me to your firehouse?

My mouth twitches again.

Coop leans so far over the table you’d think he was watching the fourth quarter.

“Answer her,” he whispers.

“Relax.”

Tyler

That depends.

Tyler

You into it?

The dots come back immediately. Then nothing. I shift slightly in the seat, already running through whether I pushed it too far⁠—

Darcy