Page 182 of Rising Heat

Darcy.

Another picture loads before I even open the text fully—Darcy and Bex stand near the waterfront, both half turned into the wind. Bex’s hand is frozen halfway through what was clearly a dramatic point, while Darcy’s laughing too hard to look at the camera, hair blowing across her face with the harbor flashing silver behind them.

I stare at it long enough the light almost changes.

She looks happy. And Christ, I love that.

Darcy

Bex says hi. She also says she better get more pancakes before she leaves.

Darcy

Miss you guys.

I read the last line twice before I glance over.

Mack’s already looking at his own phone, elbow against the window, thumb resting still against the screen like he forgot he was holding it there.

Something in my chest pulls tight. Mack exhales quietly through his nose, almost a laugh.

“She misses us,” I say.

“Mm.”

I type a reply and hit send.

The light changes, and I ease the truck forward while Mack looks back down at the photo for another second before locking his phone and setting it in his lap.

I catch myself smiling like an idiot again.

At some point soon, I’m going to have to say the honest thing out loud. Probably to Mack first, then to her. Then we’re all gonna have to figure out what comes after that together.

But for once, I’m not sitting here hoping it slows down.

I just want to get home faster.

CHAPTER THIRTY

darcy

The harbor light catches me off guard, the way it keeps doing even after ten weeks. Late-afternoon sun glistens across the water while the wind comes hard enough off the harbor to whip my hair across my mouth mid-laugh. I’m standing there trying to untangle it when Bex ignores me completely and keeps her phone pointed in my direction anyway.

“Stand there,” she says.

“I’m not posing.”

“Darcy. Stand there and look at the water.”

“That’s literally posing.”

“That’s existing.” She waves a hand impatiently. “Stand there and exist.”

Bex snaps a dozen photos, moving her phone a little higher, then a little lower before tucking it away and smiling like she just captured a Pulitzer. Mine’s already in my hand, fingers moving before my brain has time to catch up.

Darcy

Bex says hi. She also says she better get more pancakes before she leaves.