Page 180 of Rising Heat

He looks back at me expectantly.

“This is different.”

“Can we get to whatever point you’re trying to make?”

Ryan’s eyes slide to Coop.

“What you two are describing sounds an awful lot like boyfriend behavior.”

“That’s not⁠—”

“Bullshit—

Ryan ignores us both.

“You text.”

“We’ve established this…” Mack looks up from beneath his brow.

“You know where she is.”

“Mostly,” I cross my arms not liking where this is going.

“You know what she’s doing.”

“When she tells us.”

“She’s suddenly included in all of your plans.”

“She’s fun to be around.”

Coop raises his hand.

“I agree with that.”

“Thank you,” I raise both hands.

“You guys share meals.”

“I like to cook, she likes to eat.”

Just answer this then,” Trick interrupts shaking his head. “When was the last time you slept with someone who wasn’t Darcy?”

Mack and I glance at each other sideways.

Coop claps us both on the back.

“Oh, this is beautiful.”

“That doesn’t mean anything.”

Ryan doesn’t miss a beat.

“No? So you want to?”

“Want to what?”

“Hookup with someone else.”