Page 67 of Burn Bright (Cobalt Empire #1)

Harriet

MVU Campus

Ben

The End of the World

Harriet

My apartment

Harriet

Finding a place to fuck should not be this hard wtf.

Ben

I’d suggest my couch, but I think we took a big risk last time.

Harriet

What would you have done if your brothers walked in on us last time?

Ben

Thrown something at them. Memory wiped their brains. Judged myself.

Harriet

Glad we avoided memory wiping and self-judgment.

Ben

Me too. But removing my couch from contention kind of limits the options here.

Harriet

Too bad you don’t have a treehouse we could use, nature boy.

Ben

My uncle has one.

Harriet

Treehouse

Ben

Ben

We’ll figure it out.

Harriet

Idk your coat closet didn’t seem like such a bad idea.

Ben

*I* can barely fit in there.

Harriet

Motel? I could put in $50.

Ben

Save your money, Fisher. I have much higher standards for our first time.

Harriet

In the back of Harold?

Ben

I said HIGH standards.

Harriet

Oof with the Harold slander.

Ben

No offense to Harold the Honda, but he ranks below the motel. I’ll likely pull a muscle trying to maneuver you in there.

Harriet

So there will be a lot maneuvering on your end?

Ben

…yeah, what kind of sex have you had?

Harriet

The kind where *I* was doing the maneuvering.

Ben

Thank you for the visual and the urge to wring your past hookups’ necks.

Harriet

You’re welcome

Ben

I need some space to work with you. Our best bet is going to be my place. Just give me some time and I can figure out logistics. Maybe we can risk it if only one of my brothers is home…and asleep.

TWO WEEKS LATER

Ben

Tonight is a big no again. Tom won’t go to bed. He’s been up playing guitar forever. I’d think he’s cockblocking me, but he’s just hyper-fixated on his new song. I’m not sure he even knows what time it is.

Harriet

Tell him he sounds like a celestial Gerard Way.

Ben

That assumes he cares what I think about his music. My opinion isn’t gospel to him.

Harriet

Who’s is?

Ben

Honestly…himself.

Harriet

How am I not surprised?

Ben

Another night then, Fisher?

Harriet

Yep. The quest continues.