Page 132 of Rush
Diesel sets down his beer. "Fine, then let's talk. You want to tell me why you're dating a man who went to juvie for shooting someone?"
"You already know why."
"Humor me."
"Because I love him."
The words land hard, and I watch my dad's expression darken.
"You love him," he repeats.
"Yeah, I do."
"And what happens when he loses his temper? When that violence comes out?"
"That's not who he is."
"That's exactly who he is, sweetheart. Men like Rush don't change. They just get better at hiding it."
"You're wrong."
"Am I? Because I've seen his file. I know what he's capable of."
"He was thirteen and trying to save his sister."
"And now he's twenty-one and trying to convince you he's safe. But he's not."
I step closer. "You don't get to decide who I love."
"I'm your father. It's my job to protect you."
"From what? Rush has been nothing but good to me."
"For now. But what happens when things get hard? When he gets scared or angry or overwhelmed?"
"Then we handle it together."
Diesel stands up and the room seems to shrink. He's taller than I remember, and the authority rolling off him is suffocating.
"Everly, I love you, and I respect that you're an adult, but I'm not going to stand by and watch you get hurt by someone who's too broken to love you properly."
The words hit like a slap.
"Rush is not broken."
"Yes, he is. And deep down you know it."
"No. What I know is that you taught me to choose my own battles. Well, this is mine. Rush is mine. And you don't get a vote."
We stare at each other and the tension is thick enough to choke on.
Finally, Diesel says, "Fine. But I want to talk to him. Alone."
"No."
"Everly."
"I said no. Whatever you have to say to Rush you can say in front of me."
