Page 131 of Rush

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Peace, for now. But I know what’s coming; the shift in the air, the stillness before everything breaks, I feel it pressing in at the edges, but I don’t flinch. I don’t run.

I'm not pretending this is going to be easy.

Loving Rush is easy.

Standing beside him when the storm hits won't be, and I'm done pretending I don't know the difference. But I'm choosing it anyway, because he's worth it, and so am I.

17

EVERLY

I walk into the clubhouse early Tuesday afternoon. The second I step through the door, I feel it.

Chloe sees me and her eyes go wide. She walks over quickly.

"Your dad's here," she says quietly.

My stomach drops. "What?"

"He landed early, came straight here."

"Where's Rush?"

"He’s at the bar with your dad and Pyro."

I don't wait. I walk through the clubhouse. The energy is thick. Everyone's watching but pretending not to.

I turn the corner and see them. Diesel's sitting at the bar with Pyro and Tank. He looks calm.

Too calm. He's not yelling, not glowering, just sitting there with a beer in his hand.

That's worse.

My dad doesn't need to raise his voice to be terrifying. His presence does it for him.

Rush is standing near the pool table with Bozo. His jaw is tight and his shoulders are locked. He looks controlled, but I can see the tension radiating off him.

They've already had words.

I can tell by the way Rush is holding himself, by the way my dad is watching him like a predator waiting for weakness.

I walk straight to my dad.

"Everly," Diesel says. His voice is warm but his eyes are calculating. "Good to see you, sweetheart."

"What are you doing here?"

"Came to visit my daughter. Is that a crime?"

"You didn't tell me you were coming early."

"Didn't want you to worry."

"Bullshit. You came to intimidate Rush."

Pyro clears his throat. "Maybe we should talk in the chapel."

"No," I say. "We're talking right here."

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