Page 32 of Rush
I park across the street where I can see them, telling myself I'm just making sure she's safe.
It's bullshit but I stay anyway.
They're there for two hours, laughing, talking—a normal Thursday night.
Around nine, Maya leaves and heads toward her flat in the opposite direction.
Everly stays for another drink, pays the bill, then heads out alone.
She's walking toward the bus stop when I see him.
Drunk, mid-thirties, stumbling down the street. He spots Everly and changes direction, heading straight for her.
I'm off my bike before I think about it.
"Hey, beautiful," he calls out. "Where you going?"
Everly doesn't respond, just keeps walking, her pace picking up slightly.
He speeds up too, gets in front of her, blocking her path.
"I'm talking to you," he says.
"I'm not interested," Everly says, her voice calm but firm. "Excuse me."
She tries to walk around him, but he grabs her arm.
"Don't be a bitch. I'm just being friendly."
"Let go of me."
"Come on, just one drink."
"I said no. Let go."
He doesn't let go. Instead, he pushes her backward into the wall of a building. His hand is still on her arm and he's got her pinned.
"You think you're too good for me?" he snarls. "Stuck up little cunt."
I'm there in seconds.
I grab him by the back of his collar and rip him away from Everly, then I throw him against the opposite wall hard enough that his head bounces off the brick.
"She said no," I say, my voice cold and flat.
He turns and tries to swing at me, but he's drunk and slow and I block it easily.
Then I hit him.
My fist connects with his jaw and he goes down hard, blood in his mouth.
He should stay down but he doesn't. He tries to get up.
I kick him in the ribs, hear something crack, feel the satisfaction of it.
He curls up on the ground. I'm about to kick him again, when I hear her voice.
"Rush, stop."
