Page 233 of Rush

Of course I know. “We’re just casual,” I say, brushing it off.

“In all the years I’ve known Broderick,” Philippa says, rubbing her belly absentmindedly, “he’s never done casual. I’ve only met two women he dated. Both hated how much he worked. How often he’d disappear.”

And yet he always makes time for me.

Even when I tell him not to. Even when I pushed him away.

The thought of other women before me claws somewhere in my chest. I feel it—the flare of possessiveness—for someone I don’t even deserve. Someone too good for me and all my fucked-up shit.

“Okay, can we talk about something else?” I exhale. “I talked to Father this morning.”

Desperate to change the topic.

Philippa perks up. “You did?”

Andrew whistles. “Should we prepare for World War III?”

“It went…surprisingly well. We agreed to try to be better. I said sorry to Carole.”

Philippa’s jaw drops. “What? Oh my God. It’s a Christmas miracle.”

“Relax. I said sorry for what I said. I still don’t like her much—I mean, she makes it hard when she’s sofucking nice—but I don’t want to rip her a new one every time I see her.”

“There’s hope for you after all,” Andrew teases.

I glare. “I could still ripyoua new one.”

He laughs and pulls us both into a hug. For a moment, Philippa looks like she can finally breathe again.

Then she makes a face.

“Okay,” she groans, “I need to puke.”

A baby.

Our family’s growing.

My big sister. Pregnant.

Chapter 27

Little Wonders

Afew days later, my apartment is transformed. Carole’s elves—actual stylists, not metaphorical ones—swept through with garlands, candles, bowls of dried oranges, and the kind of tree you’d see in a Rockefeller catalog. Everything smells like fir and clove and quiet money.

Just in time for Christmas Eve.

Riley and I have our own little celebration—our version ofNoche Buena, like how Mom and I used to start Christmas. The food was mostly Filipino, with a few Australian curveballs thrown in. It wasn’t perfect, but it felt right.

I invited Philippa and Andrew, but Philippa is still unwell, and I’ve been sworn to secrecy. As my first honorable duty as an auntie-to-be, I’m not about to break that pact.

It feels nice to share something special with my sister and my brother-in-law. I’m giddy at the thought.

Ava is in Aspen with her family.

So tonight, it’s just the essentials: Riley, Broderick, and Luca—my security, driver, and sometimes friend. He’s a new addition. Though secretly I’m playing Cupid for Riley.

Since Atlanta, we’d gotten closer, of my three security details—he’s my favorite. I know Riley likes him, but after he rejectedher at the wedding, they’ve been locked in this awkward tit-for-tat thing.