Page 215 of Rush

Did I mean nothing to you?

“Oh, the double standard is fucking rich,” she snaps.

“Riley, he’s hurting.”

“Elena, don’t defend him.”

“Why not? He obviously still cares for me.”

“Okay, then why break up with you?”

The truth hits me like a slap. “You know as much as I do,” I murmur, staring into my hands.

“Did he say anything else?”

I hesitate for a moment, but when I look up, Riley levels me with a glare.

“He said he had me first—and that I’ll always be his.”

Riley presses her temples but I see the heat flushing in her cheeks.

“Lord, give me strength.” Her voice laced with disdain.

“Where the fuck was Luca?”

“In the bathroom. He came running as soon as he could.”

“God.” Riley scrubs a hand down her face. “I’ll kill him.”

“Luca?”

“No—Alex.” She exhales hard, his name sounded like venom on her tongue. “Luca can stay. Especially if he keeps wearing those tight black shirts. You know the ones.”

I snort, just barely. “You’re terrible.”

“Don’t distract me. This isn’t about me thirsting over your emotionally unavailable but very delicious bodyguard. This is aboutyou.”

I roll my eyes, I hate all of this. “Riley.”

Her gaze sharpens. “Where does Broderick fit into this?”

“We’re friends, who fuck.” It was the truth on the surface, but I knew it was moving into territory that was far from that.

My stomach twists.

“Okay, so you’re going to continue with that?” she presses.

I nod.

“Because I know you made those stupid rules, what were they? No one can know, No catching feelings. Keep it casual. Don’t talk about the future. Or whatever?—”

“Yeah.”

“Right. Which you’ve broken. All of them. Repeatedly.”

“I know.”

“Elena,” she says softly. “Youclearlyhave feelings for him.”