Page 24 of Rush

“Please tell me she’s kidding.”

“I don’t fucking know.”

“Just pillow talk,” I blurt out. “I mean, I would’ve, you know…if he wanted to. That’s how much he got in here.” My eyes stay closed as I tap my heart.

“Elena.”

I shrug. “Never mind. He doesn’t want babies with me. He wants beautiful blonde babies withher.She’s tall and so pretty. I’d have hobbit babies.”

“Oh God. Maybe tonight was a bad idea, Pip. Maybe it was too soon.”

Someone shifts beside me.

“Sir, I’m willing to offer you five thousand dollars for your discretion—if you sign a non-disclosure agreement.”

Ugh.The thought makes me sick. Non-disclosure agreements.

“Please don’t do that,” I groan.

“Shut up. Dad will be displeased if you’re caught in another scandal—wasted and sobbing over Alex. The media would have a frenzy.”

Daddy displeased with me? Old news.

“Fuck him,” I spit.

Someone’s arms wrap around me, patting me on the head. “Shh, babe.”

Riley.

My sunshine.

“I’ll sign. I don’t want the money. I wouldn’t have said anything,” says a deep voice. He sounds kind.

“I appreciate that, but I prefer the guarantee,” Philippa replies.

The cab eventually comes to a stop, and I’m folded into the apartment. Riley and Philippa undress me, cursing at the number of laces on my vomit-laden shoes. Riley half-carries me to the bathroom—right before I throw up in the tub and all over myself.

Without hesitation, she helps me into the shower. She turns the water on, soaking us both—her still fully clothed.

I slur a string of apologies, crying over Alex.

By the time they guide me to bed, I collapse face-first into the sheets. The fading scent of Alex lingers there, soothing and cruel. I plead with him not to leave me.

The nights are the worst.

I don’t want to be alone anymore.

Philippa and Riley reassure me they’ll be back. Eventually, the darkness of sleep pulls me under.

I dream of blond men and hands, and I jolt awake. The room is pitch-black.

I feel someone to my right—Philippa—and someone else to my left—Riley.

They came back. They stayed.

I snuggle into Riley and drift off again—the two halves of my world holding me steady.

When morning comes, we wake slow and a little hungover.