Page 206 of Rush

I barely make it two steps before arms wrap around me.

“Jesus, pretty lady.” Ava laughs into my shoulder. “You trying to make it impossible to follow that?”

I pant, still catching my breath, and pull back to see her grinning. Her in-ears dangle loose around her neck.

“Stop it,” I say. “They’re yours now all warmed up.”

“You didn’t warm them up, you set them on fire.” She presses a water bottle into my hand, beaming at me.

I take a long swig. My hands still shaking.

Her expression softens. “Seriously, though. That was electric. You owned it.”

“Thanks,” I gasp, my heart rate starting to settle. “Means a lot. Coming from you.”

She bumps my shoulder. “Next tour, I’m opening for you, huh?”

I laugh, wiping sweat from my brow. “Deal. But I want a bigger rider next time.”

“Oh, don’t worry, diva.” She winks. “I’ll get you four brands of coconut water and those weird Australian cookies.”

“Tim Tams,” I deadpan. “Show some respect.”

She grins, stepping back as her cue comes through the comms.

“You crushed it,” she says again, more serious now. “Don’t forget that.”

I nod, swallowing the lump rising in my throat. “Go kill it.”

She’s already walking but tosses a smirk over her shoulder. “Try and stop me.”

Then she’s gone—into the lights, into the roar.

And I’m alone in the wings, heart full, knees weak, adrenaline still clawing through my bloodstream.

I make my way toward the dressing room, footsteps echoing against concrete. My breath’s just starting to level out when I see them.

Two stagehands whispering. Eyes darting. Looking at me awkwardly, then away—fast.

Weird.

I frown and keep walking, I round the corner toward my dressing room.

My heart stops when our eyes meet.

Alex.

The floor tilts. The oxygen disappears. One blink, and he unspools every thread Broderick had carefully stitched into place.

I want to run.

Into his arms. Into the ocean. Into the nearest fucking wall.

Anywhere but here.

“Hello, älskling,” he says, voice like a cool breeze cutting through heat. Smooth. Controlled.

Months.