Page 282 of Rush

His eyes drift around the studio before settling back on me, intense yet soft. “So, this is where the magic happens?”

“Sometimes,” I whisper the confession painfully honest, standing up, I perch against the table.

A silence stretches between us, thick with unsaid words. I ache to close the gap, to melt into him, but the fear of rejection paralyzes me. A small, involuntary whimper escapes my lips, my emotions running wild.

Thanks, Aunt Flo.

A tear slips free, tracing a hot path down my cheek. I quickly swipe it away, embarrassed.

“Why are you crying?” His voice cracks with gentle urgency, and his hand finds the small of my back.

His touch shatters the dam holding my emotions hostage. I crumple against him, shoulders shaking as he gathers me into his arms, enveloping me like a shield, protecting me from everything—including my own foolish heart.

“Baby, please don’t cry,” he whispers softly into my hair, his warmth seeping into my soul, comforting and familiar.

Eventually, my sobs ebb, leaving only quiet sniffles behind. “I’m sorry,” I mumble into his chest. “Your shirt?—”

“It’s fine,” he interrupts gently, brushing a thumb tenderly across my damp cheek. His lips quirk up playfully. “Though, I do prefer you wet in other ways.”

A watery laugh escapes me despite myself. I glance up at him, heart aching with the raw vulnerability of this moment.

“You wanted to talk,” I remind him quietly, my voice still thick with emotion.

He nods, eyes serious as he gestures to the worn leather couch at the back of the room. “Let’s sit.”

I follow obediently, tension coiling in my stomach as we each take a seat at opposite ends, a vast ocean of uncertainty between us.

“Come here,” he murmurs gently but firmly, tugging me toward him, erasing the distance.

With a shuddering breath, I allow myself to fall into him, into the warmth and certainty of his embrace.

“Talk to me, why are you crying?” Broderick asks finally.

I sigh. “I feel guilty about ruining your birthday, I feel like I fucked this all up. We had rules and now they’re all ruined, and I’m so fucking sorry for dragging you into my mess and I’m selfish and stupid and I hate myself.” The words tumble out. “And…I’m on my period.”

“Ah, well, are you okay? Do you have cramps, need me to order some snacks here for you?”

I pout at him, bottom lip whimpering.

He’s too good for me.

“I’m okay, I’ll be okay…let’s just rip the Band-Aid. I know why you’re here, out with it.”

“Alright, I wanted to talk to you after what happened, it got awkward and it didn’t feel right leaving things like that—we’d promised to remain friends so it’s important we talk this out.”

I almost break out crying, even though I hurt him, he’s still reaching out, trying—when I’m not worth the effort.

“Obviously our arrangement has progressed intonewterritory. You know I have feelings for you, El, if anything they’re more than just feelings now. As the months have gone on, this…it’s more than just sex for me, baby. I’m asking, begging for more. More of you, more of your heart. A chance at a proper relationship,” he confesses.

“Broderick.”

“Can you really say that this whole thing between us is purely physical? That you feel nothing else?”

“I can’t lie to you. It’s complicated, I care so much about you. You mean so much to me. But I can’t give you what you truly want.”

“And what’s that El?”

“Marriage, kids. You said it yourself, you’re thirty-three, surely you’ll want those things sooner, rather than later.”