Page 76 of Rush

It feels good.Reallygood.

I shift in my seat, crossing my legs as Itryto focus.

But Kylie’s voice cuts through the haze—all business, scrolling through the tablet which holds my entire life.

Mark slides an espresso toward me, his brows raised in that way that makes me think he knowsexactlyhow much I’m struggling to focus.

“You’re gonna need this,” he says with a grin.

I chuckle softly, wrapping my hands around the precious cup. “Thanks.”

“Okay,” Kylie starts, glancing up over the rim of her glasses. “We need to talk schedule. Boston tonight and tomorrow. Then back to New York—after which is going to be non-stop.”

Mark pulls out his own list, tapping away like he’s conducting an orchestra. “You’ve got the morning show, Cosmo magazine cover shoot—they’re thinking vintage glam—and the producers fromSaturday Nightwant to lock in a date for your appearance.”

“Vintage glam?” I say, my lips quirking. “I like that.”

Kylie hums her agreement, but she’s already moving on. “And we’ve got the first concept meeting for your next music video for “Touch”. Pacific’s pushing for something edgy, something to show you’re stepping into this new era—but you need to sign off on the director.”

Mark glances at me with a smirk. “Also...Ava’s team is nowcasuallyasking if you can take over for Gracie. She’s still recovering from surgery for vocal nodules and, well—after going viral in New York, you’re it, honey.”

Gracie Miller, the original opener for Ava, had to pull out of New York and Boston due to vocal nodules a common injury for singers who push too hard, and surgery can be a gamble. Sometimes it changes everything—range, pitch...for some, it’s never quite the same. For Gracie to be facing that at only twenty-five years old.

It’s scary to think about.

If it wasn’t for Gracie’s misfortune, I wouldn’t even be on this tour.

“Hey,” Mark says gently, picking up on my shift in mood. “Don’t do that.”

I glance up, and he meets my eyes, steady and kind. “You earned this. Ava asked foryou—personally.”

“Poor Gracie though.”

“Yeah, but great foryou,” Kylie jumps in, her tone sharp but excited.

“I know.” I take a sip of my coffee. I should be exhausted—and yeah, okay, maybe Iam—but I’m also…grateful. For all of it because last time, I never got the chance to enjoy it. This time, I want to make the most of it.

“Can we send some flowers and a card to her?” I suggest, glancing over at Mark.

“You got it,” he says, already jotting it down on his tablet. “Then you’ve got a few days off for your sister’s wedding?—”

At the mention of the wedding, my mind drifts.

To my father—and all the heavy, unfinished things still hanging between us.

To Riley, who’ll at least keep me grounded, even if I haven’t told her anything about Broderick. Which makes me feel guilty.

And then there’s Broderick.

I bite back a smirk, shifting in my seat as heat flickers low in my stomach. I can still feel the weight of his stare, the tension in his body when I touched him.

God, if he knew evenhalfthe things running through my mind right now...

“Elena?”

I blink, snapping back to the present. Kylie’s watching me, one brow raised, waiting for me to rejoin the conversation.

“Sorry,” I say, smiling, hoping I don’t look as flustered as Ifeel. “Pardon?”